Google is tightening security measures for Android app distribution. Starting next year, the company will begin verifying the identities of developers who distribute apps on certified Android devices outside the Play Store. The global rollout of the new rules will be gradual, TechCrunch reports.
Android will remain an open platform: users will be able to distribute applications through other stores or by sideloading, but developers will not be able to remain anonymous. Google notes that this will reduce the spread of malware, financial fraud and theft of personal data. According to the company, the number of malware through sideloading is 50 times higher than on Google Play, where developer verification has been in effect since 2023.
Developers will be able to sign up for early access starting in October 2025, and verification will become mandatory for everyone starting in March 2026. The new requirements will be in effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand by September 2026. Starting in 2027, the rules will be implemented globally.
You will need to provide your legal name, address, email, and phone number for verification. Students and hobby developers will be able to use a separate type of Android Developer Console account.
The new requirements could significantly impact the Android app ecosystem and how apps are distributed, as Google seeks to reduce security and malware issues.