One of the things that makes Android such an enjoyable platform to use other certain competitors (cough-iOS-cough) is how much freedom there is. A good exhibit of that is the ability to download APKs and sideload apps without much trouble.
As much as we love major changes to the OS though, a new Android API is about to bring a developer-focused change that will give them the ability to annoy a lot of Android users. Devs will have the power to stop sideloaded apps from working and redirect you to download them from the Play Store instead.
Google’s New Play Integrity API Can Block “Unlicensed” App Installs From Working
As a developer, there are countless reasons why you wouldn’t want users to be able to download your application from sources apart from the official one: the Google Play Store. However, there was very little that could previously be done if a user did decide to go to a website and download your application’s APK file. You’d either have to figure out a way to restrict them in your own code or just accept defeat.
However, with the new Play Integrity API, which was announced at Google I/O this year, Android app developers are getting so much more power and may finally be able to defeat the scourge of sideloading — if they feel like it. This API will basically check the license status of the app once it is installed.
If it is “licensed”, that is, installed from the Play Store, it will run. If it is determined to be “unlicensed” though, which means installed from anywhere else, the developers will have the option to bring up a prompt that forces you to download the app from the Play Store instead. That’ll basically make a sideloaded app unusable. For developers interested in fighting sideloading, it is a major win; but for a lot of Android users, it’s a big restriction.
This Could Potentially Serve As A Major Victory Against Mobile App Piracy
I don’t sideload apps often, but I remember the last time I did, and it was about two months ago. I just got myself an Amazon Kindle and I wanted to download its companion Android app, only to find out that it’s not available in my location. Instead of moping about it, I went straight to a third-party APK hosting site, found the Kindle APK, and installed it. It worked perfectly, so the problem was solved.
There are a lot of legitimate reasons why users might want to sideload apps — that’s my point. However, there are many equally legitimate reasons why developers might not want you to be able to. I think the biggest reason is piracy, as a paid application can easily be shared with its APK if the developer doesn’t put their own restrictions in place. This is a stress-free way for devs to safeguard their hard work.
You can also argue that sideloading doesn’t contribute to an app’s Play Store numbers, which in turn, negatively impacts the organic growth of that app on the Play Store. It’s just easier for devs to manage an application through a single channel.
