Top News

Google is going to add another layer to the safety of Android device users. Many Android users install APK files directly from other third-party app stores or platform websites instead of the Google Play Store on their devices. In such a situation, users also get malware or other dangerous apps installed on their devices.

Now that they need to release an APK for Android devices, Android app developers will have to get it verified. Till now, developers have used the sideloading process to avoid Google's verification process. Google's new rules will come into effect from 2026.

Why did Google bring this rule?

Google said in an Android Developers blog post that the company is adding a new security layer for Android devices through this. Google says that hackers often target users by creating clone apps. The company said that during an internal review, they found that APK sideloading was causing 50 times more malware downloads than apps.

Google started verifying Android developers in 2023 to list apps in the Play Store. From next year, only those apps will be installed on Android devices that are verified by Google. Google says that this will make it difficult for hackers to target Android devices through APK files.

Early access for Android developers' verification will start from October. The company will soon send invites to developers. With this, it will start for all developers in March 2026. The verification process will first start in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand in September 2026. This rule will start globally in 2027.