In August 2025 Google unveiled a plan that, starting September 2026, will require every Android developer to register through a centralized portal. Registration mandates a fee, acceptance of new terms, government ID, upload of the private signing key and a full list of app identifiers. Without completing this process, the OS will block the app from installing or running to comply.

Consumers who bought Android devices on the promise of an open platform now face an automatic update that silently enforces the lock‑down. The change erodes the ability to sideload apps directly with friends or community members, turning the marketplace into a de‑facto gatekeeper across the ecosystem. Critics argue this shift gives Google unchecked power over software essential to businesses and governments.

Google later published a supposed “advanced flow” for power users, requiring multiple taps in Developer Options, a 24‑hour delay and repeated warning screens before unverified packages can be installed. The procedure lives inside Google Play Services, meaning Google could disable it without an OS update. As of now, for now, the flow exists only as mockups, leaving non‑registered apps permanently blocked.