Android 14 Sideloading Apps Wrning: Android 14 will warn you if you try sideloading apps on your phone – Times of India

Google has been quite welcoming to sideloading on Android, allowing users to install apps from third-party stores asides from its app storefront, but it seems to be getting a little strict with Android 14, as it prepares to warn users while sideloading an app on its phone, especially it is one of its core Google apps.
With Android 14, Google is introducing “update ownership,” which will give Play Store control over the app it installs,
adding another step to sideloading these apps. So, when a user is installing an app, which has been installed through the Play Store, a prompt will appear with a warning message that states where updates normally come from and reiterates the risk of sideloading.
“This app normally receives updates from Google Play Store. By updating from a different source, you may receive future updates from any source on your phone. App functionality may change,” read the prompt.” read the prompt.
Google apps will be the first to get Android 14’s new sideloading warning. So, if the user tries to update the app from another app, Android 14 will prompt the user to choose where to update from. They can either choose to go ahead with the third-party installation or cancel it, then update it from the Play Store.
When a user ignores the warning and proceeds with the update, the app store loses ownership of the update. As a result, the user will not be prompted if they try to update the app from a third party. To enable update ownership again, the app must be uninstalled and reinstalled.
There was no restriction on updating the Gmail and Play Store from third-party app stores. So, it seems like the Play Store may only claim ownership over Play Services apps.
Updating apps through the Play Store will help prevent issues caused by sideloading incorrect versions with missing features.