F-Droid warns Android lock-down plans remain active as confusion spreads
Feb 22nd 2026
After FOSDEM, F-Droid and other app stores added banners to rebut claims Google canceled its August lock-down plans, while F-Droid Basic ships a new alpha and hundreds of apps receive updates.
- Google plans announced in August to tighten Android distribution remain scheduled despite recent messages that gave the impression they were canceled.
- F-Droid, F-Droid Basic, IzzyOnDroid and other app downloaders added banners and warnings to inform users and encourage contacting regulators.
- F-Droid Basic 2.0-alpha3 was released with features including CSV export of installed apps, install history, mirror chooser and a prevent screenshots setting.
- Conversations and Quicksy updated to remove a Google library and instead interface with Google Play Service via IPC, a potential path to reducing proprietary dependencies.
- This week F-Droid recorded 287 app updates, one new app added, and five apps removed, while notable updates include ProtonVPN moving fully to WireGuard and Nextcloud Hub 26 Winter shipping server side features.