Overview

• Rollout schedule: early access in October 2025, verification opens to all in March 2026, and enforcement starts in September 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, with global expansion from 2027.
• The policy applies to every install method on certified Android devices, including sideloading and third-party stores, though Google says distribution choice remains.
• Google cites internal analysis showing over 50 times more malware from internet‑sideloaded sources than from apps on Google Play.
• A new Android Developer Console will support verification for distribution outside Play, with a separate track for students and hobbyists and D‑U‑N‑S numbers required for organizations per existing Play policies.
• Key implementation details remain unspecified, including how devices will check verification status and what users will encounter when attempting to install an unverified app.