Many Android users have noticed recently that a “SafetyCore” app has appeared on their devices. What is it? Google’s immediate explanation doesn’t offer much detail, but there are answers.
The “SafetyCore” app for Android started rolling out to users in November 2024 as a part of the month’s “Google System Updates.” The new app was installed as an extension of Play Services and was installed alongside the “Android System Key Verifier” app. However, some users have only just recently had the rollout reach their devices.
Understandably, a new app that you didn’t install could be a cause for concern and, unfortunately, Google hasn’t done the best job in putting details about what this app does front and center. In the Play Store, this is how Google describes what “SafetyCore” does on your Android phone:
Android System SafetyCore is a system service that provides safety features for Android devices.
So, what does it do?
In short, “SafetyCore” will be used to power new protection features coming to Google Messages for Android, with other apps presumably using the service later down the line.
Google first announced these protection features for Messages in October 2024. This includes the blurring of images sent that may contain nudity as a part of “Sensitive Content Warnings.” “SafetyCore” processes these messages on-device and while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
Google explains:
Sensitive Content Warnings is an optional feature that blurs images that may contain nudity before viewing, and then prompts with a “speed bump” that contains help-finding resources and options, including to view the content. When the feature is enabled, and an image that may contain nudity is about to be sent or forwarded, it also provides a speed bump to remind users of the risks of sending nude imagery and preventing accidental shares.
These features will be optional, but Google is still installing these two apps as a part of its suite for Android devices with Play Services.
Meanwhile, the “Android System Key Verifier” app will be used for a new “contact verifying feature” coming to Android which will be able to help you avoid instances where a scammer impersonates one of your contacts. Google says that the feature will “allow you to verify your contacts’ public keys so you can confirm you’re communicating with the person you intend to message” using a “unified system for public key verification” that works across multiple apps. The system will use QR codes, as the Play Store listing shows, but won’t be launching until sometime later in 2025.
Confusion around the installation of these two apps has run rampant over the past few months as the rollout has taken place, but, in short, users should not be worried about the installation of these apps. They come directly from Google and are ultimately designed to further enhance user safety.
More on Android:
Follow Ben: Twitter/X, Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
