Google Is Changing Android App Distribution Rules: What Developers from Sanctioned Jurisdictions Should Consider

Starting September 30, 2026, Google will begin applying new identity verification requirements for Android developers. Verification will apply not only to Google Play participants: it will gradually become part of the entire ecosystem of certified Android devices.

Developers from jurisdictions where Google cannot conduct verification or provide certain services due to U.S. sanctions restrictions face particular risks. However, it would be incorrect at this stage to speak of a complete ban on Android applications from «sanctioned countries». The rules are more complex: the developer’s location, account status, method of application distribution, and the user’s country all matter.

What Exactly Is Google Changing

Until now, a developer could host an APK file on their own website or use an independent app store without undergoing identity verification by Google. The user would see a warning about the risks but could generally proceed with the installation.

The new system links an application to a verified individual or organization. For full-scale distribution, the developer will need to complete verification and register the package names and signing keys used.

For applications distributed through Google Play, the procedure is carried out through Play Console. Developers who work exclusively with alternative stores or distribute APKs directly will use a separate Android Developer Console.

In essence, Google is verifying not the content of the application, but the identity of the person or organization behind it. The company explains this measure as an effort to combat fraudsters who, after one malicious application is blocked, create a new anonymous account and continue distributing applications.

When Will the Restrictions Take Effect

The first stage of the rollout is scheduled for September 30, 2026. It will cover Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, but only certain app stores participating in the initial rollout of the system.

This is an important clarification: in September 2026, the requirements will not yet amount to a universal ban on every APK file in these four countries. Google explicitly states that applications from other stores and files downloaded directly by users will not be subject to the new rule during the initial stage.

Starting in 2027, the company plans to expand the system to other countries and distribution channels. A specific schedule for the global rollout has not yet been published.

The rules are expected to apply to certified devices running Android 7 and above. Therefore, developers should not assume that the changes will affect only new smartphones or the next version of the operating system.

What Will Happen to Applications from Unverified Developers

Once the system is fully implemented, an application that is not registered to a verified developer will not be installable or updatable through the standard process on a device where verification requirements apply.

This does not mean that the APK will technically cease to exist. Google retains two alternative options from the user’s perspective.

The first is installation via Android Debug Bridge. It is intended primarily for development and testing, requires a connection to a computer, and is not suitable for a mass audience.

The second is a special mode for experienced users. To allow the installation of applications from unverified developers, the device owner will have to enable developer options, confirm that they are not being pressured by another person, restart the smartphone, authenticate again, and wait 24 hours. After that, permission can be enabled for seven days or indefinitely.

Technically, the ability to install an application remains. Commercially, however, this cannot be considered a full-fledged alternative: a significant proportion of users will not change system settings, go through a multi-step procedure, and wait 24 hours. For the developer, this means lower conversion rates, difficulties with updates, and additional questions from partners.

How Sanctions Affect Verification

The phrase «developers from sanctioned countries» should be used with caution. Sanctions regimes are not limited to a single list of countries and do not always apply to all citizens of a particular country.

The ability to complete verification may be affected by:

• the individual’s place of residence;
• the country in which the company is registered and operates;
• the sanctions status of the developer, the company, or its owners;
• restrictions on the provision of services in a particular territory;
• payment profile information and documents provided to Google.

Therefore, citizenship alone is not always the decisive criterion. A developer may hold a passport from one country, live in another, and publish an application on behalf of a company registered in a third. Google will assess the information about the account holder and the organization as a whole.

Official documentation states that devices in sanctioned countries are excluded from verification. Users in such regions will be able to continue installing applications without verification. At the same time, according to a statement from a Google representative, developers residing there will not be able to complete the verification procedure itself.

This creates an asymmetrical situation: the application remains available within the territory excluded from the system, but its standard installation abroad will become more difficult as verification is rolled out globally.

Will Registering a Company in Another Country Help

A foreign company may provide a solution if it genuinely publishes the product and meets Google’s requirements. A registration entry in a commercial register alone is not sufficient.

For an organizational account, the existence of the company and the representative’s authority will need to be verified. In particular, Google indicates that a D-U-N-S number is required. In addition, the information in the console must be consistent with the registration documents, contact details, and payment profile.

The foreign company should have a clear connection to the application: rights to the software code and brand, agreements with developers, access to signing keys, control over the account, and a legal basis for receiving revenue from the product. If the application legally belongs to one person while verification is completed by a nominal company with no rights or operational role, the discrepancy may become apparent during verification or a subsequent dispute.

It should also not be assumed that registering an organization automatically eliminates sanctions risks. Google and other counterparties may analyze not only the country of incorporation but also the owners, directors, actual place of business, and source of payments.

Thus, a foreign structure helps not to «change the country in the settings», but to establish a lawful model for international distribution. If there is no genuine structure behind the registration, the risk of blocking remains.

What Android Companies Should Check Before the Rollout Begins

The first step is to determine the owner of the product. The team should establish who legally controls the application, accounts, domain, trademark, and signing keys. If these assets are divided among founders and several companies, verification may reveal an issue that previously did not interfere with distribution.

Next, it is necessary to check whether Android Developer Console or Play Console is available to the selected person or entity in the relevant jurisdiction. It is better not to limit the review to whether the registration page can be opened: successful verification of documents and the payment profile is what matters.

Particular attention should be paid to applications distributed outside Google Play. For each of them, the package name, signing keys used, and current registration status should be established. A lost signing key can make verification of rights to the package significantly more difficult.

Finally, the geographical distribution of users should be assessed. If the product already operates in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, or Thailand, it is necessary to determine through which stores it is distributed and whether that channel falls within the first stage of the rollout. For other markets, there is still time before the global rollout, but transferring accounts, formalizing rights to the application, and obtaining a D-U-N-S number may take several months.