Android users are on the brink of a significant enhancement to their app downloading experience. Soon, they will encounter a new alert on the Google Play Store—a red warning badge indicating that an app “may use more battery than expected.” This initiative, developed in collaboration with Samsung, aims to identify applications that surreptitiously drain battery power while running in the background.
The focus of this update is on apps that misuse “partial wake locks.” This mechanism is designed to keep a device awake, allowing apps to function even when the screen is off. However, when exploited, these wake locks can lead to considerable battery depletion. Google’s intention is to bring attention to these issues before users commit to downloading an app.
How the new system works
The latest update to Android vitals introduces a metric that monitors “excessive partial wake locks.” After extensive beta testing and incorporating developer feedback, Google has established a clear threshold for what constitutes excessive behavior. An app will be flagged if it maintains more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period. Exceptions exist for system-related tasks, such as audio playback or user-initiated file transfers, but most background activities do not qualify for exemption. If at least 5% of an app’s user sessions over the past 28 days surpass this threshold, it will be categorized as a battery drain culprit.
What this means for users
Beginning March 1, 2026, apps that exceed the established limits will face two key repercussions: they will experience diminished visibility in the Play Store, losing placement in major discovery sections like recommendations. Additionally, a red warning label will appear on their app listing, notifying users that the app has “high background activity” and may lead to faster battery drain than anticipated. This proactive measure will empower Android users to make informed decisions before installing apps with a history of resource misuse.
A push for better battery performance
The misuse of wake locks has long been a primary contributor to unexplained battery drain on Android devices. By publicly identifying apps that exploit this feature, Google aims to encourage developers to optimize their background processes, ultimately enhancing battery life across the platform. For users, this update represents a step toward greater transparency and provides an additional tool to avoid applications that may silently undermine their device’s battery performance.
