app penalties

Google is updating its Play Store to improve smartphone battery efficiency by addressing apps that prevent devices from entering Sleep mode. This initiative, developed with Samsung, targets "excessive partial wake locks," which keep the CPU active in the background. Apps will be flagged if their user sessions exceed 5% of excessive wake locks over a 28-day period. Starting March 1, 2026, apps maintaining a non-exempt wake lock for over two hours in 24 hours will face penalties, including potential removal from recommendation lists and warning badges on their listings. Google aims to help users identify apps that may cause battery drain. A beta rollout began in April 2025, and Google has provided tools for developers to monitor wake lock usage and battery consumption.