Google announced the Android developer verification (ADV) process in August 2025, which would require all developers to verify their identity, even if they distribute apps outside Google Play. Many users feared that the move could hurt sideloading.
Google softened its rules, with the recent ADV update, by letting students and hobbyists share their apps with a small group of users after a few verification checks, not requiring them to go through the full verification process or pay the $25 registration fee.
Android power users can continue to sideload unverified apps using “advanced flow” with security warnings. This move will keep Android open while still warning users about risky or harmful software.
If you’re a hobbyist developer or an Android power user, the latest development in the Android developer verification plan can put you at ease.
According to the recent Google announcement, students and hobbyists will have a “dedicated account” that allows them to distribute their mobile apps on a limited number of devices without completing the full verification requirements.
Additionally, the company is expected to introduce “advanced flow,” allowing experienced Android users to accept risks and install unverified apps.
This shift makes more sense when you see what came before. In August 2025, Google launched a developer verification plan that would require all Android developers, regardless of whether they are outside Google Play, to verify their identities.
That meant users could install apps only from verified developers, which many saw as the beginning of the end of sideloading on Android.
But why did Google introduce the developer verification in the first place, and why did it update its plan? We’ll break it down for you.
Why Google Announced Developer Verification in the First Place
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