This is no longer accurate. Here are the important details.

Google:

We are introducing an advanced flow through which advanced users will be able to install an app from an unverified developer after acknowledging the potential risks and completing a one-time setup.

Android is introducing an advanced flow for power users who want to take educated risks to install apps from unverified developers. It’s a one-time setup for users to install apps from unverified developers after acknowledging the risks. It’s designed to protect user choice while adding in safeguards to protect users from being tricked or coerced into disabling security protections. Preview it in our video or blog post. Last updated: March 23, 2026

You can continue to use any alternative app store. For apps distributed from verified developers, users won’t see a change in their download experience at all. For apps distributed from unverified developers, users can enable advanced flow with a one-time setup. Last updated: June 8, 2026

I urge you to edit your post to clarify what’s really happening. I’ve been feeling sour about the whole situation for weeks, and was so relieved that there’s a solution besides wiping my phone.

I might install GrapheneOS anyway, at some point, but I no longer feel I must do so to keep using the 20 or so F-Droid apps I use. I was really not looking forward to wiping my only phone.

As soon as I can buy a solid Linux phone, I’m ditching Android and Google forever, but for now, I’m glad I can just keep doing what I’m doing. You just have to jump through a few hoops to enable installing and updating software from “unverified” developers, but whatever… It sucks to have to do it and wait 24 hours to complete the setup, but once you do, you can install any apps you want.

Downvoted for sharing the truth. Good job, Lemmy. 😑

Stop calling it sideloading. Its called “installing software” on my phone. my phone that I paid for. The one that i own.

I’d move immediately if it wasn’t for those few apps that simply won’t work.

If only most people could afford moving to compatible hardware in the first place. And if you say “just root your current phone”, two or three bad news: many models no longer allow it at all, many don’t even have a compatible custom ROM, and even if you do, the device attestation checks many apps have been gradually adding will lock you out of apps that range from difficult to replace, to illegal to not use for specific legal processes such as the upcoming age attestation in some countries. Which is to say: proper privacy will only be available from now onwards for people capable of affording two physical devices.

Gotta inform the public of what’s to come. Age verification will lock people into the duopoly of android and apple.