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Android proves you don't have to choose between an open ecosystem and a secure one. Since announcing updated verification requirements, we've worked with the community to ensure these protections are robust yet respectful of platform freedom. We've heard from power users that they want to take educated risks to install software from unverified developers. Today, we're sharing details on a new advanced flow that provides this option.

Advanced flow safeguards against coercion

This flow is a one-time process for power users - but it was designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high pressure tactics to install malicious software. In these scenarios, scammers exploit fear - using threats of financial ruin, legal trouble, or harm to a loved one - to create a sense of extreme urgency. They stay on the phone with victims, coaching them to bypass security warnings and disable security settings before the victim has a chance to think or seek help. According to a 2025 report from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), 57% of surveyed adults experienced a scam in the past year, resulting in a global consumer loss of $442 billion. Because the consequences of these scams that use sophisticated social engineering tactics are so severe, we have carefully engineered the advanced flow to provide the critical time and space needed to break the cycle of coercion.

How the advanced flow works for users

• Enable developer mode in system settings: Activating this is simple. This prevents accidental triggers or "one-tap" bypasses often used in high-pressure scams.

• Confirm you aren't being coached: There is a quick check to make sure that no one is talking you into turning off your security. While power users know how to vet apps, scammers often pressure victims into disabling protections.

• Restart your phone and reauthenticate: This cuts off any remote access or active phone calls a scammer might be using to watch what you're doing.

• Come back after the protective waiting period and verify: There is a one-time, one-day wait and then you can confirm that this is really you who's making this change with our biometric authentication (fingerprint or face unlock) or device PIN. Scammers rely on manufactured urgency, so this breaks their spell and gives you time to think.

• Install apps: Once you confirm you understand the risks, you're all set to install apps from unverified developers, with the option of enabling for 7 days or indefinitely. For safety, you'll still see a warning that the app is from an unverified developer, but you can just tap "Install Anyway."

A secure Android for every developer

We know a "one size fits all" approach doesn't work for our diverse ecosystem. We want to ensure that identity verification isn't a barrier to entry, so we're providing different paths to fit your specific needs.

In addition to the advanced flow we're building free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists. This allows you to share apps with a small group (up to 20 devices) without needing to provide a government-issued ID or pay a registration fee. This ensures Android remains an open platform for learning and experimentation while maintaining robust protections for the broader community.

Limited distribution accounts and advanced flow for users will be available in August before the new developer verification requirements take effect.

Visit our website for more details. We look forward to sharing more in the coming days and weeks.

19 Mar 2026 2:00pm GMT

We're thrilled to announce major updates to our design resources, giving you the comprehensive guidance you need to create polished, adaptive Android apps across all form factors! We now have Desktop Experience guidance and a refreshed Android Design Gallery.

New Desktop Experience Design Guidance

Your users are engaging with Android apps on more diverse devices than ever before-from phones and foldables to laptops and external monitors. A "desktop experience" occurs anytime your app is in a desktop-like mode, typically involving a non-touch input device like a keyboard or mouse, or another display such as a monitor (read more in the connected display announcement). This means designing for larger screens and accommodating additional input states. These new design experiences are meant to maximize productivity for your users with higher information density, multi-tasking capabilities.

Dive into desktop experience guidance to help optimize your app with desktop design principles, input interaction guidance, and system UI considerations.

The new guidance includes foundational guides where you can learn design principles that make desktop experiences unique, such as how multitasking is at the core of desktop experiences.

When your app is in a desktop experience, keep in mind crucial interaction experiences, such as how to best design around unique input interactions, like choosing cursors from system provided cursors.

For specialized actions not covered by system icons, consider creating a custom cursor icon, while ensuring it remains easy for users to find on the page.

A desktop experience brings more multitasking features, like windowing, so expect your app to take on a variety of dimensions with a header bar.

Want to get started quickly? Check out the walkthrough to go from mobile to desktop and design along with the updated Adaptive Design lab.

16 Mar 2026 5:00pm GMT

The first alpha of Room 3.0 has been released! Room 3.0 is a major breaking version of the library that focuses on Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) and adds support for JavaScript and WebAssembly (WASM) on top of the existing Android, iOS and JVM desktop support.

In this blog we outline the breaking changes, the reasoning behind Room 3.0, and the various things you can do to migrate from Room 2.0.

13 Mar 2026 5:00pm GMT