Google has announced a new developer Verification program for Android. Beginning in September 2026, installing apps from developers who have not registered with Google will progressively become more difficult on certified Android devices.
If you’re using iodéOS, you’re not affected. Because iodéOS is independent of Google’s certification and proprietary services, you remain free to install apps through Aurora Store, F-Droid, from developers’ websites, or any other trusted source—without depending on Google for permission.
Google says these changes are intended to improve security. The practical effect will be to make independent software distribution increasingly difficult and to strengthen Google’s control over the Android ecosystem.
Android Becomes Less Open
Author and digital rights advocate Cory Doctorow coined the term “enshittification” to describe the gradual decline of an open platform as it increasingly prioritizes control and lock-in over user freedom. We believe that Google’s latest announcement is another step in that direction.
Android isn’t becoming a closed platform overnight. However, every new layer of verification, warning screens, and installation friction makes third-party app stores and direct downloads less practical, gradually pushing users and developers toward Google Play.
Why iodéOS Is Different
Unlike stock Android, iodéOS isn’t tied to Google’s ecosystem or certification requirements. That means your freedom to install software doesn’t depend on Google’s approval.
Whether you prefer F-Droid, apps downloaded directly from their developers’ websites, or other trusted sources, you stay in control of your device. No additional restrictions. No dependency on Google Play. That’s the freedom Android was built on—and the freedom iodéOS continues to protect.
Keep Android Open
These changes have prompted the launch of the Keep Android Open campaign, which calls on Google to preserve Android’s openness and its long-standing support for independent software distribution.
We support this initiative because users—not platform vendors—should decide where their software comes from.
Take Back Control
If you value open source software, privacy, and the freedom to choose where your apps come from, now is the right time to move to iodé.
With iodé, you keep the openness that made Android successful in the first place while also benefiting from enhanced privacy, built-in tracker blocking, and reduced dependence on Google services.
Don’t wait until your freedom to choose your apps becomes limited. Make the switch to iodé today.
- Browse our privacy-first smartphones: https://shop.iode.tech
- Already have a compatible device? Install iodéOS: https://iode.tech/installation
Your Data. Your Rules.
