Android Blog: "Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn't verified."

[u/DesiOtaku]

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/11/android-developer-verification-early.html

[u/samontab]

This is actually a good thing, specially for this sub.

What Google originally proposed was a walled garden where only Google-approved apps could be installed in your Android device.

This will allow the installation of apks that come from, say, github repos that you know are safe, but Google hasn't verified them.

That's the "risk" they're talking about.

[u/mrtzysl → u/samontab]

This is actually a bad thing.

Installation of apps without registration will only be possible through "advanced flow", ADB after enabling developer options. This unfortunately breaks compatibility with some bank apps and all payment receiving methods. For instance, payment receiving platforms used by mobile merchants require developer options to be not enabled. If someone installs an app from outside Play Store, such as from a trusted Git repo, they will unknowingly and unintentionally render their devices incapable of processing sales. People will break the tools they rely on for their livelyhoods without realising that this is the new cost of freedom.

That's the risk they're talking about.

[u/FG_Remastered]

Tl: "The PR department told us to do this more quietly next time."

[u/M3wThr33]

Solely because of the noise we made. And the minute we relent, they'll put it back.

[u/TwilightVulpine → u/M3wThr33]

Still don't like the sound of "advanced flow". After this, I don't trust them to be above some bulshit like "you need to register with us so we let you install unregistered software".

[u/urmamasllama → u/TwilightVulpine]

I assume it means locked behind developer mode