Google has announced that starting in September 2026, all Android app developers will have to prove who they are, no matter how their apps are distributed, whether through the Google Play Store or other means like sideloading or third-party app stores. This is a big step toward making the Android ecosystem safer and more trustworthy. This change in policy is meant to cut down on fraud, malware, and lack of accountability on the Android platform, but it has sparked debates about what it will mean for developers and Android’s open ecosystem.
The New Policy for Verifying Identity
The new rule says that all developers who make apps for Android devices that have Google Mobile Services (GMS) must give real personal or business information. This includes:
· Legal Name: The full legal name of the individual or organization.
· Address: A valid physical address.
· Email and Phone Number: Contact information for verification purposes.
· D-U-N-S Number: Required for organizations, this is a unique identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet to verify business legitimacy.
This requirement applies to all apps on GMS-certified Android devices, which are most Android smartphones and tablets outside of places like China, where GMS is not as common. Developers who distribute apps through sideloading, alternative app stores, or other channels that aren’t the Play Store are not exempt. This is a big change from how Google used to handle non-Play Store distribution, which was more relaxed.
What made the change?
Google’s reason for this policy is to make users feel safer and more trusted. The company says that bad people are getting smarter and using Android’s open ecosystem to spread malware, phishing apps, or fake software. Google wants to make developers less anonymous by requiring them to prove their identity. The company says this will help catch bad actors who try to avoid being found and held accountable.
Google said in its announcement that “anonymity can make it easier for bad actors to operate without being seen.” “We’re making the ecosystem safer by checking the identities of developers. This way, users can trust the apps they download, whether they come from the Play Store or another place.”
Google’s current Play Protect system already checks all apps, whether they come from the Play Store or are sideloaded, for bad behavior. The new verification process, on the other hand, focuses on linking apps to verified developer identities. This makes it harder for bad actors to hide behind fake or temporary accounts. This is in line with what has been happening on the Play Store, where developers have had to verify their identities for a while now.
What this means for developers
The policy is meant to make things safer, but it has developers worried, especially independent and small-scale creators. It could be hard for people to meet the requirement to share personal information:
Privacy-Conscious Developers: Some developers, especially those who live in places with strict governments, may not want to share personal information because they are worried about their safety or privacy.
Small Developers and Hobbyists: Getting a D-U-N-S number (for organizations) or following verification processes could be too much work for hobbyists or small teams with limited resources.
Developers in Emerging Markets: In areas where sideloading is common because of high costs or lack of access, the new rules could make it harder for local developers who don’t use the Play Store to get their apps out there.
Some people say that the policy could hurt innovation by making it harder for independent developers to work, which is something that has always worked well in Android’s open ecosystem. Android has been praised for its flexibility for a long time, allowing developers to distribute apps through many different channels. iOS, on the other hand, has a tightly controlled App Store. Some people are worried that requiring identity verification could make this openness less so, even though Google says that developers can still distribute apps outside of the Play Store.
Google’s Promise to Be Open
Google has made it clear that the new policy does not limit the open ecosystem of Android. Developers can still sideload apps, use other app stores, or send apps directly to users without going through the Play Store. The only thing that has changed is that Google now requires developers to prove their identity before their apps can be installed on GMS-certified devices.
Google plans to roll out the policy in stages, starting in September 2026, to make the change easier. The company will also ask developers for feedback to improve the verification process and fix any problems that might come up. Google hasn’t said yet if some types of developers will be exempt or how it will deal with edge cases like open-source projects or apps that are only available in places where verification is hard to get.
Finding a balance between security and openness
Google’s new identity verification policy shows how they are trying to find a balance between Android’s open nature and the need to keep users safe from bad apps. Android devices make up more than 70% of all smartphones in the world, so it’s very important for Google and its users to have a safe and reliable ecosystem.
The policy will only work if it is put into action, though. If Google can make the verification process easier and listen to the concerns of small developers, it could make Android more trustworthy without pushing developers away. On the other hand, if the process is too hard or keeps people out, it could drive developers away from the platform, which could help competitors like other app stores or even iOS.
What comes next?
Developers will need to get ready for the new rules as the September 2026 deadline gets closer. People who have already been verified on the Play Store may not see many changes, but sideloaders and developers of other app stores will have to learn how to use Google’s verification system. The tech community will be very interested to see how Google strikes a balance between Android’s openness and its security goals.
For now, both developers and users have to think about what this change means. Will it make Android safer, or will it hurt the platform’s free-spirited developer culture? Only time will tell.
