Google has put dates on a new Android safety effort that will affect how some apps are installed outside the usual app store system. The company says a new verification service is starting to roll out to most Android devices this month, but the bigger changes do not begin until later. For now, most people will not notice anything different on their phones.
According to Google’s Android Developers blog, the first major phase starts on September 30, 2026. That rollout will apply to users in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, and it will cover apps distributed through seven participating stores: Google Play, HONOR App Market, OPPO App Market, Samsung Galaxy Store, Palm Store, vivo V-Appstore, and Xiaomi GetApps. Google says the goal is to make it easier to confirm who made an app before it gets installed.
The company also laid out what happens next:
In July, Google plans to launch the Android Developer ID Status API globally and open early access to its Android Developer Console API and limited distribution accounts.
In August, those limited distribution accounts and the console API will launch globally, and Google will also launch an advanced flow for installing apps from unverified developers.
Google says that path will still let power users sideload apps, while adding extra security checks.
For smaller developers, students, and hobbyists, Google says the new limited distribution account will allow app sharing on up to 20 devices without a government-issued ID or a fee. Looking further ahead, Google says it plans to expand these verification protections globally across certified Android devices in 2027.
Source: Android Developers
