{
  "id": 1795634,
  "title": "Google begins rolling out Android’s controversial new sideloading flow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/google-begins-rolling-out-androids-controversial-new-sideloading-flow",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-18T20:26:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Authority",
    "slug": "android-authority",
    "url": "https://www.androidauthority.com/google-android-advanced-flow-sideloading-rollout-begins-3700073/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Google has commenced the deployment of its innovative new sideloading process for Android applications. This advanced flow requires users to restart their devices and wait for 24 hours before they can install apps from unverified developers. The company has announced the rollout in advance of enforcing developer verification on September 30 in four countries. This is a result of the previously disclosed Android changes that were set to introduce a new process for sideloading apps, complete with a 24-hour waiting period. The news was made public by Mishaal Rahman, Android Community Engagement Manager at Google, who shared the rollout details on the r/Android subreddit. Google categorizes this as the initial version of the advanced flow and emphasizes that it will be rolled out gradually, so the new setting may not be immediately visible to all users. The announcement provides further specifics on the functioning of this process.",
  "summary": "The first version of Android’s advanced flow is gradually arriving, with a restart and 24-hour delay built in.",
  "key_points": [
    "Google starts rolling out new Android sideloading flow",
    "Users must restart devices and wait 24 hours for app installs",
    "Verification enforcement begins September 30 in four countries"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Google",
        "title": "Google ‘gradually’ rolling out Android’s ‘advanced’ sideloading ahead of developer verification",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/google-gradually-rolling-out-androids-advanced-sideloading-ahead-of",
        "published": "2026-08-18T21:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}