Overview

• The requirement covers all install methods on certified Android devices, including sideloading and third‑party app stores.
• Early access starts in October 2025, verification opens to all developers in March 2026, and enforcement begins in September 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand before a global rollout starting in 2027.
• Google is building a new Android Developer Console for distribution outside Google Play, with a separate workflow tailored for students and hobbyist developers.
• Google cites analysis showing more than 50 times more malware from internet‑sideloaded sources than from apps on Google Play.
• TechCrunch reports developers will have to provide a legal name, address, email and phone number during verification.