Android Developer Verification

30 March 2026

Android is for everyone. It’s built on a commitment to an open and safe platform. Users should feel confident installing apps, no matter where they get them from. However, our recent analysis found over 90 times more malware from sideloaded sources than on Google Play. So as an extra layer of security, we are rolling out Android developer verification to help prevent malicious actors from hiding behind anonymity to repeatedly spread harm. Over the past several months, we’ve worked closely with the community to improve the design so we account for the many ways people use Android to balance openness with safety.

Today, we’re starting to roll out Android developer verification to all developers in both the new Android Developer Console and Play Console. This allows you to complete your verification and register your apps before user-facing changes begin later this year.

While verification tools are rolling out now, the experience for users downloading your apps will not change until later this year. The user side protections will first go live in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand this September, before expanding globally in 2027. We’ve shared this timeline early to ensure you have ample time to complete your verification.

Following this deadline, for the vast majority of users, the experience of installing apps will stay exactly the same. It’s only when a user tries to install an unregistered app that they’ll require ADB or advanced flow, helping us keep the broader community safe while preserving the flexibility for our power users.

Developers can still choose where to distribute their apps. Most users’ download experience will not change

To balance the need for safety with our commitment to openness, we’ve improved the verification experience based on your feedback. We’ve streamlined the developer experience to be more integrated with existing workflows and maintained choice for power users.

You’ll see your app's registration status in Android Studio when you generate a signed App Bundle or APK.

The Android developer verification page in your Play Console will show the registration status for each of your apps.

We’re rolling this out carefully and working closely with developers, users, and our partners. In April, we’ll introduce Android Developer Verifier, a new Google system service that will be used to check if an app is registered to a verified developer.

We’re committed to an Android that is both open and safe. Check out our developer guides to get started today.