Google won't kill sideloading on Android, but it will add some more hoops to jump through — and that's a good thing

Last year, Google announced big changes to the way sideloading would be allowed on Android, which made a lot of people angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move. Essentially Google wanted to restrict sideloading to developers that had been vetted and approved by Google, allegedly in the name of security, rather than letting people just install whatever they like.

It's a move I like to refer to as "a bunch of Apple nonsense," and the complete antithesis of what Android has been for over 20 years. It's no surprise that Google recently did a little bit of backtracking, announcing there would be ways to sideload apps that Google hasn't specifically said you're allowed to have.

The compromise is far from a perfect solution, but I will take that over the alternative of being asked to Apple-ify my Pixel 10 Pro, especially if it actually does protect people who don't know any better.

Hand-holding in the name of user security

Google first announced the changes to sideloading back in August of 2025 and it involves a new program called "Developer Verification." The idea is that if you're trying to install an app from anywhere other than the Google Play Store, the developer needs to have gone through the verification process first. If they haven't, you're out of luck because that app is not allowed on your Android device.

The only workaround announced at the time was to allow for developer testing. Developers could distribute apps to up to 50 users without requiring Google verification. Likewise, any Android devices that didn't support Google Play Services, such as Huawei or Amazon's Fire devices, would be exempt.

If this all sounds familiar, it's because Google has just copied Apple's playbook and not bothered to change any of the details. Apple famously doesn't allow software to be installed from anywhere other than the App Store. The only exception is the EU, but only after a court order.

Apple insisted that its "walled garden" was an essential way of keeping users safe from malware and bad actors. However, various outsiders have commented that it's also a key way to keep tighter control over iOS and the App Store. Not just in terms of generating money, by charging commission on every purchase or in-app transaction, but also to keep out apps that Apple doesn't like.

That's the kind of thing that would look very appealing to Google. Purchases through Google Play apps also earn Google commission, and locking Android down means it could police the kind of apps it doesn't want people to have. Like ad-blockers, which are nowhere to be found on Google Play, but can be easily installed from other sources.

Google has never gone on record to confirm this, but even if protection from malware is the driving force behind this change, the opportunity to police Android software in this way wouldn't be unwelcome either. All Google had to do was steal Apple's playbook and insist that it, the multi-trillion-dollar tech giant, needs to hold your hand because it knows what's best for you.

The compromise retains sideloading freedom, with some hurdles

Google has since admitted that it isn't going to make users "choose between an open ecosystem and a secure one." Apparently, it's "heard from power users" who want to install whatever software they like, regardless of whether the developer has been verified by Google or not. This is where the new "Advanced Flow" option comes into play.

All of the changes relating to developer verification are staying in place, which makes sideloading harder. But Google has seen some sense, and is graciously giving sideloading fans the freedom to continually install whatever the heck they want and when they want. They just have to jump through some hoops first.

Advanced Flow is a multi-step process that involves heading into developer settings, (which aren't accessible unless you specifically unlock them first), and confirming that you're making this change of your own volition and aren't being coached by another person. You'll then need to restart your phone, pass user authentication, and agree to a 24-hour security delay.

Only after those 24 hours have passed will you be allowed to switch off the anti-sideloading systems and install apps from unverified developers. You'll have the option to make this temporary, meaning everything resets after seven days, or switch everything off indefinitely. It's not going to stop Android from flashing warnings every time you try and sideload, but it means you won't need to wait 24 hours.

This checklist of steps is, according to Google, to make sure people aren't being tricked into installing malware. The forced restart is to sever any calls from scammers, while the 24-hour waiting period is to give you time to think and "break the spell" created by manufactured urgency.

Honestly? This is a system I can happily get behind. If you've ever had to deal with a relative who used to install every browser toolbar or piece of bogus antivirus software they come across, you'll know the kind of people these new measures are designed to protect. Putting obstacles in their way can only be a good thing. So long as the rest of us aren't locked down because of their ignorance.

Changes to sideloading are coming into force in some regions later this year, including Brazil, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. A global rollout won't happen until some point in 2027.

Had the 24-hour waiting period been imposed for every sideload, I'd probably be sharpening my collection of pitchforks as we speak. But since users will have the ability to retain old-school sideloading, I don't think these particular hoops are that bad. Just as long as you've been proactive enough to handle them before you need that crucial sideloaded app.

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