By Sarah Perez
Publication Date: 2026-03-19 17:00:00
After settling its lengthy antitrust battle over the Android app ecosystem earlier this month, Google said Thursday it will make it easier to install Android apps from outside the Play Store. The company shared new details about an “advanced flow” setting that will allow Android device owners to turn off a verification requirement, which otherwise prevents users from sideloading apps.
The tech giant announced last year that it would require all Android apps to be registered by verified developers to be installed on certified Android devices. By doing so, the company aimed to limit the ability of bad actors to distribute malware, conduct financial fraud, and steal users’ personal data through apps outside the Play Store.
While additional security mechanisms can help reduce those risks, some Android users want the freedom to install unverified apps and accept the responsibility if those apps turn out to be unsafe.
With the new “advanced flow” setting, users…
