Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor launch Android Developer Verification (ADV) in China

Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor have introduced Android Developer Verification (ADV) in mainland China. The Mobile Intelligent Terminal Ecosystem Alliance announced the move today, saying the four brands will recognize each other’s verification results. That is, developers who complete the process on one platform will not have to repeat it when distributing apps on the other three.

The system is intended to make it easier to identify developers behind apps installed outside official app stores. According to the alliance, China lacks a unified real-name verification system for sideloaded apps, making it difficult to trace malicious, counterfeit, and fraudulent software back to its developers. Such apps can expose users to financial scams, private data leaks, and unwanted purchases.

ADV links each developer’s verified identity to their apps. However, the change should have little effect on people who download apps through official stores. Apps already registered and listed on the four platforms go through verification automatically, so their developers do not need to submit another application.

The difference will become more noticeable when installing APK files from outside those stores. If an app comes from a developer who has not completed identity verification, users will see an “unverified” warning on phones from the four brands. They must confirm the installation manually before proceeding. The alliance acknowledges that the additional step could slow down app distribution.

Here’s Xiaomi ADV verification process

We have gone through the documentation for Xiaomi’s ADV verification process, and it’s more or less similar for all brands.

The company opened ADV submissions on October 21 and set October 31 as the date it would begin checking sideloaded app installations. This means the warning may already be active on Xiaomi devices.

According to Xiaomi, its verification process checks three things: an app’s package name, signing key, and developer verification status. If a sideloaded app changes its package name or signing key, it must go through verification again.

Xiaomi also clarifies that ADV is not a security scan. It only establishes the identity of the developer behind an app. The company will continue running separate virus and malware checks on sideloaded applications. A verified app can still contain malicious code, while an unverified app is not automatically dangerous.

Developers distributing apps outside official stores must register through the Xiaomi HyperOS developer platform. They first complete real-name verification as an individual or company, a process Xiaomi says takes one to three working days. They then upload a signed empty APK and associate it with the app’s package name. The actual app verification is automated and takes effect immediately.

Oppo, Vivo, and Honor have also published developer documentation, although we could not independently confirm their exact rollout dates or submission procedures.

Google is also tightening Android sideloading rules

Fortunately, for users outside China, Google is already preparing its own developer verification requirements for Android. The company announced the policy in 2025, drawing criticism from developers concerned about its effect on app distribution outside official stores. We previously covered how Google’s new developer rules were said to threaten sideloading and F-Droid’s future, along with a workaround for Android’s sideloading restrictions.

Google began its rollout on September 30, 2026, in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The requirement covers app installations from seven app stores, including Honor App Market, Oppo App Market, V-Appstore, and Xiaomi GetApps. Google plans to expand developer verification to all certified Android devices in 2027.

Google also provides an advanced installation process that lets users install apps from unregistered developers after a 24-hour waiting period. The Chinese alliance’s announcement does not mention a similar option for its ADV system.

Each of the four manufacturers has published its own developer documentation:

• Oppo: ADV developer documentation
• Vivo: ADV developer documentation
• Xiaomi: ADV developer documentation
• Honor: ADV developer documentation

The four brands are building a shared verification system, but it remains unclear whether other Chinese smartphone manufacturers will join the initiative.

(Via)