By @Adamya_s
Publication Date: 2026-01-19 03:14:00
This prompt will show up on Android 8.0 and later. You must give individual apps the ability to install apps in newer versions of Android.
TL;DR
- Google says Android is getting a “high-friction” sideloading flow.
- The company insists it’s about user awareness, not blocking installs.
- The big question is whether this added friction will stay educational or quietly make sideloading on Android harder.
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Replying to our story on X, Matthew Forsyth, Director of Product Management, Google Play Developer Experience & Chief Product Explainer, said the system isn’t a sideloading restriction, but an “Accountability Layer.” Advanced users will still be able to choose “Install without verifying,” though Google says that path will involve extra steps meant to ensure users understand the risks of installing apps from unverified developers.
That explanation broadly matches what we’re seeing in recent versions of Google Play,…
