Google tightens the screws. Starting March 1, 2026, the Play Store will display warnings on the pages of apps that significantly drain battery life. This is great news for Android users who are tired of certain apps overusing their battery.
Let’s be honest, many apps, like Instagram and TikTok, are notorious for draining the battery. Google plans to penalize some of these on its Play Store, which has recently introduced a Windows emulator capable of running Steam games.
Google will penalize Android apps that drain too much battery
To issue these warnings, Google will use a metric called Wake Lock. This mechanism allows applications to keep the smartphone active even when the screen is off, such as when listening to music or downloading files. However, its excessive use is one of the main reasons battery life is affected.
Google has set a threshold for identifying problem apps. All apps that keep a smartphone active in the background for more than two hours over a cumulative 24-hour period without valid justification will automatically be flagged.
Rest assured that popular apps like Spotify and Deezer will not be affected, as their use of Wake Lock is justified. Google aims to distinguish between normal usage and the excessive behavior of certain applications that compromise user experience. The Mountain View firm developed this new system in collaboration with Samsung, a key partner for Android. Energy efficiency has become a new quality standard for Android applications.
So, be sure to pay attention to this warning to check that the app you are considering downloading will not degrade the battery life of your Android device. Google wants to provide more benefits and control for Android device owners regarding one of the most irritating issues: battery drainage caused by apps.
Many users are frustrated with the current situation, especially since there aren’t truly effective software solutions and fast charging is merely a stopgap measure. Developers will have no choice but to justify their excessive usage.
Source: Android Developers
