Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is coming to Android

Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by 8note on Sunday January 25, 2026 @01:28PM (#46756677)

how do you live without ublock on your browser though?

firefox with adblock is the high quality youtube app

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by einsteinx2 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @02:24PM (#46757281)

I use the AdGuard extension just like I do on macOS Safari. It works perfectly fine for removing ads.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by bestnameever on Sunday January 25, 2026 @04:07PM (#46758241)

Another vote for Adguard. it works perfectly.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by darepublic on Sunday January 25, 2026 @02:32PM (#46757368)

As a mobile Firefox with ublocker user I'm not sure I would call it high quality. I regularly have to force stop it to get pages to load properly. I suspect it might be the hostile google based os at fault but not sure

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by bigstrat2003 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @01:53PM (#46756934)

Brave on Android has ad blocking built in, I would assume it does in iOS too. No need for ublock in that case.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by krferriter on Sunday January 25, 2026 @03:51PM (#46758055)

Correct. Brave on iOS is worse than Brave on Android because Apple forces it to be a Safari skin, but they're still able to achieve some UI improvements over Safari, and achieve their built-in adblocking.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by throw3e98 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @03:04PM (#46757637)

I use Wipr 2. You throw $5 at the dev and you never have ads on any iOS device again.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by physicles on Sunday January 25, 2026 @03:25PM (#46757799)

Wipr 2 is in the running for the best $5 I’ve ever spent in my life.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by kstrauser on Sunday January 25, 2026 @04:13PM (#46758294)

Thirded. I recommend it without hesitation.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by nvr219 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @02:56PM (#46757570)

Look up Vinegar, Baking Soda, and (by a separate developer) Wipr.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by pvab3 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @01:51PM (#46756921)

i just use Brave for iOS. I use the setting to block Youtube shorts, default to old.reddit, block ads and annoyances, etc.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by eldaisfish on Sunday January 25, 2026 @01:47PM (#46756878)

safari has ublock now.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by literatepeople on Sunday January 25, 2026 @04:24PM (#46758405)

ublock has been on safari for the past year! there were others before. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ublock-origin-lite/id674534269...

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by orhmeh09 on Sunday January 25, 2026 @04:25PM (#46758430)

I use uBlock on mobile safari.

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Re:Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is comin... by Melatonic on Monday January 26, 2026 @02:55AM (#46762945)

Orion browser on iOS is great and can run Firefox and Chrome extensions. Also has built in Adblock

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