An Open Letter to Google regarding Mandatory Developer Registration for Android App Distribution

A new layer of security for certified Android devices

Starting in 2026 and in select countries first, Android apps must be registered to a verified developer in order to be installed.

Android developer verification  |  Android Developers

Get started building your Android apps.

Tim Sweeney on Twitter / X

Google is opening up Android all the way with robust support for competing stores, competing payments, and a better deal for all developers. So, we've settled all of our disputes worldwide. THANKS GOOGLE! https://t.co/Dq6eXNnZd0— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) March 4, 2026

Keep Android Open

Your phone is about to stop being yours. In 2027, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.

Android developer verification: Balancing openness and choice with safety

News and insights on the Android platform, developer tools, and events.

Unverified apps - Google Cloud Platform Console Help

An unverified app is an app or Apps Script that requests a sensitive or restricted OAuth scope, but hasn't gone through the Google verification process. Users of unverified apps or your test builds mi

Unverified apps - Google Cloud Platform Console Help

An unverified app is an app or Apps Script that requests a sensitive or restricted OAuth scope, but hasn't gone through the Google verification process. Users of unverified apps or your test builds mi

What We Talk About When We Talk About Sideloading | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

We recently published a blog post with our reaction to the new Google Developer Program and how it impacts your freedom to use the devices that you own in th...

Submitting your app for verification - Google Cloud Platform Console Help

Note: If you have completed any of the steps, please skip to the next step. Create or select a project for verification For your app to access an

This app is not verified by google even though it is verified

I am using google app Oauth for authentication. I Submitted the app and got verified. Verification status says Published and application type set to public But when i use it through my application...

App subscriptions were always inevitable

The future will be paid for in small increments

Tim Sweeney on Twitter / X

Finally, American developers will be free to compete with Apple’s App Store and payment systems here at home!A solid move to free the United States from the crony capitalist intentions of Big Tech and Big Law. https://t.co/7NXHiQxhEf— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) April 1, 2025

Evolving App Store Business Models - David Smith, Independent iOS Developer

I’ve been thinking this past week (as I often do) about the ever-changing landscape of the App Store. This year has seen some of the biggest changes in policy and structure that I can remember. We have new subscription pricing models, search ads, a substantial purge of older apps, new requirements for app names and a variety of little changes to the App Store app itself in iOS 10.

The world isn't ready for Google's Instant Apps

If you’ve been following the tech industry news lately, you might have heard about this new, unlaunched feature that Google presented at I/O this year: Android Instant Apps. According to the limited information released, users will be able to run subsections of a full native app on their phone without having to visit the Play Store once it’s live. Simply put, you click a link and you’re running the native app on your phone. There’s no Play Store page. There’s no "Install" button. There’s no waiting. Just an instant native app experience on Android.