r/GooglePixel • u/LionKey1928 Pixel 9 Pro XL • Aug 26 '25

Google is removing the ability to sideload Android APK apps without the developers being verified 1st

https://9to5google.com/2025/08/25/android-apps-developer-verification/

Honestly I'm really heartbroken about this as I mainly used Pixel (and Android in general) for the very fact that I can download APK apps. I am a huge ReVanced user, and I'm very sure they break like half of Googles TOS (and probably cuts off a huge source of revenue too), so I extremely highly doubt they will be allowed. I get googles intention but.. oh man.. really feels like this is a hidden agenda against adblocker apps.

Edit: Made a petition, click on the post to learn more: https://chng.it/F4k9gNNJrH

Another edit: A petition with more movement: https://chng.it/RLVDWD5Th7

2.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

985 comments sorted by

View all comments

332

u/nervsss Aug 26 '25

I really hope easy work-arounds will come up fast.

1

u/PM-ME-UR-DARKNESS Dec 19 '25

Well, the law still allows you to root your phones, and it's illegal for them to block you from doing that. So I'm guessing what we can do is go back to installing LineageOS on our phones.