Overview
- Google opened verification Monday to all developers in Play Console and the new Android Developer Console following an internal finding of far higher malware in sideloaded apps.
- A new system service called Android Developer Verifier will start appearing in April on devices to check whether an app is registered to a verified developer.
- Starting September 30, 2026, certified devices in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand will block installs and updates of unregistered apps, with a global rollout planned for 2027.
- For most people the install flow will feel the same, while unregistered apps will require ADB or an 'advanced' sideloading process that launches globally in August 2026.
- Students and hobbyists will get free limited accounts that allow sharing apps with up to 20 devices, with early invites in June and a global launch in August 2026.