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Google Preps High-Friction 'Install Without Verifying' Sideloading Flow for Android

Google frames the in-development bypass as an accountability layer built to deter scams with warnings and extra steps.

Overview

  • Play Store code now references an "Install without verifying" option and includes warnings about risks from unverified developers.
  • The discovered text indicates certain checks may require an internet connection, suggesting live verification steps.
  • Google Play’s Matthew Forsythe describes the process as high friction and emphasizes that it is not a restriction.
  • Google says the flow is designed to resist coercion, using repeated prompts and clear explanations so users understand the risks.
  • The work extends the 2025 plan requiring developer verification for sideloaded apps, with an exception for experienced users that showed evidence of development months before the announcement.