For most apps, Google Play and Xiaomi GetApps are all a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phone needs. But sometimes the app you want only exists as an APK file. You can still install it yourself on HyperOS, just not in one tap. You have to switch on a setting in Developer options first, and depending on your region you may also have to wait 24 hours.
Where to get apps safely
Apps on Google Play and GetApps go through store review. An APK from a random website doesn’t, so the file could have been modified or carry malware. If the app is in a store, get it there.
What “unverified developer” means
Google now requires developers to register their identity if they want their apps installed on certified Android devices. Enforcement began on September 30, 2026 in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and Google plans to extend it worldwide in 2027. Apps from registered developers install as usual. Everything else goes through what Google calls the advanced flow, and that is where the 24-hour wait comes from. It’s Google’s rule, not Xiaomi’s, so you’ll see the same thing on other brands’ phones.
Turn on Developer options
- Open Settings and tap About phone.
- Tap OS version (under the HyperOS logo) seven times. Nothing seems to happen for the first few taps, which is normal.
- Enter your PIN or password if asked. A message confirms that developer options are on.
Allow apps from unverified developers
- Go to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options.
- Switch on Apps from unverified developers and confirm with your screen lock.
- HyperOS asks whether someone told you to do this. If someone did, stop here. That is the exact scam the question is there to catch.
- Restart the phone and wait 24 hours.
- Go back to the same setting, authenticate again, and choose whether to allow unverified apps for 7 days or indefinitely.
Now you can install the APK. HyperOS will still warn you that the app comes from an unverified developer.
Why the 24-hour wait exists
A common scam goes like this: someone calls, claims to be from your bank, and talks you through installing an app while you stay on the line. A forced restart and a day’s delay break that script, because the caller can’t keep you on the phone until tomorrow. The wait happens once per device, not once per app. It’s annoying if you’re in a hurry, but it’s hard to argue with the reasoning.
What happens to updates
Apps you installed before the rules took effect keep working. Updating them, though, requires the advanced flow or ADB. If you turn the setting off, updates for unverified apps can fail until you turn it back on. You don’t need to keep Developer options enabled once the setup is done.
Installing with ADB instead
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is exempt from the advanced flow and has no waiting period. You run it from a computer with USB debugging enabled. It takes more effort to set up, but if you install APKs regularly it’s the less irritating route.
Before you install an APK
- Download only from the developer’s own website or a repository you can identify.
- Check the file’s checksum or signature if the developer publishes one.
- Read the permissions. A flashlight app that wants your contacts is a red flag.
- If a caller or chat contact is telling you to install something, don’t.
- Turn the setting off again if you won’t use it for a while.
FAQ
Does the 24-hour wait apply to Play Store and GetApps apps?
No. It only affects apps from unverified developers.
Do I wait again after every APK?
No. The wait is a one-time step per device, and after it you choose between 7 days and indefinite access.
Does this apply in my country?
Enforcement began in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. In other regions the setting may not show up on your phone yet, and Google expects the global rollout in 2027.
