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Google is requiring mandatory developer verification for all Android apps in 2026 (keepandroidopen.org)

submitted 1 month ago by TheTearMiser@lemmy.world to c/android@lemmy.world

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If you haven't seen this yet, Google is planning to require mandatory developer identity verification for all Android apps, including apps distributed outside the Play Store, taking effect September 2026. This affects every independent and open source Android developer directly.

This is not just about the Play Store. After September 2026, on any certified Android device, applications from unverified developers will be blocked by default. The only proposed bypass, the "advanced flow", exists only as a blog post and has not appeared in any beta, dev preview, or canary release. No one outside Google has seen it.

The community has been fighting back at keepandroidopen.org:

Read the full breakdown of what this means
Sign the open letter (organisations only)
Contact your national regulators — contacts listed by country on the site
Add the countdown banner to your project

September 2026 is closer than it looks. The time to push back is now.

(page 2) 50 comments

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[-] MrRandom@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago

time to figure out how to root my phone

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[-] Justifier@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Never owned an iPhone

Currently on android purely for alternative os's

Next phones for my family will either be Linux, if they hold the line, or iPhone if no one does

Why would anyone pick a garbage Android device if they're as locked down as iOS and costs as much?

Make it shitty, Google. I hope companies that behave as yours are get the same enshitification ending

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[-] rainbowbunny@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

Google: "Only I can make malware apps!"

[-] BigBenis@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Starting to think phones should just go back to being exclusively for calling and texting anyway, maybe emailing too. Everything else can be done from a laptop. Does it really make our lives better to have access to everything through our phones?

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[-] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

google can eat shit.

the moment I see a viable linux phone, I'm out.

[-] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago

But they did this knowing that at this point there is not a viable alternative. It's both monopoly, vendor lock, eee and enshittification all at once..

[-] HazardousBanjo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

They've officially outlined the advanced flow process, and adb is exempt from even that.

Muta's video on this:

https://youtu.be/uN8U63S3-mc

[-] m3t00@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

verified but still not responsible.

[-] developer@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

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this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2026

373 points (97.7% liked)

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