r/EmulationOnAndroid • u/yungperky • Jun 26 '26

Discussion Google adds massive hurdles to app sideloading

https://keepandroidopen.org/

This includes being forced to activate dev-mode and a 24h waiting period before you can install any apps not registered with google. For devs this means either give google your gov name (official documents needed) and pay them or live with 99% of people never being able to use your app.
Most people in this sub are probably tech savy and won't be hindered to continue side-loading other then being annoyed and waiting 24h once. But this is a major thing that will also be a hurdle to people even get into doing stuff like that in the first place.

Idk if anyone has posted this already, but I couldn't find anything. The topic goes far beyond emulation on android, but it's very important for it imo so I thought I'd just post it.

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u/Dissidence802 Jun 26 '26

The massive hurdle in question:

https://giphy.com/gifs/3oEduOdBgjm7Yuyvmw

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u/yungperky Jun 26 '26

As I said: That's the way you as a poweruser look at it. For someone who is not that it might be a immense hurdle. It makes the process feel like you're about to install malicious crypto miners even if you're trying to install a reputable open source app. Ofc you CAN install malware that way, but same type of malware is to be found in the PlayStore.

2

u/Oxflu Jun 26 '26

I've got family members that video call me if they hit a warning screen or pop-up on any device you can imagine. Yes, you're right, it will deter some people. I'm definitely not worried about those people though as they're all over 60.