Sideloading: Difference between revisions

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{{~~Ph-T-Int~~}}Sideloading is the act of downloading ~~mobile apps outside of the official channels. For example, Android is an open-source operating system~~ and ~~when it was bought by Google in 2005, Google built on top of the android framework, and most~~ mobile apps ~~had to be downloaded via~~ the ~~Google Play Store. However, it was possible to enable downloading apps from outside~~ of ~~the Play Store by enabling this option in device settings~~.

'''Sideloading''' refers to the act of downloading and installing mobile apps without the restrictions of designated app stores.

On the ~~contrary~~, ~~some operating systems~~, ~~such as Apple's iOS~~, ~~does not allow sideloading. Therefore~~, the ~~openness of Android has made it a good option for many developers and consumers to do with their devices as they see fit~~.

==Background==

[[Android]] is an open-source operating system that allows app downloads irrespective of the source of the app file. When Android was bought by [[Google]] in 2005, Google built a software repository, the [[Google Play Store]], on top of the android framework, leading to most app installations taking place via the Play Store.

~~==How it works==~~

On the contrary, some operating systems, such as [[Apple]]'s iOS, do not allow installation of apps outside their official [[Apple App Store]].

~~{{Ph-T-HIW}}~~

~~==Why~~ it is ~~a problem==~~

The term ''sideloading'' denotes the practice of downloading external app files by means other than the official stores, though it assumes that the ecosystem lock-in is the standard protocol while alternative means are "unofficial."

~~{{Ph-T-WIIAP}}~~

==~~Examples~~==

==Why it happens==

Without meaningful competition, monopoly providers often become complacent and lack incentive to maintain quality and innovation. A single store means another single point of failure for a platform. When a provider stops support, perfectly serviceable devices may be bricked. Many other platforms, like Windows and Linux have a variety of stores, repositories, and individual sites for getting software. Open platforms and choice allow devices to succeed, even when a particular manufacturer's software store is not well run.

Therefore, the openness of Android has made it a good option for many developers and consumers to do with their devices as they see fit.

==Related incidents==

===Google announces plan to restrict app downloads===

''Main article:'' [[Google plans to restrict sideloading of Android apps]].

Google claims that this will increase security, however they have a history of allowing unsafe and low quality content on their platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |date=September 16, 2025 |title=Google nukes 224 Android malware apps behind massive ad fraud campaign |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-nukes-224-android-malware-apps-behind-massive-ad-fraud-campaign/}}</ref>

It is unclear how moving to a single authority for trust would improve user experience on Android devices. For example, the [https://f-droid.org/ F-Droid] project, a repository of open source apps where, unlike in Google's store, volunteers actually inspect the source code of every single app to ensure that they are safe and tracking free, announced the announced changes would mean the end for them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=marcprux |date=2025-09-25 |title=F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree |url=https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=F-Droid}}</ref>

==References==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Ph-T-Int}}Sideloading is the act of downloading mobile apps outside of the official channels. For example, Android is an open-source operating system and when it was bought by Google in 2005, Google built on top of the android framework, and most mobile apps had to be downloaded via the Google Play Store. However, it was possible to enable downloading apps from outside of the Play Store by enabling this option in device settings.
+{{Stub}}
+'''Sideloading''' refers to the act of downloading and installing mobile apps without the restrictions of designated app stores.
-On the contrary, some operating systems, such as Apple's iOS, does not allow sideloading. Therefore, the openness of Android has made it a good option for many developers and consumers to do with their devices as they see fit.
+==Background==
+[[Android]] is an open-source operating system that allows app downloads irrespective of the source of the app file. When Android was bought by [[Google]] in 2005, Google built a software repository, the [[Google Play Store]], on top of the android framework, leading to most app installations taking place via the Play Store.
-==How it works==
+On the contrary, some operating systems, such as [[Apple]]'s iOS, do not allow installation of apps outside their official [[Apple App Store]].
-{{Ph-T-HIW}}
-==Why it is a problem==
+The term ''sideloading'' denotes the practice of downloading external app files by means other than the official stores, though it assumes that the ecosystem lock-in is the standard protocol while alternative means are "unofficial."
-{{Ph-T-WIIAP}}
-==Examples==
+==Why it happens==
-{{Ph-T-E}}
+Without meaningful competition, monopoly providers often become complacent and lack incentive to maintain quality and innovation.  A single store means another single point of failure for a platform.  When a provider stops support, perfectly serviceable devices may be bricked.  Many other platforms, like Windows and Linux have a variety of stores, repositories, and individual sites for getting software.  Open platforms and choice allow devices to succeed, even when a particular manufacturer's software store is not well run.
+Therefore, the openness of Android has made it a good option for many developers and consumers to do with their devices as they see fit.
+==Related incidents==
+===Google announces plan to restrict app downloads===
+''Main article:'' [[Google plans to restrict sideloading of Android apps]].
+Google claims that this will increase security, however they have a history of allowing unsafe and low quality content on their platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Lawrence |date=September 16, 2025 |title=Google nukes 224 Android malware apps behind massive ad fraud campaign |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-nukes-224-android-malware-apps-behind-massive-ad-fraud-campaign/}}</ref>
+It is unclear how moving to a single authority for trust would improve user experience on Android devices. For example, the [https://f-droid.org/ F-Droid] project, a repository of open source apps where, unlike in Google's store, volunteers actually inspect the source code of every single app to ensure that they are safe and tracking free, announced the announced changes would mean the end for them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=marcprux |date=2025-09-25 |title=F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree |url=https://f-droid.org/en/2025/09/29/google-developer-registration-decree.html |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=F-Droid}}</ref>
 ==References==