Google has announced a new policy for the Play Store that will identify and flag Android applications using excessive amounts of battery. Starting March 1, 2026, apps that are found to be significant power drainers may be labeled with a warning on their store listing and be featured less prominently.

The initiative aims to improve the user experience by providing more transparency about how an application might impact a device's battery life before it is downloaded. The new system was developed in collaboration with Samsung, combining real-world battery usage data with Android's platform analytics to create a more accurate detection method.

Understanding "Wake Locks"

The core of this new policy targets a technical process known as "partial wake locks." This is a function that lets an app run background processes by keeping the device's CPU (the "brain" of the device) awake, even when the screen is off.

While necessary for functions like music playback or file downloads, some apps misuse wake locks, keeping the device active for prolonged periods and causing significant battery drain. An app will only be be flagged if it meets a high threshold based on having a total of two hours of wake locks in a 24 hour period (other than exempted wake locks). If the app breaches this threshold in 5% of all user sessions within a 28-day span, it will be flagged. (Source: bleepingcomputer.com)

Impact on Developers and Users

Developers are being encouraged to review their apps' performance using new tools provided in the Google Play Console to identify and rectify issues with excessive wake locks. Apps that are flagged will not only receive a public warning label but could also be removed from high-profile discovery sections of the Play Store, such as recommendations.

For users, this change means it will be easier to spot and avoid power-hungry applications directly within the Play Store. The warning will explicitly state that the app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity, empowering users to make more informed decisions about the software they install on their devices. (Source: 9to5google.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Will this new warning system change how you choose which apps to download? Do you believe developers will be motivated to optimize their apps to avoid these penalties? Have you ever uninstalled an app specifically because it was draining your phone's battery?