In brief: Google Play Protect acts as Android’s primary defense against harmful apps. However, this mobile anti-malware service can occasionally make sideloading challenging or even impossible under standard conditions.
Android users might soon find sideloading apps more convenient. Google has recently updated the Play Store, offering an option to temporarily pause its antivirus service through Android’s native settings. This change provides an opportunity to install apps from non-traditional sources while still safeguarding device and data security.
This new feature was first identified by Android Authority in Play Store version 42.2.19-31. The update includes a “pause” button for Play Protect when users try to disable app scanning. However, Google cautions that while Play Protect is paused, it will not scan apps installed from outside the official Play Store.
For Android power users, Play Protect’s automatic app scanning has been a mixed blessing. The service scans hundreds of billions of apps daily, adding an extra layer of security for smartphones and tablets. However, it can also impede the sideloading of legitimate APKs downloaded from the internet.
I discovered Play Protect’s capacity to complicate sideloading a few months ago after upgrading from an old Nokia 6.1 to a new Google Pixel 7a. The upgrade process was mostly smooth, except for a couple of games I had purchased on the Play Store years ago. Play Protect actively hindered sideloading due to its API compatibility checks, preventing me from reinstalling apps that were no longer available for purchase.
The ability to disable Play Protect can certainly help in situations like this, though completely turning it off would make an Android device much more vulnerable. Thankfully, the new “Pause” option should address the issue by allowing temporary sideloading, with Play Protect automatically reactivating the following day.
Google warns that sideloading apps can present security risks to the Android ecosystem. However, sideloading isn’t inherently unsafe – it’s still a valid way to access apps outside the Play Store. For instance, the F-Droid platform offers a comprehensive collection of alternative open-source apps that users can download and install manually.
