Time to Bail · Boarding pass
Partly.
It started September 30, 2026 in four countries. It comes worldwide in 2027. ADB installs still work.[1]
Get ready means prices or limits are moving against some users. Plan a way out.
Android apps from unregistered developers get harder to install
Developers must now register with Google, or their apps will not install from many app stores. It started September 30, 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. It comes to all countries in 2027.
Tick steps as you go. Your progress stays in this browser.
Play developers: open Play Console Home and register any app that is not yet registered.
Full Distribution costs $25. Limited Distribution is free for up to 20 devices.
People can still install unregistered apps with ADB, with no wait.
| Started | September 30, 2026, in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand (four countries)[1] |
|---|---|
| Worldwide | In 2027, for all apps on certified Android devices[1] |
| Devices | Certified devices running Android 7+[1] |
| Participating stores | Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store, HONOR, OPPO, Transsion Palm Store, vivo and Xiaomi GetApps[3] |
| Full Distribution account | $25 fee[2] |
| Limited Distribution account | Up to 20 devices, no fee, no ID check[2] |
| ADB installs | Still work without verification, with no waiting period[2] |
| Advanced flow for users | Has a 24-hour waiting period[2] |
| Apps on Google Play | 99% registered automatically; register the rest by September 30, 2026[3] |
| Developers who share apps outside Google Play | Must register for their apps to install from participating stores[1] |
Check it yourself. Every fact above links here.
Time to bail on Installing Android apps from unregistered developers? Partly. It started September 30, 2026 in four countries. It comes worldwide in 2027. ADB installs still work.
On our scale this is Get ready: some people are hit, not all. Check if you are one of them, and get ready to move.
Developers must now register with Google, or their apps will not install from many app stores. It started September 30, 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. It comes to all countries in 2027.
Here are the facts we checked:
The rules for using the service changed. Read what you now agree to when you keep using it.
If the new rules do not work for you, plan your move now.
Google is the main source for this page. Android (developer verification) has not said more than what is listed here. If a fact is not on this page, we do not know it yet.
Developers who share apps outside Google Play: Must register for their apps to install from participating stores.
Export takes some work. Try it once now, before you need it.
There is no single date for everyone. Your own renewal date is the one that counts.
A few rules help every move go well:
Send one short email. Say what changed, where to find you now, and what they need to do. Put the most important line first.
If there is a date, send a short reminder a few days before it. Keep a copy of the list you sent it to.
Listed for convenience. Not ranked. Not paid. These names come up in threads and reviews; that does not show where people moved.
Before you pay, check the price page of each tool yourself. Prices change, and we only list what our sources say.
No questions collected yet.
Thanks.
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Arrivals · for builders
People leaving Installing Android apps from unregistered developers need a new home. Get the playbook for this change, and list your product here.
Listing is free. An editor checks it. Not ranked. Not paid.
One email when we publish a checked change in the category you pick. No account needed.