Sideloading unregistered apps has become more cumbersome in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand with the activation of the "Advanced Flow" feature. On devices running Android 7 or later in these countries, sideloading is only possible after enabling Developer Mode, restarting the device, and completing a 24-hour waiting period.
Android introduced Advanced Flow last August as a security measure to combat online fraud stemming from the widespread practice of sideloading apps from sources other than official stores. Advanced Flow is set to be activated on all Android devices globally starting in 2027. Once Advanced Flow is active, users can choose to permit sideloading for a limited 7-day window or allow it indefinitely.
Sideloading restrictions apply only when apps are installed from sources other than official stores such as Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store, Honor App Market, Oppo App Market, Xiaomi GetApps, vivo V-Appstore, and Transsion Palm Store.
These added security hurdles aim to prevent less tech-savvy users from falling victim to fraud caused by the inadvertent installation of malicious apps.
