Google says bye-bye to APKs: No sideloading on Android from 2026!

For years, Android users have celebrated one unique freedom: the ability to install apps from just about anywhere. Whether it was a beta build of a favourite game, a quirky open-source tool, or software from an indie developer, sideloading has been Android’s calling card. But that freedom is about to change in a way that may permanently reshape the platform.

What’s changing?

From September 2026, installing apps from outside the Google Play Store will no longer be a possibility. Every app will have to be tied to a developer whose identity has been verified by Google. This isn’t a soft recommendation; it will be a requirement for certified Android devices, going forward.

The rollout begins in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, before reaching the rest of the world in 2027. Developers will need to provide concrete information, legal name, phone number, email, even government ID or a D-U-N-S number for businesses, through a new registration console.

Google insists there will be a cheaper, easier track for students and hobbyists so the barrier isn’t insurmountable for newcomers.

Why is Google doing this?

Google says they are doing this for security. By Google’s own count, people who sideload apps are 50 times more likely to encounter malware than those who stick to the Play Store. Linking every app to a verified person or business gives Google a way to block repeat offenders and stop them re-emerging under fresh aliases.

This is also an extension of a policy shift that began in 2023, when Play Store developers were required to verify themselves in a similar fashion. That earlier step, according to Google, has already strengthened the store’s safety record.

What does this mean for users and developers?

Technically, sideloading isn’t going away. You’ll still be able to install apps from outside the Play Store, but only if the developer has registered with Google. If not, the installation simply won’t proceed. That’s a jarring change for people who rely on alternative browsers, region-specific apps, or community-built software.

For developers, the choice is narrower. Those already in the Play Store won’t notice much difference. But those distributing software independently, often to avoid fees or restrictions, will face a trade-off: verify their identity and give up anonymity, or risk being shut out of a massive global audience.

The bigger picture

Well, many critics argued that this will undermine the very openness that distinguished Android from Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem. Supporters, on the other hand, see it as overdue hygiene for a platform that’s become too easy for bad actors to exploit.

With nearly 4 billion people using Android phones worldwide, Google controls close to 70 per cent of the mobile operating system market. That dominance makes its new sideloading rules especially significant. Independent developers who depend on distributing their apps outside the Play Store could suddenly find themselves boxed in, while users who prefer alternative app stores or customised tools may discover their choices shrinking.

At its heart, sideloading will still exist, but with an important caveat: every path now runs through a framework designed and enforced by Google. Whether this shift feels like progress or a setback really hinges on perspective. Some will welcome the added layer of safety, while others will see it as another door closing on Android’s long-standing promise of openness.