Check an app’s source before installing
Confirm the real developer, official distribution route, and current privacy information before you install or sideload an Android app.
Verify identity
Start from the developer’s official website or a trusted app-store listing. Match the exact app name, developer name, website, support details, update history, privacy policy, permissions, and Data safety information.
Treat sideloading separately
Do not use an unofficial mirror merely because it appears first in search. Verify provenance, signing identity, version, integrity, and why the official route cannot meet the need. Keep Google Play Protect switched on as an additional scanning layer.
Understand disclosure limits
Google states that developers supply Data safety disclosures and that practices can vary by use, region, age, or app version. Use the section as evidence, not the only check.
Last verified: 5 September 2026 · Google Play Help: Data safety · Google Play Protect