Android developer verification: registration and timeline

Who is concerned

Every developer who distributes Android apps: on Google Play (Play Console), outside Google Play (Android Developer Console) or both.

What changes

• August 2026: developer APIs, limited distribution accounts and the power user advanced flow launch.
• September 30, 2026: protections begin for all users who install apps from participating stores in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand on certified devices running Android 7+.
• 2027 and beyond: verification capability expands globally for all apps on certified Android devices in 2027.
• Limited distribution accounts let students, teachers and hobbyists share apps with up to 20 devices without a government-issued ID or registration fee.

What to do

• Open the Play Console Home page and register every Play app that is not registered. Google says it registered 99% of Play apps automatically.
• If you distribute outside Google Play, register those apps in Play Console too, so they can be installed on certified Android devices. Developers who distribute exclusively outside Google Play use the Android Developer Console.
• Read Google’s guides and FAQ about registration fees, requirements and signing keys.

What happens after the date

Google’s table asks developers to register the apps they want to keep distributing, to avoid global removal from Google Play. The Policy Deadlines table lists 2026-09-30 among past deadlines, announced 2026-07-15.