Starting March 2026, Google Play will flag Android apps that excessively drain battery power through background activity, promoting smarter energy usage and improving smartphone performance across the Android ecosystem.
Published: November 12, 2025 6:33 PM IST
Google is introducing a new system that will identify and label apps that Google believes are consuming too much battery. The new program will start on March 1, 2026. Developers have until then to make sure that their apps are not on the list.
The problem is known as “excessive partial wake locks.” Wake locks are a feature of the Android system that apps can use to keep the device awake even if the display is off. This can be useful for background operations such as syncing, uploading/downloading files, and monitoring location. But waking up the device unnecessarily and at the wrong times can use a lot of battery power and can often be the reason for unexplained rapid battery drain.
Google has a specific definition for this:
“For apps that have more than 2 cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks in a day, in 5% or more of user sessions, within the last 28 days, are considered to be exhibiting excessive wake ups.”
It is important to note that wake locks are not considered “excessive” if they are used for legitimate functions.
If this situation is met, the app will be flagged for excessive battery use.
Once an app has been identified as using excessive power, developers will be notified through the Android Vitals dashboard and the Play Store app listing will be labeled with a warning message: “This app may drain your battery faster than expected.”
Listing may also see reduced visibility or no visibility at all (dropped from recommendation surfaces) if the problem persists. Visibility could be affected by such factors as chart ranking or certain Featured recommendations.
This is a welcome change for users. Many apps that run background operations and unnecessarily wake the device up are often under-the-radar, yet can have a big impact on battery life. Until now, it was next to impossible to know this ahead of time or even understand it once the app is installed and running. With the new flag, users can avoid this from the get-go, with a warning before app installation or updates. And for developers, it is a reminder that background energy consumption is a first-class metric of app quality, like crashes, ANRs, and other indicators.
The new standard is in place in collaboration with key Android OEMs (such as Samsung) to ensure alignment and ensure practicality on real devices. It was also tested with OEMs since early 2025.
In summary, in the future when installing or updating an Android app from the Play Store, you may see a warning badge indicating that the app may drain the battery faster than expected.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: india.com
