Google has launched an API for Android developers that gives them more control over how their apps are downloaded, according to a report. The API — dubbed “Play Integrity” — is said to carry a new feature that forces users to download an app only through the Google Play Store , effectively preventing sideloading. It checks the status of an app and if it finds it to be “unlicensed,” the API can block it from running on an Android device.
Play Integrity API for Android
The Play Integrity API for Android was first introduced at Google I/O 2024 in May and has recently received this new capability. The API checks for “interactions and server requests coming from a native app binary file running on a native Android device,” according to Google.
In a report, Android Authority’s Michel Rahman highlights that the new feature in the API allows developers to overlay a new dialog box that says, “Get this app from Google Play ,” if it was sideloaded from a third-party source on an Android device. Users can choose to install the app again from the Google Play Store by selecting the Install from Play option. This is said to replace the sideloaded version of the app with the official version.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), analyst AssembleDebug revealed that one of the most notable apps that has recently started enabling this feature is ChatGPT — OpenAI’s interactive chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Other reported apps include Tesco and BeyBlade X.
Application Access Risk Feature
In addition to blocking side-loaded apps, the Play Integrity API is said to have another new feature called “App Access Risks.” This feature is able to check if a user has installed apps that can capture the contents of the device’s screen or control their actions, and can then prompt them to close the app, potentially protecting them from malicious apps that can record the screen while using sensitive apps.