Sideloaders face ID checks, fees, and paperwork as Chocolate Factory tightens gates
Google will extend developer verification to all Android apps, not just those installed from the Play Store, beginning with Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026, and followed by global rollout in 2027 and beyond.
Currently, developer verification is already required for the Play Store but not for apps installed from other sources. Today, developers do not need to register with Google to deploy an Android app.
That is changing. Developers will now need an Android Developer Console account, which like a Play Store account requires a one-time $25.00 fee, linked to a Google payment profile.
Accounts can be either either personal or organizational, both of which require the submission of government-issued identity documents and verified phone numbers. Organizations must also submit business registration documents and have a verified website. Finally, each app package name must be registered with Google with a public key certificate from the app signing pair, verified by uploading a package signed with the private key, to link it to the verified developer, though it is not necessary to upload the actual Android Package Kit (APK) that will be distributed.
This information is subject to change, being based on a preview document [PDF] explaining the process. The company also said that there will be a less burdensome process, without a fee, for „students and hobbyists“, but details have yet to be revealed.
