Source:
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
Among the many reasons I am clawing my life back from Google.
seen from China

seen from Germany
seen from Chile

seen from Canada
seen from Canada
seen from Germany
seen from Sri Lanka

seen from Hong Kong SAR China

seen from Germany
seen from United Kingdom

seen from Germany
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from China

seen from Netherlands
seen from Russia

seen from Netherlands
seen from China
seen from South Korea
seen from China
Source:
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
Among the many reasons I am clawing my life back from Google.
Your phone is about to stop being yours. In September 2026, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.
Google's up to some nonsense again, and it's going to affect android developers and users alike.
Essentially, they are asking that developers register with them not just to have their app on the google play store, but to have their app exist on Android at all.
This is a huge shift away from how Android has worked from its inception, having been intentionally left open from the get-go in order to differentiate itself from the closed system that is iOS. If this change gets implemented in September as Google plans to, alternative app stores such as F-Droid will be essentially rendered defunct. This will greatly limit the amount of free and open-source software in the android ecosystem and funnel people back towards the google play store, and all of the closed-source corporate apps therein.
A big example of how this affects me would be authentication. I use Aegis for most of mine, as I want to avoid Microsoft or other corporate connection with my accounts like the plague. This change would force me to switch back to microsoft authenticator, or google's, or any other number of less appealing options on the play store.
As someone who's come to appreciate open software more and more in recent years, this issue really means a lot to me.
The Keep Android Open website has all the details and information on the situation, and what you can do, even if only a little.
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
Keep Android Open
Protect Android's Openness: Stop Google's Mandatory Developer Verification
Protect Android's Openness: Say No to Google's New Restrictions
Keep Android Open: Say No to Google’s 2026 Mandatory Verification
You can find the letter below. Add your voice to this campaign by signing our petition if you believe that its time Google stopped enabling
Google is going to restrict what mobile apps you are allowed to install on your Android devices starting September 2026.
Date of this post: March 12, 2026. Announcement was August 2025, and still stands.
Only verified apps from developers that provide all their personal details and government ID will be allowed, even from outside the Play Store.
They say this is for our safety, but this is taking away our digital rights. It's about control.
Sources, elaboration, and solutions under the cut.
Attention Android Users!
I'd heard of this a while ago, but with everything going on in my life, I kinda forgot about it. But it's a really big deal and I haven't seen it talked about in my corner of tumblr at all. So let's fix that!
Your phone is about to stop being yours. In September 2026, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.
Have you ever installed an app via direct download because it's never been published on the Play Store? Do you want to make a silly little android game and share it with your friends, or a simple tool to make your everyday life easier?
Starting in September of this year (2026), Google is going to force users to install an update that will make both of those things darn near impossible.
Installing apps that aren't from the Play Store will—at best—require a complicated, unintuitive process, including a 24-hour wait period. And Google will still have the power to shut down this entire process on a whim.
Anyone who wants to make an app for Android (and let people install it without having to go through this convoluted process) will have to pay Google $25 and hand over their government ID for the privilege.
This is a BIG problem, and it affects ALL android users. The website I linked above has more information on the specifics, and a list of ways you can help, including a change.org petition you can sign.
Please spread the word.
this is the first time I actually sat down and wrote an email to one of the state senators without using a script. i COMPLETELY understand why people don't have the spoons for contacting the state reps, but on the other hand I feel like I just did some Really Good drugs because of the adrenaline I got after I hit the submit button.
read this. do something if you have the energy. share the link if you dont. but forever keep Android open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.