Google has introduced a mandatory 24-hour waiting period for installing unverified apps on Android. The new mechanism is being rolled out gradually and applies to installing APK files from unofficial sources.
To install such an app, users must go to Developer Options and enable the “Allow apps from unverified developers” feature. A 24-hour timer then starts, and only after one day will users be able to return to the same page and confirm the installation.
The confirmation can be granted for seven days or indefinitely, after which Developer Options can be disabled. The change will not apply to verified apps obtained from alternative app stores to Google Play.
Google had already announced in March that it would make app installation on Android more difficult. The company explained the restriction as necessary to protect smartphone users from malicious software.
At the beginning of August, MakeUseOf noted that Android has fewer restrictions for users than iOS. In particular, the system allows apps to be installed from unofficial stores and offers detailed options for customizing the appearance of the screen.
The new restriction changes one of the Android features that had long made the system more open than iOS: users could obtain an app from an unofficial source and start the installation themselves. Now, that freedom comes with a time restriction if the program has not passed Google’s verification.
The logic behind this approach is straightforward: Google is trying to create an additional barrier against the installation of malicious software, but as a result, it also becomes more difficult for users who deliberately rely on alternative sources. At the same time, apps from verified alternative stores are not subject to the new restriction, showing that the change is specifically aimed at installing unverified programs.
