Forced app download: Difference between revisions

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#'''Deliberately crippling or removing functionality from the web experience''' - Prevent users from having an alternative interface to perform basic tasks.{{Citation needed}}

#'''Forcing users to always be on the latest version of an app''' - "For your security" (as they usually claim), most of these apps will constantly check for the latest version and self-disable if they are older than x-version.{{Citation needed}} (varies by company)

#'''Mandatory use of account''' - For most of these apps to work, you must have an account for features to work.{{Citation needed}} For example, making an order with Luckin Coffee mandates installing the app and creating an account tied to a personal phone number;{{Citation needed}} guests are disallowed from making orders incognito.{{Citation needed}}

#'''[[Forced account|Mandatory use of account]]''' - For most of these apps to work, you must have an account for features to work.{{Citation needed}} For example, making an order with Luckin Coffee mandates installing the app and creating an account tied to a personal phone number;{{Citation needed}} guests are disallowed from making orders incognito.{{Citation needed}}

==Key implications==

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Most apps are only available for download on official app stores, meaning consumers must use a device running stock iOS or Android, or else jump through hoops to run them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Android apps on Arch Linux |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android#Run_Android_apps_on_Arch_Linux |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=archlinux.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223044007/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android#Run_Android_apps_on_Arch_Linux |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I get an apk file from an Android device? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4032960/how-do-i-get-an-apk-file-from-an-android-device/18003462#18003462 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Stack Overflow |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114093641/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4032960/how-do-i-get-an-apk-file-from-an-android-device/18003462 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Devices must also be running stock operating systems, as most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses (optional) |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#default |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Android Developers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213233326/https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> and will not run if a device is jail-broken or rooted.

Devices must also be running stock operating systems, as most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses (optional) |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#default |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Android Developers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213233326/https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> and will not run if a device is [[Jailbreak|jail-broken or rooted]].

Some companies, such as big banks in Singapore, have also started incorporating checks for "unverified apps" in their app. This means their app will scan your phone and check for sideloaded apps (anywhere that is not the official app store. For example, an app downloaded directly from APK Mirror or an unofficial app repository like F-Droid) as part of "anti-scam security measures that include restricting customers from accessing the banks’ digital services on their mobile phones if apps from unverified app stores – also known as [[Sideloading|sideloaded apps]] – are detected."<ref>{{Cite web |last=See Kit |first=Tang |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=DBS, UOB become latest banks to restrict access if unverified apps are found on customers' phones |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-sideloaded-app-malware-measure-latest-bank-restrict-app-access-3796806 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Channel News Asia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251111204146/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-sideloaded-app-malware-measure-latest-bank-restrict-app-access-3796806 |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>

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Depending on business, cash payments are usually possible

|}

===Other===

[[Google]] blocks users who enable desktop-mode to use [[wikipedia:Google_Lens|Google Lens]] without the app, by showing an "Update your browser" page. Desktop-mode is necessary, because when Google Search detects the device is Android, it redirects to the Google app (or [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Play Store]], if not installed){{Citation needed}}

==References==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 #'''Deliberately crippling or removing functionality from the web experience''' - Prevent users from having an alternative interface to perform basic tasks.{{Citation needed}}
 #'''Forcing users to always be on the latest version of an app''' - "For your security" (as they usually claim), most of these apps will constantly check for the latest version and self-disable if they are older than x-version.{{Citation needed}} (varies by company)<!-- Imgur example: https://imgur.com/gallery/i-hate-this-type-of-bgGI7LR - JamesTDG -->
-#'''Mandatory use of account''' - For most of these apps to work, you must have an account for features to work.{{Citation needed}} For example, making an order with Luckin Coffee mandates installing the app and creating an account tied to a personal phone number;{{Citation needed}} guests are disallowed from making orders incognito.{{Citation needed}}<!-- Citation actually needed here -->
+#'''[[Forced account|Mandatory use of account]]''' - For most of these apps to work, you must have an account for features to work.{{Citation needed}} For example, making an order with Luckin Coffee mandates installing the app and creating an account tied to a personal phone number;{{Citation needed}} guests are disallowed from making orders incognito.{{Citation needed}}<!-- Citation actually needed here -->
 ==Key implications==
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Most apps are only available for download on official app stores, meaning consumers must use a device running stock iOS or Android, or else jump through hoops to run them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run Android apps on Arch Linux |url=https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android#Run_Android_apps_on_Arch_Linux |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=archlinux.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223044007/https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Android#Run_Android_apps_on_Arch_Linux |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How do I get an apk file from an Android device? |url=https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4032960/how-do-i-get-an-apk-file-from-an-android-device/18003462#18003462 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Stack Overflow |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114093641/https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4032960/how-do-i-get-an-apk-file-from-an-android-device/18003462 |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref>
-Devices must also be running stock operating systems, as most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses (optional) |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#default |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Android Developers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213233326/https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> and will not run if a device is jail-broken or rooted.<!-- How prevalent is this outside singapore? also seems like a direct restatement of what was said earlier --><!-- The following block should include info about common apps that integrate these invasive measures. -->
+Devices must also be running stock operating systems, as most government and business apps conduct intrusive checks<ref>{{Cite web |title=Configure API responses (optional) |url=https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup#default |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Android Developers |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260213233326/https://developer.android.com/google/play/integrity/setup |archive-date=13 Feb 2026}}</ref> and will not run if a device is [[Jailbreak|jail-broken or rooted]].<!-- How prevalent is this outside singapore? also seems like a direct restatement of what was said earlier --><!-- The following block should include info about common apps that integrate these invasive measures. -->
 Some companies, such as big banks in Singapore, have also started incorporating checks for "unverified apps" in their app. This means their app will scan your phone and check for sideloaded apps (anywhere that is not the official app store. For example, an app downloaded directly from APK Mirror or an unofficial app repository like F-Droid) as part of "anti-scam security measures that include restricting customers from accessing the banks’ digital services on their mobile phones if apps from unverified app stores – also known as [[Sideloading|sideloaded apps]] – are detected."<ref>{{Cite web |last=See Kit |first=Tang |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=DBS, UOB become latest banks to restrict access if unverified apps are found on customers' phones |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-sideloaded-app-malware-measure-latest-bank-restrict-app-access-3796806 |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=Channel News Asia |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251111204146/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dbs-uob-anti-scam-sideloaded-app-malware-measure-latest-bank-restrict-app-access-3796806 |archive-date=11 Nov 2025}}</ref>
@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 Depending on business, cash payments are usually possible
 |}
+===Other===
+[[Google]] blocks users who enable desktop-mode to use [[wikipedia:Google_Lens|Google Lens]] without the app, by showing an "Update your browser" page. Desktop-mode is necessary, because when Google Search detects the device is Android, it redirects to the Google app (or [[wikipedia:Google_Play|Play Store]], if not installed){{Citation needed}}
 ==References==