Here’s how readers sideload APKs on their Android phones in 2026

In mid-August, Google’s long-threatened sideloading restrictions started rolling out on Android. A new advanced flow, coupled with multiple warnings and a 24-hour wait timer, makes it more inconvenient to install apps from popular third-party app stores or sources. This is a shame, since some of my colleagues’ and my favorite Android apps, like Kvaesitso , reside outside Google’s servers.