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Google to Require Verified Developer IDs for All Android App Installs on Certified Devices

Google says identity checks raise accountability for sideloaded apps without reviewing app content.

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Attendees visit the Google booth where a model of the Android logo is on display at CES 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 06, 2023. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • A phased rollout begins with early access in October 2025, opens to all developers in March 2026, enforces in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026, and expands globally in 2027.
  • The requirement covers only certified Android devices that ship with Google Mobile Services, leaving non-certified or de-Googled builds unaffected.
  • Developers distributing outside Google Play will use a new Android Developer Console to verify identity and register package names and signing keys, with organizations providing D‑U‑N‑S and business documentation.
  • All installation paths are included, so apps from third-party stores and internet APKs must be registered to a verified developer account to install on certified devices.
  • Google cites internal analysis showing over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources and will offer a lighter verification path for students and hobbyists, with most Play Store developers already meeting these checks.