Resources
Stay organized with collections
Save and categorize content based on your preferences.
Troubleshooting
- I've lost my signing key: We strongly recommend all developers use a
secure key management solution. If you lose your signing key you won't be able
to register your packages.
- My app uses multiple signing keys: The Android developer console lets you
add and verify multiple signing keys for a single package.
- I don't have an "eligible" key In cases where a package name is already in
use, you may be informed that your key is not eligible to claim it outright.
You should consider using a different package name. If this is not possible,
you can request to register the package name, but this will require an
additional review, and that package name may also be used by other developers.
What your users will see
It is important to understand the user-facing impact of these new requirements.
After the regional enforcement deadline in September 2026, users will not be
able to install apps from unverified developers on a certified Android-powered
device. If they try to do this , they will see a system dialog letting them know
the install is blocked
This makes it critical that you complete your verification and registration to
verify your users can install your apps without interruption.
FAQ, resources, and what's next
This section answers some of the most common questions.
General
- What happens if I don't comply? If you do not verify your identity and
register your apps by the September deadline, your apps will be blocked
from being installed by users on certified Android devices in applicable
regions.
- I'm just a hobbyist/student. What is "Limited Distribution"? We understand
that not everyone is a professional developer. The Limited Distribution
account type in the Android Developer Console is designed for you. It is free
and will have a straightforward process, but comes with limits on the number
of apps and installations.
Identity and accounts
- What is a D-U-N-S number and how do I get one? A D-U-N-S number is a
unique nine-digit identifier for businesses provided by Dun & Bradstreet. It
is required if you are registering as an organization. If your
organization does not have one, you can get one for free from
the Dun & Bradstreet website. The process can take up to 28 days so you should
make preparations to obtain a D-U-N-S number.
- How is my personal information handled? We use your personal information
to verify your identity, and it is handled in accordance with Google's
Privacy Policy. We are committed to protecting your data.
- Why is there a $25 fee for the ADC? How can I pay? The $25 fee for the
Full Distribution account in the ADC helps cover administrative costs and
investment in protecting the ecosystem, similar to Play's $25 registration
fee. We are actively working to support multiple forms of payment to
accommodate developers globally and will have more details when the console
launches. We are waiving the fee for developers who qualify for a Limited
Distribution account.
Package name registration and signing keys
- I distribute my apps through Play and other channels : To simplify the
process, developers with a Play Console account can use it as the single place
to manage all their verification requirements, including for their apps
distributed outside of Play.
- I use Play App Signing, are my apps claimed automatically? Yes. If you use
Play App Signing, we have the necessary information to securely identify your
ownership. Your eligible apps will be part of the automatic registration
process.
Support and enforcement
Where can I get help or provide feedback? Your feedback is crucial for
helping us improve this process. Please reach out with any feedback
here. For additional information on these requirements,
visit the Android Developer Console Help Center and the Play Console Help
Center.
What's next
We are committed to supporting you through this transition and are already
planning future improvements to make these processes easier, such as introducing
bulk upload and management features for developers with large app catalogs.
Content and code samples on this page are subject to the licenses described in the Content License. Java and OpenJDK are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-08-22 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-22 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Resources\n\n### Troubleshooting\n\n- **I've lost my signing key**: We strongly recommend all developers use a secure key management solution. If you lose your signing key you won't be able to register your packages.\n- **My app uses multiple signing keys**: The Android developer console lets you add and verify multiple signing keys for a single package.\n- **I don't have an \"eligible\" key** In cases where a package name is already in use, you may be informed that your key is not eligible to claim it outright. You should consider using a different package name. If this is not possible, you can request to register the package name, but this will require an additional review, and that package name may also be used by other developers.\n\nWhat your users will see\n------------------------\n\nIt is important to understand the user-facing impact of these new requirements.\nAfter the regional enforcement deadline in **September 2026**, users will not be\nable to install apps from unverified developers on a certified Android-powered\ndevice. If they try to do this , they will see a system dialog letting them know\nthe install is blocked\n\nThis makes it critical that you complete your verification and registration to\nverify your users can install your apps without interruption.\n\nFAQ, resources, and what's next\n-------------------------------\n\nThis section answers some of the most common questions.\n\n### General\n\n- **What happens if I don't comply?** If you do not verify your identity and register your apps by the September **deadline**, your apps will be blocked from being installed by users on certified Android devices in applicable regions.\n- **I'm just a hobbyist/student. What is \"Limited Distribution\"?** We understand that not everyone is a professional developer. The **Limited Distribution** account type in the Android Developer Console is designed for you. It is free and will have a straightforward process, but comes with limits on the number of apps and installations.\n\n### Identity and accounts\n\n- **What is a D-U-N-S number and how do I get one?** A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses provided by Dun \\& Bradstreet. It is required if you are registering as an **organization** . If your organization does not have one, you can [get one for free](https://www.dnb.com/en-us/smb/duns/get-a-duns.html) from the Dun \\& Bradstreet website. The process can take up to 28 days so you should make preparations to obtain a D-U-N-S number.\n- **How is my personal information handled?** We use your personal information to verify your identity, and it is handled in accordance with [Google's\n Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy). We are committed to protecting your data.\n- **Why is there a $25 fee for the ADC? How can I pay?** The $25 fee for the **Full Distribution** account in the ADC helps cover administrative costs and investment in protecting the ecosystem, similar to Play's $25 registration fee. We are actively working to support multiple forms of payment to accommodate developers globally and will have more details when the console launches. We are waiving the fee for developers who qualify for a Limited Distribution account.\n\n### Package name registration and signing keys\n\n- **I distribute my apps through Play and other channels** : To simplify the process, developers with a Play Console account can use it as the single place to manage all their verification requirements, including for their apps distributed outside of Play.\n- **I use Play App Signing, are my apps claimed automatically?** Yes. If you use Play App Signing, we have the necessary information to securely identify your ownership. Your eligible apps will be part of the automatic registration process.\n\n### Support and enforcement\n\n**Where can I get help or provide feedback?** Your feedback is crucial for\nhelping us improve this process. Please reach out with any feedback\n[here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1riPsd_hN_SejtQidl9mavYQIhZhlknt6qnb7dNaiiqE/edit?resourcekey=0-CJYTgD6LtAkUPiIyUtlEjQ). For additional information on these requirements,\nvisit the Android Developer Console Help Center and the Play Console Help\nCenter.\n\n### What's next\n\nWe are committed to supporting you through this transition and are already\nplanning future improvements to make these processes easier, such as introducing\nbulk upload and management features for developers with large app catalogs."]]
