By Michael Kan
Publication Date: 2026-03-19 20:37:00
To stop scams and malware, Google is previewing a new safeguard for Android that’ll force users to go through a one-time 24-hour wait before they can sideload apps from unverified developers.
The safeguard is part of a new “advanced flow for sideloading” that Google is preparing, months after the company pulled back from requiring that all app installs on certified Android devices come from verified developers.
Back in November, Google mentioned that an upcoming “advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified” was in the works. On Thursday, the company finally revealed details all the while saying, “Sideloading is here to stay.”
But the program is already starting to face some backlash over concerns the guardrails go too far. The company has published a video, showing the advanced flow requires users to go through several steps before they can begin sideloading unverified apps. The…
