Google has officially introduced its new Android sideloading process in four countries after announcing the changes earlier this year. The company says the new rules are designed to prevent scammers from pressuring users into installing malicious apps.

Android devices running Android 7 or later in Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia now require users to enable sideloading through Developer Options, complete authentication, restart the device, and wait 24 hours before they can install apps from unregistered developers.

Once enabled, the setting allows users to sideload apps from unregistered developers and app stores for seven days or indefinitely, depending on their chosen option.

The currently authorized app stores include Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Store, Honor App Market, Oppo App Market, Xiaomi GetApps, vivo V Appstore, and Transsion Palm Store.

Google has deliberately made the new sideloading process more inconvenient to disrupt scammers. However, some Android users have raised concerns that the changes could eventually lead to a more closed ecosystem similar to iOS.

For now, the new process is limited to the four countries mentioned above, with Google expected to introduce the changes in additional markets soon.