148 days to go...
"""
Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google.
This registration will involve:
- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers
"""
@alice Last i heard this changed to allowing unverified developers to keep making apps and allowing them to be installed but putting in a one-time Brady Bill "wait period" for installing them
edit: yeah it's right there on the page and as stupid as it is (i get it, middle ground and such), i actually don't like this group's final line here:
"Until Google provides a shipping implementation that can be independently verified, our position remains unchanged: all apps from non-
registered developers will be blocked once their lockdown goes into effect in September 2026."
i mean they've specifically said they won't block apps so it's a little facetious of this group to scream "our position remains unchanged: *ALL APPS WILL BE BLOCKED*".
ruins credibility, moves goalposts.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/897420/android-sideloading-unverified-developers-process
@alice it definitely isn't "you cannot install ANY apps"
and the waiting period is stupid but it's a one-time. would be better if they just made you sign a waiver.
I'm just commenting on sending info saying it's going to be impossible unless you register for a developer account. that's not accurate
@quasirealsmiths you misread the article and jumped to conclusions.
Currently, I can make an app, package it up, and send it to whoever I want. I can post it in other app stores. I can sell it on my website.
Soon, I won't be able to do that without Google's permission.
Requiring registration, having a waiting period before I can install non-Google apps, having the "free" registration option limited to 20 devices—that's not open. That's a multibillion dollar US corporation gatekeeping what you can do with your own "open" hardware, on an "open" OS.
@alice i've read this again and don't see it
it sounds like the limited developer is what you're citing, but they also allow completely "unverified developers" which to me sounds like just installing and building APKs like you've said
do i like a 3 tiered developer system? no. it seems it's more of a way to control the store's contents better.
unless i'm missing something readin this, i'll still be an unverified developer making my APKs for around here and i'll be able to install them on my phones but will have to do a stupid 24 hour waiting period one time to do it.
i take issue with the keepandroidopen people saying flat out "our position remains unchanged. *ALL* apps from non-registered developers *WILL BE BLOCKED*
that doesn't sound true. i don't like misleading fear mongering when there's plenty to be annoyed with that's legit from this.
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
there is a link on that page specifically saying "For Developers who don't want to verify" that leads here: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html
where am i misreading and jumping to conclusions?
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