TL;DR Last year, Google announced that developers would have to register even when users are only sideloading their apps.
Eventually, Google backed down and offered to give advanced users an option for manual installs from unknown sources.
Ahead of that rolling out, we’re seeing Google Play begin to prepare for this system’s arrival.
Update: January 18, 2026 (11:18 PM ET): After publication, we heard from Marc Prud’hommeaux, the founder of the App Fair Project and an F-Droid board member, who pointed out that the warning strings we referenced are not entirely new to Android. Versions of this language have existed in Android’s system-level Package Installer since at least July 2025. This suggests that Google has been preparing the developer verification flow mentioned below for quite some time.
That said, our reporting focused on the fact that this language has now appeared inside the Google Play app itself, which is a new development. The move from system-level code to Google Play could signal that the company is actively preparing to surface this flow to users. Still, Google has yet to clearly explain how its promised “advanced” sideloading path will work in practice. Until the company offers more clarity, concerns raised by groups like F-Droid about the future of alternative app stores remain unresolved. However, replying to our original story, a Google exec confirmed that the new sideloading process will have a high-friction flow. Original article: January 16, 2026 (1:53 PM ET): Changes are coming to how Android users install apps outside the safety and protection of the Play Store. Google sounded the alarm last summer, warning the Android community that starting in 2026, even developers releasing apps for sideloading would have to register with Google. Following some immediate pushback, Google softened its stance a bit, ultimately agreeing to give informed users the option for an “advanced” installation flow that would support even unverified apps. And as we wait to see exactly how that’s going to work, we’re starting to spot some early pieces of it.
At least, we’re definitely identifying text strings recently added to Google Play (here we’re looking at version 49.7.20-29) that make reference to verified installs — and the ability to proceed even without verification. But we have questions about whether or not this represents that new “advanced flow” Google teased. Take a look:
Code Copy Text Install without verifying If you install without verifying, keep in mind apps from unverified developers may put your device and data at risk. Can't verify app developer No internet, can't verify app developer The app can't be verified at the moment
Even with us still uncertain exactly how these messages will appear to users, their content alone offers a bit of insight into what to expect. Clearly, there’s an active component to the process that requires a data connection, and without one available, users will be presented with a warning that developer status can’t be verified.
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