Google Will Require Developer Verification for All Android Apps Outside Play Store

Google Will Require Developer Verification for All Android Apps Outside Play Store

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store , marking a major shift in how apps are distributed across Android devices. Starting next year, developers who publish apps outside the Play Store—through third-party app stores or sideloading—will need to verify their identities with Google. Image Credits:Alex Wong / Getty Images This update won’t close Android’s open ecosystem, but it will bring added accountability to developers who previously relied on anonymity. Google says the move is designed to protect users from malicious actors distributing malware, committing fraud, or stealing sensitive data. Why Google Is Making This Move Google’s internal research revealed a startling fact: malware is 50 times more likely to come from sideloaded sources than from apps distributed on Google Play. Since 2023, the Play Store has required developer verification, and the company now wants to extend the same protections to all certified Android devices. By expanding v…