By Ben Schoon
Publication Date: 2026-01-19 16:15:00
Google announced changes to Android app sideloading last year that would require developer verification as a safety measure, but the company somewhat backtracked with a solution for “experienced users” that would allow for installs without verification. Google is now doing some early prep work on the “Install without verifying” flow, which Google itself calls “high friction.”
In August 2025, Google announced that Android would require a developer verification program to install apps, even if they were manually sideloaded by the end user. Following up on that announcement, Google confirmed in November 2025 that there would be an installation option for “experienced users” that would allow apps to be sideloaded without the need for developer verification.
Fast forward to this month, and the folks over at Android Authority noticed strings within the Google Play Store app that pointed to work on this new flow. The strings found are now…
