Google is embarking on a transformative journey with its Play Store, introducing a pivotal update designed to enhance smartphone battery efficiency. This initiative, developed in partnership with Samsung, focuses on curbing the prevalence of apps that hinder devices from seamlessly entering Sleep mode. The new measure, termed “excessive partial wake locks,” aims to monitor and penalize applications that keep a phone’s CPU active for extended periods while running in the background.
Apps often utilize Wake Locks to prevent devices from slipping into Sleep mode, enabling them to perform essential tasks even when the screen is off. Google has set a clear benchmark for what constitutes excessive behavior: if an app’s user sessions exceed 5% of excessive wake locks over a rolling 28-day period, it will be flagged for review.
New rules for Android apps take effect March 1, 2026
Beginning March 1, 2026, Google will implement penalties for apps that maintain a non-exempt wake lock for more than two hours within any 24-hour timeframe. While wake locks serve vital functions—such as facilitating music playback or critical data transfers—prolonged usage is a significant contributor to accelerated battery drain, prompting this proactive policy shift.
Apps that exceed the two-hour threshold will enter a “warning zone” if 5% of their user sessions are affected. The implications for these apps are substantial:
- They may be removed from key recommendation and discovery lists within the Play Store.
- App listings could bear a warning badge, alerting users to potential battery consumption issues due to high background activity.
This initiative aims to empower users by clearly identifying apps that may lead to excessive battery drain. Google has stated, “In some cases, we may display a warning on your store listing to indicate to users that your app may cause excessive battery drain.”
Google giving new tools to developers
The introduction of this policy follows a successful beta rollout that commenced in April 2025, leveraging real-world device data and insights from app developers. To assist developers in adapting to these new standards, Google has unveiled a comprehensive table in Vitals within the Play Console. This innovative tool enables developers to accurately identify which Wake lock tags and durations are contributing to elevated battery consumption.
As the landscape evolves, developers will need to proactively tackle these background usage challenges to preserve their apps’ visibility, reputation, and standing on the Play Store. The onus is now on them to ensure that their applications not only meet user expectations but also align with Google’s commitment to enhancing battery life across devices.
