Google Play to Warn Users About Android Apps That Drain Battery Power
Google is introducing a new system in Google Play that will alert users if an app is consuming excessive battery power. The feature is based on a new performance metric developed together with Samsung and aims to reduce background activity that keeps Android devices awake unnecessarily.
A New Metric: “Excessive Partial Wake Locks”
The new metric evaluates how often an app prevents a device from entering deep sleep by using partial wake locks — mechanisms that keep the CPU active even when the screen is off. Google classifies an app session as excessive if it accumulates more than two hours of wake-lock time over a 24-hour period.
This behavior is a common cause of unexplained battery drain. Instead of allowing the device to sleep, certain apps continue performing tasks in the background, gradually consuming power without the user’s knowledge.
5% Threshold for Warnings and Recommendations
Google will not wait for widespread problems before issuing alerts. If just 5% of real-world usage sessions show excessive wake-lock behavior, the app will receive a warning in Google Play. This means even a relatively small portion of problematic sessions is enough to classify an app as battery-draining.
Apps that exceed the 5% threshold may also be excluded from Google Play recommendations, reducing their visibility to new users.
Why Wake Locks Matter
Android devices rely on deep sleep modes to conserve energy when the display is off. Wake locks override this behavior by keeping the system “awake” to perform background tasks, such as syncing data, tracking location, or maintaining network connections.
When used responsibly, wake locks support essential features. But poorly optimized apps often abuse them, creating ongoing CPU activity that drains battery power far faster than expected.
Rollout Starts in 2026
Google confirmed that the new warning system will go into effect on March 1, 2026. Developers are encouraged to monitor battery behavior through Android Vitals and adjust their apps to avoid penalties.
With this change, Google aims to improve the overall health of the Android ecosystem and help users identify apps that impact battery life the most.
Conclusion
By publicly flagging apps that keep devices awake for too long, Google Play is taking a more proactive role in improving battery performance. The combination of stricter metrics, visibility penalties, and clear user warnings could push developers to optimize background activity more aggressively — ultimately benefiting millions of Android users worldwide.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab