Google to Flag Battery-Draining Apps on Play Store in 2026

Google announced a new policy on Wednesday to combat excessive battery drain caused by Android apps, introducing warnings on the Google Play Store for users starting March 1, 2026. The measure targets apps that improperly use wake locks, a system feature that keeps devices active even when the screen is off, and will apply worldwide to enhance app quality and user transparency.

Wake locks enable essential functions such as music playback or file downloads in the background. However, when misused, they prevent devices from entering low-power states, leading to accelerated battery consumption. Under the policy, Google will flag apps that hold wake locks for more than two cumulative hours in a 24-hour period without a legitimate reason. An app qualifies for scrutiny if more than 5 percent of its user sessions over the previous 28 days exhibit this behavior, based on aggregated data from Android Vitals, Google's developer monitoring tool.

Affected apps will display a warning label on their Play Store listings, stating that the app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity. Developers will receive prior notifications through Android Vitals, giving them time...