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Google is making it so sideloading APKs on Android is no longer possible. This is one of many great reasons why that should not happen.
by mrinterweb 1y ago
Google is making it so sideloading APKs on Android is no longer possible. This is one of many great reasons why that should not happen.
- layer8 1y agoGoogle disputes that: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-security-answering-your-top.html https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-...
- VladVladikoff 1y ago>Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer. So it’s the same then. Google can just “unverify” a developer who has published an app the kings don’t approve of.
- papercrane 1y agoFor clarity, they're requiring apps to be signed by a verified developer on certified Android devices. You can still side load, but the verification is still required for the side loaded apps.
- fearless1ron 1y agoThis still means that Google is effectively gatekeeping what can be installed on the hardware you own and what cannot.
- DaiPlusPlus 1y agoFuture HN headline: Pam Bondi orders Google to revoke verification status and code signing certificates of authors of {partisan/politically-unfavourable Android app}
- deleted 1y ago[deleted]
- instagib 1y agoUnverified developers can still use adb to install whatever they choose per the link: “How does developer verification impact my use of Android Studio? We are working to ensure these changes don’t have an impact on your day-to-day workflow so you can continue building your apps as smoothly as possible. Participating in developer verification will not affect your experience in Android Studio, the official IDE for Android app development. You will continue to be able to build and run an app even if your identity is not verified. Android Studio is unaffected because deployments performed with adb, which Android Studio uses behind the scenes to push builds to devices, is unaffected. You can continue to develop, debug, and test your app locally by deploying to both emulators and physical devices, just as you do now.”
- worik 1y ago> We are working to ensure these changes don’t have an impact on your day-to-day workflow Lies The workflow of Free Software developers, developing consumer software (a vital part of the software ecosystem) will be entirely jammed up and subject to the capricious whims of Google
- baobun 1y agoNon-developers are not considered here. Users without a PC and terminal know-how are left without any options. I don't believe that's an actual oversight...
- fearless1ron 1y agoI agree with you, but can we stop calling installing software on the hardware you own "sideloading"?
- VladVladikoff 1y agoYeah, we should just ironically lean into it even harder and call it “backdooring”. Jokes aside, when has pandering to people to change the status quo of colloquial word use ever worked?
- fearless1ron 1y agoWell, obviously changing "installing software" to "sideloading" worked somehow.
- lukeschlather 1y agoI don't change my use of such words for other people, I do it mostly to change my own thinking. If others want to join me and also change their thinking that's also good.
- permo-w 1y ago"queer"?
- ChrisArchitect 1y agohttps://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-security-answering-your-top.html https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-...
- mrinterweb 1y agoA government probably wouldn't have to push very hard for Google to revoke a dev's signing key, blocking apps signed with that key. So I don't see a difference. Technically sideloading will be possible, but Google will still have control of what apps can run on devices.
- mdhb 1y agoThis is why you should be developing for the web and not the App Store in the first place.
- pjmlp 1y agoOnly works if everyone stops helping Google to turn the Web into ChromeOS Platform.
- mdhb 1y ago[flagged]
- pjmlp 1y agoSomeone has to remember younger folks about IE 6 outcome, while others pretend only Chrome exists and ship Electron crap as well. Firefox barely surviving at 3%, Safari as the last one standing, remains to be seen if Servo or Ladybird ever become relevant. Yes, shitty point for anyone that only cares about Google's agenda to take over the Web.
- mdhb 1y agoIf there’s a coherent point in here I genuinely can’t find it.
- pjmlp 1y agoI can't help you there. This is what matters https://whatwg.org/ https://whatwg.org/ Not this https://developer.chrome.com/blog https://developer.chrome.com/blog https://www.electronjs.org/ https://www.electronjs.org/
- mdhb 1y agoSorry, I genuinely can’t even tell what you think we are talking about here at this point.
- cherryteastain 1y agoConversely, this and EU Chat Control are precisely why the powers that be will ensure it will happen. The importance of FOSS mobile OSes is greater than ever now.
- permo-w 1y agoif we're talking about the EU, for a provider the size of Google, not allowing third party application installs is illegal in the EU under the Digital Markets Act
- Palmik 1y agoThis doesn't necessarily mean they can't introduce developer verification process. (Meaning only Google verified and approved developers would be able to distribute APKs) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45411426 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45411426 It's really quite worrying how all these things (age verification, chat control, side-loading prevention, etc.) seem to be coming to bear in tandem across many countries.
- ath3nd 1y ago[dead]
- illiac786 1y agoStill waiting to see chatcontrol happen. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t believe it will happen.
- netsharc 1y agoAs an EU citizen, I never doubt the ability for the EU to do the wrong thing... The current European Commision president: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/zensursula https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/zensursula The previous president, Juncker, was the premier who made Luxembourg a taxhaven. Nowadays buying from Amazon in Europe you still get a purchase receipt from Amazon Luxembourg...
- bamboozled 1y agoWhat a coincidence ?
- ge96 1y agoman... things like this is why I was seeking another mobile OS at one point eg. wanting Pine64 to take off but alas... it needs more money to clarify I get it's Mobian or Postmarket etc... which you could put on an Android phone but yeah edit: the other thing was built in ads especially on cheaper phones like what you'd get at say Boost Mobile which I imagine is one of those subsidized costs thing phone is cheap because it's riddled with ads.
- mrinterweb 1y agoShocking no one, Google pulls the app too. https://www.404media.co/google-calls-ice-agents-a-vulnerable-group-removes-ice-spotting-app-red-dot/ https://www.404media.co/google-calls-ice-agents-a-vulnerable...
- archon810 1y agoThis is just flat out false. They're requiring developer registration. Sideloading is still possible if the developer key is registered.
- worik 1y ago> Sideloading is still possible if the developer key is registered To all intents and purposes it is not allowed, then. Google becomes the gate keeper by controlling registration "Trust us"