Mar 12
Why Google is restricting Android sideloading and what it means for the future of the platform
Googleβs new restrictions on Android sideloading represent a structural shift toward tighter platform control, limiting the traditional freedom to install apps outside official stores. For more than a decade, Android differentiated itself from other mobile ecosystems through openness. Users could install applications directly through APK files without relying exclusively on the Play Store.β¦
#Android 2026 changes#Android app distribution#Android developer verification#Android openness debate#Android security policy#Android sideloading#digital platform regulation#Epic Games lawsuit#Fortnite Android#Google Android policy#Google Play Store#mobile antitrust#mobile app ecosystem#tech industry competition#third-party app stores
