Google: “Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified. We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.”
Thank god. I would’ve ditched Android for good if this went through, and while it sounds like it would be annoying for casual users to enable unverified apps, at least we can still install them.
Don’t consider this a win, guys, this is more of an ‘Oh shit, we’re screwed if we follow through with this right now’ moment, there’s nothing stopping them from walking this back at a later, less turbulent date when no one’s paying attention, and locking Android down anyways, as this directly reminds me of the situation which caused WEI to be scrapped.
Also, the EU pushing Chat Control through the back door might embolden Google to both try an Android lockdown just like was going to roll out before, and try WEI again, and get both actually pushed through somehow.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if MS were emboldened to try to lock down PCs… Again…
I mean, sure, but there was never anything stopping them from doing this in the first place except public pressure. Large companies changing tracks due to public demand is a good thing, and definitely a win.
I think its better to simply realize that a win doesn’t mean the fight is over. It’s okay to be happy about a success. Just don’t let up on the pressure.
Literally idk why people are saying “If this happens I’ll switch to an iPhone”
Like bruh Apple is even a more closed off walled garden? What sort of sense does that make to switch to something twice as expensive and gives you absolutely no control?
Even if Google decided to implement this in the future, I will never switch to an iPhone and neither should you
Trust me iBro, apple’s great, just ask their shareholders.
If I’m going to lose the main things I like about Android, like customizing things and installing my own software. Then yeah I would actually jump ship to the alternative because the chips are faster, the battery life is better, and the software would effectively be on par.
The point is that the jump would no longer be from a somewhat open platform to a closed one. It would be a jump from a closed platform to another closed platform.
Lol its like the Americans going “I’ll just move to China”…
Me as a someone who was born in mainland China and gained US Citizenship:
(meanwhile my grandmother just obtained US Citizenship too lmao)
This feels like Americans voting behavior. “The thing I liked has gone to shit, so as a protest I will take double shit with extra piss”
As opposed to what, buying a viable phone from those other guys?
What other guys?
At minimum a stampede of people moving to iPhones should theoretically cause Google to shit enough of a brick (providing capitalism actually works as advertised, and for the record I am trying like hell to keep a straight face as I type this) to correct their behavior in an attempt to win some of those users back.
Because at the end of the day most consumers are consumers, not nerds, and if neither platform is going to allow you control over your device and they’re both privacy nightmares you’re not much worse off with an iDevice if you plan on owning a smartphone in the first place.
What we really need is a viable third option. Hopefully an inherently non-shitty one. The barrier to market entry seems pretty high, though.
If this flow existed once for disabling the entire feature permanently, I would be okay with it. But it seems like they are going to intentionally make installing any software they don’t get a piece of painful to install every time. That is not an acceptable compromise.
I don’t believe it. We need actual options Vs Android.
Google is paving the ground for Linuxphones.
It’s so blatantly obvious how evil they’ve become that it makes striving for alternatives a necessity.I want a linux phone! I heard Cape phones will be a thing for the general public in 2026. They said that they and the provider are very privacy focused. I pray they are being truthful.
I wasn’t aware of that.
Thanks for letting me know!
I’m just waiting for the moment Valve also decides to enter the mobile market :)
Well, they do have few mobile devices with Ryzen and QC chips, they have been investing heavily in Linux OS recently, so crossing fingers Libre phone would collaborate with them to release Libre Phone Black Magick to the gamers, that would sway a big chunk of Android enthusiasts to switch, and then apps would follow.
If they decide to make the Steam Deck 2 actually a Steam Phone with controller attachments that could be a way for them to enter the mobile hardware.
Not enough cooling. A better idea would be to release a Steam Deck 2 with the same form factor as the 1 and a Steam Deck Mini with a phone form factor and the same performance as the original Deck.
hey just like Microsoft eased up on recall!
never wanted to use side-load on a g-phone. get a different os and we’ll talk. likely enable it in dev options because of it’s preexisting warning/disclaimer.
I have been looking at getting a flip phone and ditching this “Smart phone” bullshit altogether, I still might. I’m sick of this rug pull bullshit and no one can convince me they aren’t just going to try again.
Android is a thing on flip phones too now though.
Well I wont be getting one of those shit samsung/motorala phones so not a worry.
My daughter switched to a Nokia flip phone and has been enjoying it. So even some gen z are over the bullshit.
What one did she get? I still haven’t settled on one yet and could use some recommendations.
I bought her a Nokia 2780 Flip.
90 bucks! I almost fainted seeing a phone at a reasonable price. Thanks for the rec I think I’m gunna grab one on payday.
Yeah, and it was more like $60 at the beginning of the year before all the tariff bullshit. So, do keep in mind that the build quality isn’t going to be incredible, but my daughter has been using hers for months and with no issues other than having to learn how to send texts T9-style and the GPS navigation is a little annoying to use.
Oh man T9! I used to do that one handed without looking back in the day I wonder if I’ll still be any good at it.
