Google tightens security rules for distribution of Android applications. Starting next year, the company plans to verify the identity of developers who distribute applications on certified Android devices outside of the Play Store. The new rules will be rolled out globally gradually, reports TechCrunch.
Android will remain an open platform: users will continue to be able to install applications through other marketplaces or by sideloading. However, developers will no longer be able to remain anonymous. Google emphasizes that such a step will reduce the number of malicious software, cases of financial fraud and theft of personal data. According to the company, the share of malicious programs spread through sideloading is 50 times higher than Google Play, where developer verification was introduced as early as 2023.
Developers will be able to register for early access as early as October 2025, and from March 2026, verification will be mandatory for everyone. By September 2026, the new requirements will come into force in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. A global launch is expected from 2027.
Developers will need to provide a legal name, address, email, and phone number for verification. Students and amateur developers have a separate account type in the Android Developer Console. The new rules can significantly change the ecosystem of Android applications and the ways they are distributed, as Google seeks to minimize the risks associated with security and the spread of malicious software.
