- Google’s latest app requirement may soon block the sideloading of apps from unregistered developers.
- The change could impact readers who rely on sideloaded apps on their Android-based eReaders.
- The new requirement will begin rolling out in September 2026.
Google’s latest app requirement claims to protect users, but feels more like a move for greater control. In accordance with the “developer verification requirement,” developers will need to confirm their identities to distribute apps, including outside the Play Store. We’ve covered the change here at Android Authority, and even dug into how it could affect gamers. But eReaders are another corner of the Android ecosystem where this policy may hit harder than expected.
A niche casualty of Google’s security push
