GOOGLE has begun rolling out Android developer verification to all developers to combat the distribution of harmful apps, ahead of a verification mandate that goes into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand this September before expanding globally next year.
Those who distribute apps outside of Google Play must create an account in the Android Developer Console to confirm their identity, while developers who distribute via Google Play and have verified their identity may be “already set.” For most users, the experience of installing apps will remain the same, but users installing an unregistered app will be prompted to use ADB or an advanced flow to proceed, a measure intended to deter scams while preserving flexibility for power users.
Android Studio developers will be able to see their app’s registration status within the IDE in the next two months when they generate a signed App Bundle or APK, and those who have completed Play Console’s developer verification requirements will have their eligible Play apps automatically registered. The article also notes a one-off, 24-hour waiting period for the advanced flow to deter scammers and emphasises this flow is designed as a one-time step for power users.