Google is easing its upcoming Android sideloading rules by creating new exemptions for hobbyists and power users, while still pushing ahead with identity verification to combat rising malware and scam threats.
Google has softened its stance on upcoming Android sideloading restrictions, announcing new exemptions for students, hobbyists, and experienced users following community backlash over developer verification requirements.
The policy, first unveiled last month, will require developers who distribute Android apps outside the Google Play Store to verify their identity.
Google had said the move is aimed at combating scams, malware, and social engineering attacks that exploit sideloading to trick users into installing malicious apps.
However, critics warned that the rules could harm the open nature of Android by making it harder for independent developers to share apps privately.
In a new blog post, Google acknowledged the concerns, saying it had “heard the early feedback – specifically from students and hobbyists who need an accessible path to learn, and from power users who are more comfortable with security risks”.
In response, the company is creating a dedicated account type for noncommercial developers, allowing small-scale app distribution without full verification.
Additionally, Google will introduce an “advanced flow” for expert users who want to install unverified apps.
This system will include clearer, non-bypassable warnings and safeguards to ensure that users understand the risks – while preventing scammers from coercing people into disabling security checks.
Google defended the overall verification framework as essential to fighting rising fraud, citing a common scam in Southeast Asia where victims are pressured to sideload “bank verification apps” that steal authentication codes.
The company is now inviting developers to early access for its new verification tools through the Android Developer Console, with wider rollout expected in 2026.
The updated policy signals Google’s attempt to balance security and openness, maintaining Android’s flexibility while tightening protections against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Google slightly walks back Android sideloading changes
