Android developer verification begins in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand

Since September 30, 2026, certified Android devices in four countries check that apps from seven app stores come from verified developers. Google plans a global rollout in 2027.

By Saurabh Khatri · Published Oct 18, 2026

Android developer verification begins in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand. Countries: 4, Devices: Certified, Android 7+, Full Distribution fee: $25, Limited Distribution: Free, 20 devices.

Google’s Android developer verification took effect on September 30, 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. On certified Android devices running Android 7 or later, installs from participating app stores now check that the app comes from a developer who has verified their identity. Google says it will expand verification to all apps on certified Android devices worldwide in 2027.

Which installs are checked

In the four countries, Google’s guide says the system verifies installs from seven stores:

Google Play
HONOR App Market
OPPO App Market
Samsung Galaxy Store
Transsion’s Palm Store
vivo V-Appstore
Xiaomi GetApps

What developers need

Apps on Google Play: Google says Play automatically registers 99% of apps. Use Play Console to register the rest, or apps you also distribute outside Play.
Apps only outside Google Play: register in the new Android Developer Console. A Full Distribution account there costs $25, which Google compares to Play’s $25 registration fee. Organizations need a D-U-N-S number.
Students and hobbyists: a Limited Distribution account, launched in August 2026, lets you share an app with up to 20 specific devices for testing and personal use, with no fee and no ID verification.

Sideloading is still possible

Users who want apps from unverified developers can turn on an “advanced flow” once. They enable developer mode, confirm no one is coaching them, restart and sign in again, then wait one day and confirm with a fingerprint, face unlock or the device PIN. After that they can allow unverified installs for 7 days or indefinitely. Google says the 24-hour wait is there to break the urgency that scammers rely on. It doesn’t apply to installs over ADB.

Who is affected

For now, any developer whose app reaches users in the four countries through one of the listed stores. Apps already on Google Play are mostly registered automatically. Apps distributed only through the other six stores need registering in the Android Developer Console. From 2027, Google says verification will cover all apps on certified Android devices.

What to do

Open Play Console or the Android Developer Console and confirm that each of your apps is registered to a verified account. If you distribute outside Play, set this up now rather than when the global rollout reaches your markets in 2027.