What is the key attestation root certificate change in 2026?

Google is transitioning the root certificate used in Android hardware key attestation chains. This affects any organisation or service that validates attestation certificates from Android devices.

Timeline:

• February 2026: New root certificate introduced alongside the existing root
• April 2026: RKP-enabled devices (Remote Key Provisioning) exclusively use the new root certificate

Who is affected?

Any system that validates Android key attestation certificates needs to update its trust store to include the new root. This includes:

• EMM platforms performing device integrity checks via attestation
• Zero-trust access solutions using hardware-backed key attestation
• Solutions that verify device attestation as part of compliance
• Identity providers using Device Trust signals alongside attestation

What should I do?

1. Check whether your attestation verification system hardcodes the existing root certificate
2. Add the new root certificate to your trust store before April 2026
3. Test attestation validation against both roots during the transition period
4. If you rely on a commercial EMM or identity provider, confirm with your vendor that they have updated their systems

The new root certificate is published in Google's key attestation documentation.

Failure to update before April 2026 will result in attestation verification failures for devices using Remote Key Provisioning, which includes most modern Android devices.