Android users will soon be able to pause Google’s anti-malware service for sideloading

In brief: Google Play Protect serves as Android’s first line of defense against malicious apps. However, the mobile anti-malware service can sometimes make sideloading cumbersome – or even outright impossible – under normal conditions.

Android users may soon find it easier to sideload apps. Google recently updated the Play Store, introducing an option to temporarily pause its antivirus service through Android’s native settings. This change creates a window of opportunity for installing apps from outside traditional sources while maintaining device and data security.

The new feature was first spotted by Android Authority in Play Store version 42.2.19-31. The update adds a “pause” button for Play Protect when users attempt to disable app scanning. However, Google warns that while Play Protect is paused, it will no longer scan apps installed from outside the official Play Store.

For Android power users, Play Protect’s automatic app scanning has been a double-edged sword. The service scans hundreds of billions of apps daily, providing an extra layer of security for smartphones and tablets. However, it can also interfere with sideloading legitimate APKs downloaded from the internet.

I personally discovered Play Protect’s ability to make sideloading an annoying experience a few months ago after upgrading from an old Nokia 6.1 to a brand-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 interfered with 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 significantly more vulnerable. Fortunately, the new “Pause” option should resolve the issue by allowing temporary sideloading, with Play Protect automatically reactivating the next day.

Google warns that sideloading apps can pose security risks to the Android ecosystem. However, sideloading isn’t inherently unsafe – it remains a legitimate method for accessing apps outside the Play Store. For example, the F-Droid platform offers a vast collection of alternative open-source apps that users can download and install manually.