Starting in 2026, Google will change the rules for distributing Android apps: all developers, even those distributing apps outside the Play Store, will have to verify their identity. The company explains this as a need to reduce fraud and the spread of malware.
Starting in 2026, Google will change the rules for distributing Android apps: all developers, even those distributing apps outside the Play Store, will have to verify their identity. The company explains this as a need to reduce fraud and the spread of malware.
As TechCrunch reports, the new system will affect all certified Android devices. Distribution through third-party stores or direct download of APK files (sideloading) will remain possible, but anonymity for developers will disappear.
Google emphasizes that this is not about restricting the freedom of the ecosystem, but about a step towards safer use. According to the company’s internal data, more than 50 times more cases of malware infection were recorded through third-party sources than through the Play Store, where developer identity verification has been in effect since 2023.
Verification starts gradually:
Developers will have to provide their name, address, email, and phone number to register. This could force independent developers to register as companies to maintain privacy. At the same time, Google promises a separate account format for students and enthusiasts, whose needs are different from those of business developers.
Apple has already taken a similar step: from 2024, developers in the EU must indicate their status as a «merchant» in accordance with the requirements of the Digital Services Act. In this way, major players synchronize security practices in the global market.
For Android, this could be the biggest shift in the app distribution ecosystem in years. While Google says the system will protect users from scammers, critics say it raises the barrier to entry for smaller studios and indie developers who have valued the platform’s openness.
As a reminder, dev.ua also published an article about how Google was fined $314 million for collecting user data without their knowledge. The tech giant was found guilty of illegally using users' mobile data on smartphones with the Android operating system.
