Sideloading has been a hot topic recently, especially with the upcoming release of iOS 17.4 in the EU. This update is expected to allow iPhone users in the 27 EU member countries to install apps from third-party app stores, similar to what Android users have been able to do from the start.
Meanwhile, Google has been making changes as well. With the release of Android 14 last year, Google started issuing warnings for Pixel users who were sideloading app updates from a different source. This warning alerts users that if they install an app update from a third-party app store, they could receive future updates from any source on their phone.
Recently, more Android users have seen this warning for non-Google apps on Samsung Galaxy smartphones. For example, a Galaxy S23 Ultra user received a warning when trying to update the AccuWeather app from a third-party app store. The message stated that updating from a different source could change the app’s functionality and that future updates might also come from any source on the phone.
These warnings only appear once, and if you download an app from the Play Store and then sideload an updated version from a third-party source, you won’t receive the warning again for the next update. However, there are concerns about potential features missing from third-party updates and the possibility of malware.
While some users may argue that they should have the freedom to take the risk of installing apps from third-party stores, Google Play Protect does perform real-time APK scanning for sideloaded apps. Nonetheless, there have been instances of dangerous apps slipping through the cracks in the Play Store.
Ultimately, Google’s warnings serve as a precautionary measure to alert users of potential risks associated with third-party app updates. It’s a way to prevent users from downloading potentially malicious versions of apps and to notify them of possible changes to app functionality. As the original app store is considered the owner of the app, it has the right to send out these warnings when an update is requested from another source.
