What you need before starting
- An Android device running Android 8 or newer, since that’s the minimum version Google’s verification system service supports
- Access to your device’s Developer Options menu
- About 24 hours of patience, since the process includes a mandatory waiting period
- The APK file you want to install, from a source you actually trust, since verification doesn’t check whether an app is safe, only who made it
Google’s Android Developer Verification requirement started blocking normal installation of unverified apps in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand this week, but sideloading hasn’t disappeared, it just takes more deliberate steps now.
Step 1: Confirm you actually need this
Developer Verification only affects “certified” Android devices, which covers more than 95% of Android phones outside China. If the app you want is from a verified developer or already on the Play Store, none of this applies, you can install it the normal way. This process only matters for apps from developers who haven’t gone through Google’s verification, including some open-source or niche apps that may never register.
Step 2: Turn on Developer Mode
Open Settings, scroll to About Phone, and tap the build number several times until Developer Options unlocks. From there, open Developer Options and enable it if it isn’t already on. This step alone doesn’t let you install anything yet, it just unlocks the menu where the rest of the process happens.
Step 3: Restart your device
After enabling Developer Options, restart your phone. This isn’t optional, the advanced installation flow Google built for sideloading unverified apps requires a fresh restart before it will let you proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Wait out the mandatory 24-hour hold
Once your device restarts, you’ll need to wait a full 24 hours before Google’s advanced flow allows the install to continue. This delay is intentional, it’s designed to stop someone from quickly bypassing verification in the heat of the moment, so plan ahead if you know you’ll need to sideload something.
Step 5: Reauthenticate and complete the install
After the waiting period ends, return to the install prompt and reauthenticate when asked. Once that’s confirmed, the install can proceed. If you’d rather skip the wait entirely, installing through Android Debug Bridge from a computer remains available as a separate option, though it requires enabling USB debugging and basic familiarity with ADB commands.
Source: The Hacker News