Looks like Android is looking to kill sideloading

[chrismscotland]

They are much less likely to be held to account on things like that though if generally things are more locked down.

It hasn't stopped Apple being held to account; if anything they were far more restrictive and locked down before they were ordered to open up.

 

[413x]

Although I'd hate it.. I'm not sure what else I could use if they did this? Problem with a basic monopoly

 

[Orcvader]

F-droid finally made a statement on this: https://f-droid.org/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html

 

[darael]

Mr Firestick Man on Facebook won't like it if Android do block side loading apps.

 

[chrismscotland]

F-droid finally made a statement on this: https://f-droid.org/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html

Totally agree with them; I also think there's no chance at all this gets past the EU Competion Regulator. That said Google could easily do what Apple have done and have different rules/restrictions in the EU than other areas.
We're still in an odd place where the AltStore App Store is freely able to be sideloaded in EU territories yet its still a faff in the US, UK and elsewhere.

 

[something daft already!!]

I have only side loaded one app which is one I plan to use a lot. It's the app for my new drone.