Earlier this year, we got to know that Google will be rolling out a new Advanced Flow for sideloading apps on Android, which adds several extra steps for users trying to install apps from unverified developers. Well, it's finally here.
How Does Advanced Flow on Android Work
Mishaal Rahman, Community Manager for Android at Google, took to a Reddit post to reveal that the "first version" of Advanced Flow is rolling out. According to Google, it is meant specifically for users who still want to install apps from unverified developers while adding safeguards against scams and coercion.
Once the Advanced Flow is triggered via a "Apps from unverified developers" toggle in Developer Options on Android, users have to go through several security checkpoints before they can install an unverified app. First, they need to enable Developer Options on their phone and confirm that nobody is guiding or pressuring them through the process.
Android then requires the phone to be restarted, after which users have to authenticate themselves again. They must then wait 24 hours before returning to complete the process with another fingerprint, face unlock or PIN verification.
Only after completing these steps can users install apps from unverified developers through the standard Android package installer.
The process is a one-time setup, meaning users won't have to repeat the entire sequence every time they install an unverified app. However, Google can require users to go through the process again if they disable the Advanced Flow for seven days or longer.
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ADB Still Bypasses the New Sideloading Restrictions
There is an important exception for developers and advanced Android users. Android Debug Bridge (ADB) remains available for installing unverified or modified apps without going through the Advanced Flow.
This means developers testing their own applications, as well as experienced users who regularly modify Android software, still have a relatively straightforward way to install APKs.
Google has also said that the Advanced Flow is not the end of sideloading. Users can continue installing apps from alternative app stores and directly from developers, with the additional friction primarily affecting apps from unverified developers.
The Advanced Flow feature is rolling out globally in August 2026, but developer verification enforcement begins on September 30 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
During this initial phase, apps distributed through participating stores will need to be registered with verified developers. However, unregistered apps can still be installed using ADB or the Advanced Flow.
Google plans to expand the developer verification requirement globally to certified Android devices in 2027.
So, Google isn't technically killing sideloading apps on Android. But for anyone who frequently installs APKs from smaller or unverified developers, Google is making the process noticeably more tedious.
The trade-off is that the extra friction could make one of Android's biggest security weaknesses harder for scammers to exploit.
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