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Just got 'Android Developer Verifier' Silently Installed on my Phone (Aug 25, 2026) (thelemmy.club)
submitted 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) by to c/android@lemmy.world
30 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The app ID is com.google.android.verifier, which I assume will be used for the upcoming developer verification program for installing 3rd party apps.

Starting September 30, developers (signing authors) need to be verified from Google to distribute apps in the following app stores:

  • Google Play Store
  • Honor App Market
  • OPPO App Market
  • Samsung Galaxy Store
  • Transsion Palm Store
  • vivo V-Appstore and
  • Xiaomi GetApps

only in the countries of Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

F-Droid is not included for this time.

It is planned to be rolled out globally across all markets/app stores by January of 2027.

Relevant sources:
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides
https://keepandroidopen.org/

I used App Manager (io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager) for the screenshot; you can use your regular 'Installed Apps'/'Apps' menu to see if it's been rolled out automatically for you as well.

edit: First link was originally a typo, my bad. Fixed it.

all 30 comments

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[–] 2 points 9 minutes ago

Block it, them spam your manufacturer with support requests. Make it their problem.

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    [–] 6 points 1 hour ago

    Next phone will be a serious attempt at a linux phone.

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    [–] 27 points 3 hours ago (1 child)

    F-Droid is not included for this time.

    How-To:

    • Open Developer Options and select Apps from unverified developers.
    • Turn on Allow apps from unverified developers.
    • Authenticate using your screen lock.
    • Confirm that nobody is pressuring you to change the setting.
    • Restart your phone and wait 24 hours.
    • Return to the setting and choose whether to allow apps from unverified developers for seven days or indefinitely.

    Source:
    https://www.androidauthority.com/google-android-advanced-flow-sideloading-rollout-begins-3700073/
    https://www.pocket-lint.com/android-new-sideloading-option/

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  • [–] 25 points 3 hours ago (1 child)

    That's some pretty big hurdles to be honest, just a reminder of how sketchy Google is these days.

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  • [–] 7 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

    Less issue for me than Apple lol.

    You can always (for now) go to LineageOS or GrapheneOS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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  • [–] 10 points 2 hours ago (1 child)

    Every shift away from open Android that users accept emboldens Google to continue locking it down.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 hour ago (1 child)

    Switching from Android to Apple is really smart lol.
    Why would you even switch from a pretty much open system to a fully closed one (even with the things the EU forces Apple to do)?
    (This questions excludes Linux OSs on smartphones)

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  • [–] 4 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

    Not if you want your banking app to work, or some other apps that require you to have the "certified" os on your phone. If I have to stop using these apps, I might as well go back to a dumbphone.

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    • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago

    Hm? Aurora crashes if you select that app. Not on any other.

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    [–] 25 points 4 hours ago (3 children)

    On my pixel 10, I see this app is installed with only the option to disable, not uninstall.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 hours ago (1 child)

    Goto "app details" at the bottom of the settings page for the app. Then select "uninstall updates" should no longer appear in app list.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

    "App details" is greyed out for me. Pixel 7 Pro.

    Edit: never mind - it was because I had the Play Store disabled. Not that it'll mean much, but I flagged the app as inappropriate while I was there.

    Edit 2: Wow, they're paying for fake reviews that are blatantly a bad joke.

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    • [–] [S] 45 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

    Update: Interestingly, since it is still classed as a User app, I can uninstall it myself without any special perms. The installation source is shown as Google Play Store, and you can manually find the app on the store.

    Here's a screenshot of that - though it has no ratings, reviews, options to review etc. that you would expect from ordinary or even other Google produced apps.

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    • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago

    Other than affecting the general open source app community as a whole, does anyone know how this will affect Graphene IS phones yet? I haven't seen a good discussion on it yet.

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    [–] 11 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

    No idea where you are nor which phone you have, but maybe it's time to install an Android alternative OS (not sure what to call it) like GrapheneOS, LineageOS, or eOS. From what I understand they don't allow this kind of shit.

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  • [–] 19 points 4 hours ago (1 child)

    Easier said than done, especially as there are more models that don't have any sort of support for those OSs than models that do. Not to mention the hassle to even enable the option to flash it and risk of bricking. Worse, banking apps may refuse to work.

    Google and the OEMs never wanted you to own your phone and they are mostly winning on that front.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 hour ago

    Easier said than done, especially as there are more models that don't have any sort of support for those OSs than models that do.

    This is a big hurdle. I had to buy a different phone to install a custom ROM. I bought it used, but even so still fairly expensive. And an extra cost can be a limiting factor too.

    Not to mention the hassle to even enable the option to flash it and risk of bricking

    GrapheneOS has a webUSB installer that is very easy to use. I would argue it eliminates the hassle. Bricking is still a risk.

    Worse, banking apps may refuse to work.

    I don't use banking apps on my phone. I don't like having anything installed that has access to money. I just access my financial institutions via their website. But I acknowledge they may fill some need others have that I do not. And that not everyone has access to a computer to access websites , and I can see banks trying to force app use when accessing from a mobile browser.

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    • [–] 5 points 4 hours ago

    Got on my Motorola too

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    [–] 4 points 4 hours ago (1 child)

    I have Xiaomi POCO M3 5G on Brazil and nothig has changed at all, maybe becayse I already have all google pre installed system apps disabled

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    • [–] 3 points 4 hours ago

    Thanks OP, uninstalled

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