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.

 

[Conan257]

There's a lot of diabetics who sideload apps which support better tools for managing their condition. Although it's unlikely most of those will struggle to get through the approval process, there are some "Build your own" apps which will never get approval as the app itself is unique to each person.

Medically, this is a step in the wrong direction....