In an attempt to prevent the spread of malware, Android 14 might prevent you from installing apps designed for older versions of Android.
Google is about to introduce a change in Android 14 that will limit the apps you can install outside of the Play Store, according to a new report.
Restrictions on sideloading will prevent users from installing apps designed for older versions of Android, amid fears that malware frequently targets those older versions to circumvent newer security protections. However, there will always be a workaround that will allow you to install the apps if you really want them.
Android 14 will limit sideloading of apps
A report of 9to5Google cites a recent Android 14 code change that will introduce and enforce stricter API requirements (essentially, the minimum version of Android an app can run on). Apps targeting an older version of Android will be blocked on the Play Store and users will not even be able to download them.
Google says this will help “enhance security and privacy, as malware can target older versions of the SDK to avoid enforcing new API behavior.” The report suggests the threshold will initially be Android 6, with plans to increase that level over time.
Users will apparently still be able to install apps using the ADB tool, although that makes the process much more complicated and should be limited to experienced users only. This should help prevent less tech-savvy users from installing random APKs without knowing exactly what they’re doing.
The ability to sideload apps and use third-party app stores has long been part of Android’s appeal to many users and is one of the main ways the platform differentiates itself from Android. iOS no longer locked. However, it has always been recognized that side loading poses safety risks.
Android 14 Previews Could Launch Soon
This new security feature will be part of Android 14. While the full release of this is unlikely to happen until much later in the year, early developer previews of the new update are expected soon enough. The preview of Android 13 was made available to developers in February 2022, ahead of the public beta which was dropped in April. We can expect a similar schedule this year.
