Google: “Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified. We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.”
Thank god. I would’ve ditched Android for good if this went through, and while it sounds like it would be annoying for casual users to enable unverified apps, at least we can still install them.
Don’t consider this a win, guys, this is more of an ‘Oh shit, we’re screwed if we follow through with this right now’ moment, there’s nothing stopping them from walking this back at a later, less turbulent date when no one’s paying attention, and locking Android down anyways, as this directly reminds me of the situation which caused WEI to be scrapped.
Also, the EU pushing Chat Control through the back door might embolden Google to both try an Android lockdown just like was going to roll out before, and try WEI again, and get both actually pushed through somehow.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if MS were emboldened to try to lock down PCs… Again…
I mean, sure, but there was never anything stopping them from doing this in the first place except public pressure. Large companies changing tracks due to public demand is a good thing, and definitely a win.
I think its better to simply realize that a win doesn’t mean the fight is over. It’s okay to be happy about a success. Just don’t let up on the pressure.
I’m just waiting for the moment Valve also decides to enter the mobile market :)
Google: “Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified.
I’ve been side loading apks since I bought my first Android phones and am much more concerned about malware “safe” apps from Google’s Play store. Google’s quality control is shit.
Yes. I wonder how many people unknowingly updated Simple Mobile Tools apps after the new owner’s buy-in.
never wanted to use side-load on a g-phone. get a different os and we’ll talk. likely enable it in dev options because of it’s preexisting warning/disclaimer.
Easing is not removing.
Anything more than a warning and disclaimer popup is too much.
I’m OK with jumping through more hoops – once.
Once I told the device that I know what I’m doing, it shouldn’t be more than a pop-up per install.
I’d agree that the option is inportant to turn it off but one and done shouldn’t be the default cuz people fucking dumb, yo.
That’s not good enough. They’re just going to keep lightly pushing against the bad publicity until everything not controlled by Google on your phone goes away.
We need an alternative made without googles shitty hands in the mix. This forced duopoly between Apple and Google sucks. No phone competition in the US also sucks. Overpriced Samsung or a Google phone, while companies Like Red Magic have fan and liquid cooled phones with huge batteries, more ram, and more storage, for less than a grand being sold around the rest of the world outside the US.
Stop it. You’re reminding me why I want to move my family out of the US. Its not just phones, everything is a facade here.
How about they drop the entire thing and keep it as it was and is?
victory is ours
It’s not sideloading, it’s installing. Stop giving into this idea that installing other apps is somehow bypassing normal methods!
I heard that if you don’t get your groceries via Walmart+ delivery, then it’s smuggling.
Transporting?
Great analogy
Google is paving the ground for Linuxphones.
It’s so blatantly obvious how evil they’ve become that it makes striving for alternatives a necessity.I want a linux phone! I heard Cape phones will be a thing for the general public in 2026. They said that they and the provider are very privacy focused. I pray they are being truthful.
I wasn’t aware of that.
Thanks for letting me know!
If this flow existed once for disabling the entire feature permanently, I would be okay with it. But it seems like they are going to intentionally make installing any software they don’t get a piece of painful to install every time. That is not an acceptable compromise.
We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.
The current system requires user to enable developer options, which is already hidden behind a dark pattern (tapping the Build number multiple times) then enabling the installation of apps of unknown sources for specific apps, which also comes with a warning.
It’s basically what we have already, so cut the bullshit and leave it be.
That’s not a dark pattern…
Err, that’s not true on the last fee devices I’ve used, Pixels and a Fairphone. Installing apps from APK files doesn’t require me to enable dev options. In fact trying to install an APK from say Files brings me straight to the permission setting. It’s also per-app. It can be accessed under Settings > Apps > Special app access > Install unknown apps.
That’s not what the phrase “dark pattern” means.
On Samsung it’s: download APK, run it, see the warning, tap “allow third party installations”, flick a switch, tap “install”.
that warning was not at all prominent, and as others have said, t does not exist anymore on modern android
In some ROMs at least, unknown sources for specific apps is not in the developer options.
I have an app on F-Droid. Nothing special, basically something I wrote for myself. I was thinking about putting it on Play Store so I can share it with friends that don’t use F-Droid but with those new requirement I’m 100% not doing that. Fuck Google.
Uh-huh, sure, just about protecting the users. Nevermind that actual malware is regularly found on play store, and exactly 0 times – on f-droid they’re “protecting” the users from.
Check your sources, we have had issues on F-Droid. Better than google play store though, because the average F-doid user is more tech savvy than the average GPlay user.
… continues to make Play Integrity an integral part of Android and making all the stupid banking and govt apps requiring having it on your phone thus making it harder to de-google.
still no… fuck you.
Degoogle now before they install their malware on your device(s).
If you can get your hands on a pixel, get grapheneOS. If not, get LineageOS or degoogle your phone. With LineageOS you’ll have to make do with internet banking instead of banking apps.
Not to be that kind of guy, and I upvoted your comment, but isn’t it ‘make due’? I might be wrong, however.
Depends on the bank.
This is what I’m struggling with. I use an app-only challenger bank, so I feel a bit stuck unless I change everything…
Well some thing is going to change no matter your struggles. :(
So true. I’m loathed to lose the interest rate, but needs must when the devil drives, and boy is he driving right now.
I had one bank like that but when I called them they were able to disable the app challenge and use text/email instead. The catch was that if I ever opened the app again it was re-enabled.
It’s literally ONLY got an app. No web, no branches. They’ve become quite common and popular in the UK (like Revolut).
Aren’t there challenger banks that have website interfaces?
Yep. Monzo implemented an emergency-use website about 5 years ago, Revolut shortly after (and I think they have a desktop app now). I’m with neither (though I can SEE my accounts online, I cannot DO anything with them).
I’m glad banks around these parts don’t require an app to function.
