Google’s Android Developer Checks Could Delay Russian App Installs

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development says Google’s forthcoming Android developer checks could make Russian applications harder to install over time. Minister Maksut Shadaev said the rules may limit Russians’ ability to install mobile apps freely, with developers already removed from online marketplaces facing the greatest exposure.

Google has not announced a ban on Russian developers. The ministry is assessing possible risks and preparing proposals with industry groups. The checks would require developers to verify their identities and register each app, including software distributed through independent stores or installed from standalone package files.

For unverified developers, users would have to change phone settings, confirm with a fingerprint or lock passcode, restart the phone, wait 24 hours, then return to settings to continue. They would also choose whether an exemption lasts seven days or indefinitely. That means installing one unofficial app could take more than a day.

Google plans to begin rolling out the checks on September 30, 2026, in Thailand, Singapore, Brazil and Indonesia, and expand them to more countries next year. Russia is not listed among countries facing restrictions, and whether it will be included in the 2027 expansion remains unknown.

Google says the checks are intended to guard against harmful apps. The ministry argues the system could give Google influence over which Russian-developed software reaches users. The source reports that alternatives in Russia cover only part of users’ needs, while users could still install unverified apps after the waiting period.