Google is making moves to tighten up sideloading on Android, with an emphasis on APK signing and verified developer credentials. On paper, that sounds like a good step for security. But when you step back, it raises a bigger question: is this actually solving the real problem? Or is it putting unnecessary pressure on the communities and developers who helped Android and VR thrive in the first place?
How Openness Built the Meta Quest
The Meta Quest didn’t get popular because Meta had the best app store. It blew up because of its openness. SideQuest gave indie developers and hobbyists a real place to share apps, both free and paid, outside of Meta’s official storefront.
That openness made it possible for creative apps like Rookie VRP to exist, and it let experiences like VRChat become cultural touchstones. VRChat is free, but it arguably sold more headsets than any polished AAA VR game—because it empowered people to create, connect, and experiment.
Openness is the secret sauce. Without it, the Quest could’ve just been another closed platform that faded into the background.
Android Already Has Guardrails
The thing is—Android already warns you about sideloading. You’ve seen the pop-ups about “unknown sources.” You’ve seen Play Protect scan your apps. Meta even goes one step further by requiring you to flip on Developer Mode before sideloading on Quest.
So the infrastructure to keep casual users safe is already there. Signing might sound like an improvement, but forcing it across the board risks over-complicating things for developers and users who already know what they’re doing.
The Real Problem? Google’s Own Store
Here’s the kicker: malicious apps don’t primarily come from SideQuest, F-Droid, or other third-party stores. They come from the Play Store itself.
Not long ago, over 77 apps with malware slipped past Google’s checks, racking up nearly 19 million installs before being removed. Another “Vapor” campaign sneaked in 300 malicious apps with over 60 million downloads.
Meanwhile, smaller communities like SideQuest actively moderate their own storefronts. Their reputation depends on it. And often, they catch issues before they become a user problem.
So why crack down on sideloading when the Play Store itself is struggling with moderation?
Why Modding and Third-Party Apps Matter
It’s also worth remembering that sideloading isn’t just about piracy. Projects like ReVanced (the successor to YouTube Vanced) show how communities can reclaim and improve apps in ways that big companies don’t always prioritize. Users didn’t install it to be criminals—they installed it because it offered background play, customization, and features they actually wanted.
On the Quest side, SideQuest and other storefronts have become essential. They’re not just playgrounds for free experiments—they also sell paid apps, giving smaller developers a path to success that Meta’s store doesn’t always allow.
The Smarter Path Forward
Instead of locking down sideloading, Google could take a more balanced approach:
- Fix Play Store moderation first. That’s where the bulk of malware actually enters.
- Partner with trusted third-party stores. Give SideQuest or F-Droid a “verified” badge instead of sidelining them.
- Educate users instead of restricting them. Warnings and developer toggles already work well—make them smarter, not scarier.
- Keep signing optional. Let developers self-sign, and let users decide who to trust.
Why This Matters
The openness of Android and the Quest isn’t a side benefit—it’s the reason these platforms took off. Communities, mods, and independent developers fill the gaps big companies can’t or won’t.
If Google goes too far with mandatory APK signing, it risks dampening the very ecosystem that made Android special in the first place. And it risks repeating the mistakes of closed platforms that put control above creativity.
Security is important, but if you shut too many doors, you lose what made people walk in to begin with.
That’s the heart of the issue: sideloading isn’t the threat. Bad moderation is. And openness is what keeps both Android and VR thriving.