It’s like riding a bike, you’ll be on it in no time!
I’ve been hoping for a low power 8" linux compat tablet. I’d just carry around a wireless access point.
$100 says they’re just going to make it require adb.
If you need to use adb to set a flag once that’s not too bad I suppose…
Oh no nothing so user-friendly. They’re gonna require them to be loaded via adb every time. And they’ll say that’s the only way they could do it for security or some shit.
That was already the case with the plan they had. This is supposedly something different.
They’ll make it requiring registration to enter a developer program or something to let you install crap.
Which would not be that much of a problem if not for the first 2 weeks, until someone put out a GUI to do it, with integration with app stores to download automatically the app…
oh wait…
Did you read the article?
The company is building a new ‘advanced flow’ that allows these users to accept the risks of installing unverified apps. Previously, the only permitted method for experienced users to install apps from unverified developers was to use ADB.
Google never actually mentioned ADB, so the article and you are misinformed.
It is you who is misinformed, because they did specifically say you will be able to bypass it with ADB (which now is going to be made easier, presumably).
One place they said so is here: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/09/lets-talk-security-answering-your-top.html
I really hope you’re wrong
I’m guessing they’re going to hide it in developer tools with a bunch of warnings and no explanation on how to get there so regular users don’t turn it on by accident.
Which would actually make sense.
What? Can you please make an effort to learn something, anything, about what you’re discussing before commenting on it?
Adb was always going to remain a viable method of installing “unsigned” apks. Google confirmed that pretty early on.
You now owe me $100.
That was the plan before this latest announcement. Presumably this will be something different, hopefully allowing F-Droid and friends to keep working on-device somehow.
I wonder if they realized phone sales would drop if they made it virtually impossible to maintain privacy apps and OS.
… continues to make Play Integrity an integral part of Android and making all the stupid banking and govt apps requiring having it on your phone thus making it harder to de-google.
still no… fuck you.
I’m glad banks around these parts don’t require an app to function.
Degoogle now before they install their malware on your device(s).
If you can get your hands on a pixel, get grapheneOS. If not, get LineageOS or degoogle your phone. With LineageOS you’ll have to make do with internet banking instead of banking apps.
Depends on the bank.
Not to be that kind of guy, and I upvoted your comment, but isn’t it ‘make due’? I might be wrong, however.
This is what I’m struggling with. I use an app-only challenger bank, so I feel a bit stuck unless I change everything…
Aren’t there challenger banks that have website interfaces?
Yep. Monzo implemented an emergency-use website about 5 years ago, Revolut shortly after (and I think they have a desktop app now). I’m with neither (though I can SEE my accounts online, I cannot DO anything with them).
Well some thing is going to change no matter your struggles. :(
So true. I’m loathed to lose the interest rate, but needs must when the devil drives, and boy is he driving right now.
I had one bank like that but when I called them they were able to disable the app challenge and use text/email instead. The catch was that if I ever opened the app again it was re-enabled.
It’s literally ONLY got an app. No web, no branches. They’ve become quite common and popular in the UK (like Revolut).
victory is ours
I’m still slowly moving towards a Linux phone. That I can install whatever on, of course.
Maybe even eInk screen. Just that currently there’s nothing with eSIM as well.
Is eSIM really the dealbreaker of all things?
For me it is yeah. It’s really convenient when traveling.
We were in Malaysia and Brunei last year and honestly dual sim on my phone worked way better than eSIM on my mum’s iPhone. No issues whatsoever.
I never claimed it worked better or worse. I’m saying my experience is good though. And the hassle is much less.
Can also come to another country prepared. I don’t have to be looking, swapping. It just works.
I mean I guess. We came prepared and the experience was still bad so I really don’t see the point of wSIM to be completely honest.
But if it works for you I can see how that might discourage you from picking certain phones.
I may simply have had a good run. But I do recall negative experience from the last, when I’ve used local SIMs. Ive been constantly harassed in some countries by their operators sending me ads all the time. Couldn’t be stopped.
No such issues currently with 2 eSIM providers that I use regularly.
Hey, could you expand on why you prefer eSIMs? I’ve seen this idea in many places but couldn’t find any reasons to prefer eSIMs over physical.
Very convenient for travel.
It’s not that hard to swap a sim.
I never said it’s hard. It’s much more convenient. Can also come to another country prepared. I don’t have to be looking, swapping. It just works.
Good luck, corporations and governments will make even that increasingly hard with essential apps requiring tampering attestations from the big vendors, so you may need two devices.
I don’t know, sometimes there’s a flash of bright light at the end of the tunnel
Two steps forward, one step back
Is any national dictator’s army yet doing the “two steps forward, one step back” march to appear less scary?
…is the easiest way to get a controversial change through.
Decide what you want to do, suggest something way more absurd, the go “oh we listened and we are only going to do [the original thing we wanted to in the first place]”
