This is how Google will simplify 'sideloading' apps on Android devices

Google has agreed to make sideloading apps on Android devices easier as part of a proposed Play Store settlement in a class action lawsuit. This move addresses long-standing concerns about the company’s control over app distribution on its mobile platform.

In the initial announcement, Google didn’t reveal much about the specifics of how it’ll be simplifying the sideloading process on Android devices. “As part of our settlement, we will be further simplifying the sideloading process and updating the language that informs users about these potential risks of downloading apps directly from the web for the first time,” Wilson White, VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google, stated.

Thanks to the official Settlement Agreement and Release document, we now have details of how Google will simplify sideloading on Android devices in the U.S. The proposed changes aim to streamline the sideloading process, providing users with a more straightforward experience while maintaining a focus on security.

Currently, enabling sideloading from a specific source requires navigating through multiple screens and settings. The new flow will combine these steps into a single, streamlined screen, eliminating the need to delve into Settings. Essentially, Google will combine the pop-up screens showing the text “For your security, your phone currently isn’t allowed to install unknown apps from this source. You can change this in Settings” and “Install unknown apps” into one so that you no longer have to visit Settings to enable sideloading from a specified source.

While streamlining the process, Google will also maintain clear warnings about the potential risks of sideloading. The text on the revised combined screen will be modified to read: “Your phone currently isn’t configured to install apps from this source. Granting this source permission to install apps could place your phone and data at risk.” This updated language emphasizes the potential risks associated with enabling sideloading from unverified sources.

Google must also maintain this simplified flow for five years after its implementation for consistent, user-friendly access to sideloading apps on Android throughout the settlement period. Additionally, the tech giant pledges not to “introduce additional material complexity or burden into the Revised Default Sideloading Flow solely because an app was sideloaded, as opposed to being downloaded from Google Play.”

The proposed settlement awaits court approval. If approved, Android users can expect to see the revised sideloading flow implemented within the agreed timeframe. This change, alongside ongoing discussions about app store competition and user rights, marks a significant step towards a more open and user-centric Android experience.