Google’s new developer registration rules could end independent app stores, warns F-Droid, threatening the survival of open source app distribution.
F-Droid, the open source Android app repository, has accused Google of attempting to strangle independent app distribution through newly announced developer registration requirements. If enforced, the policy could effectively mean the end of alternative app stores.
Under the new rules, every Android developer worldwide would be required to verify their identity with government-issued ID, pay a registration fee, and disclose the package identifiers for all their apps—even if they are not distributed via Google Play. While Google frames the move as a security measure to combat malware, F-Droid sees it as a bid to centralise control.
“The developer registration decree will end the F-Droid project and other free/open-source app distribution sources as we know them today,” F-Droid warned. The repository, volunteer-run for 15 years, distributes apps stripped of ads and trackers and adheres to a strict philosophy of “no user accounts, by design.” Because it cannot seize developer identities or force contributors to register with Google, its entire catalogue would break, leaving users unable to update existing apps.
F-Droid also disputes Google’s security rationale, calling it a “canard.” The group points out that the Play Store itself has hosted malware and that Android already has Play Protect, which can remotely disable malicious apps. By contrast, F-Droid argues its open build processes and reproducible builds are safer and more transparent.
The stakes extend beyond F-Droid. Critics warn the policy risks making Android resemble iOS, where sideloading and alternative stores are heavily restricted. “If you own a computer, you should have the right to run whatever programs you want on it,” the group added.
F-Droid is urging regulators in the US, EU, and beyond to step in before the policy’s rollout in 2026, framing it as a decisive moment for the future of Android’s openness.
