Google's new "advanced flow" will require Android users to enable 'Developer option' and wait for at least a day before they can install an APK from outside of the Play Store.

Google has announced a new mechanism in Android called Advanced Flow that will allow sideloading APKs from unverified developers for power users in a more secure way.

Google won't allow people to (easily) sideload apps through APK files on certified Android devices starting in September 2026. It will still be possible, ...

You may not like Android's upcoming 24-hour delay before you can permit installation of unverified apps, but it's a fantastic compromise.