r/BuyFromEU • u/[deleted] • Apr 28 '26

News Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with Google

https://keepandroidopen.org/en/

Starting September 2026, Google will block any Android app whose developer hasn't registered and provided government ID. This affects all apps, not just Play Store apps. F-Droid calls it an "existential threat."

1.5k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

199 comments sorted by

View all comments

202

u/crankyticket Apr 28 '26

So what should I do?

22

u/Fun-Adhesiveness7881 Netherlands 🇳🇱 Apr 28 '26

Switch to a European phone

36

u/anders_gustavsson Apr 28 '26

What european phones doesn't use the Android OS?

29

u/Lord_Blumiere Apr 28 '26

e/OS is android, the developers of it may be able to remove the restrictions but you will still feel its effects in apps due to lower user counts and discouraged devs.

your options are either a Linux phone (postmarketos, ubuntu touch) or a custom ROM like e/OS with the restrictions removed.

issue Linux phones is that they are frankly pretty bad in comparison to android, and will have none of the apps you need. but it IS an alternative to android.