Search giant Google has spoken out via its website to warn Huawei owners not to “sideload” its apps onto the Chinese-made devices.

Sideloading is when a user manually installs unverified apps found on the internet onto their android device. The practice is deemed extremely risky as the files may have been tampered with.

The move follows on from the US Government’s ongoing Huawei ban, which means Google apps and services including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, the Play Store and others for preload or download no longer work on the more recent Huawei devices.

In May 2019, the US Government put Huawei on a trading restrictions database called “entry list”. Under US law, Google is now only allowed to work with Huawei on device models available to the public on or before the 16th of May 2019.

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Google said it wanted to provide clear guidance to those still unclear about whether or not Google services would work on new Huawei models launching now, or just becoming available in new regions of the world.

While Google still provides security and other updates to older phones, which it is legally permitted to do, it cannot certify new devices. Those android devices certified under Google’s “Play Protect certified” programme are allowed to have the Play store and other core Google apps.

Google said the programme goes through a “rigorous security review and compatibility testing process” to ensure user data and app information are stored safely.