Google Adds 24-Hour Wait to Android Sideloading From Unknown Devs

Google just made sideloading on Android a whole lot more tedious. The company unveiled a new "advanced flow" for installing apps from unverified developers — and it comes with a mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period.

The process is a one-time gate designed to make users really think about what they're doing before loading software from outside Google's trusted ecosystem. Want to install an app from a developer Google hasn't verified? You'll need to wait a full day before the installation goes through.

It's a clear move to curb the security risks that come with sideloading — malware, scams, and sketchy apps that bypass Play Store protections. Google has long walked the line between Android's open nature and user safety. This adds significant friction without technically killing the feature.

Whether power users see this as protective or patronizing will depend entirely on which side of the sideloading debate they sit.