Google is introducing a 24-hour waiting period for Android users to bypass app verification when sideloading unverified applications. This change, part of a broader 2026 security overhaul, requires developers to pay a $25 fee and provide identification for verification. The process, buried deep in developer settings, forces users to wait a full day before installing apps from unverified sources, aiming to deter high-pressure social engineering scams.

While the actual activation takes seconds, the delay is designed to make impulsive malicious installs much harder. The move comes as Google expands its developer verification program globally, starting in regions like Brazil and Thailand where malware threats are higher, though details on data retention and exceptions for developers in sanctioned nations remain unclear.