wake locks Archives

AppWizard

August 28, 2026

Did A New Google ‘Pulse’ App Just Appear On Your Android Phone? Here’s What It Does

A new app called Pulse has been released on the Play Store, quickly reaching over 10 million downloads. It is an existing Google system service that became more visible in the settings app following a recent update and has been in place since March. Pulse may collect information related to app performance but does not share data with third parties. It can be accessed on Pixel devices through Settings > Google services > All services > Privacy & security > System services. Disabling system services like Pulse could disrupt features, so it is advisable to keep it installed. Pulse helps monitor resource usage in Android, including battery drain, memory usage, and CPU activity, and is part of Google's efforts to track issues within the operating system. Google plans to implement stricter measures against apps that excessively consume resources.

AppWizard

March 11, 2026

Google’s warning over battery-draining Android apps

The Google Play Store has introduced a warning system for Android applications that exhibit excessive background activity, which can lead to battery drain. This feature alerts users to apps that may consume a high amount of battery power due to background operations and was officially launched at the beginning of this month. Google, in collaboration with Samsung, has developed a beta metric called "excessive partial wake locks" to measure how often apps wake a device from sleep mode for background tasks. Not all apps will receive warnings; those with high energy consumption for essential functions, like music playback or location services, are exempt. The rollout of this system will occur gradually over the coming weeks.

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

Google starts shaming apps that drain your battery

Google has introduced visible warning boxes on the Play Store for Android apps that exhibit excessive battery drain, following its commitment to address this issue. Users will see alerts stating, “This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity,” for apps that exceed the threshold for “Excessive Partial Wake Lock.” This warning system aims to encourage developers to improve their apps and may lead to non-compliant apps being removed from recommendation lists. The initiative is designed to benefit consumers by promoting more efficient applications and preserving battery life.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Android will finally show you which app is draining your battery

Google has introduced a new system-level metric called “excessive partial wake locks” to identify apps that prevent Android phones from entering sleep mode, which leads to unnecessary battery drain. This metric, co-developed with Samsung, will be integrated into Android's core vitals metrics to help measure app performance and efficiency. Starting March 1, 2026, apps that keep devices awake for more than two hours unnecessarily will face penalties, including reduced visibility in Play Store recommendations and potential user warnings. This initiative aims to improve transparency for users and encourage developers to optimize their apps.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

Bad battery life? Google will name-and-shame Android apps that drain your phone faster than expected

Google is overhauling the Google Play Store to address Android apps that excessively drain device batteries. New regulations require developers to minimize unnecessary background activities and adhere to stricter guidelines on how often their apps can wake devices or access system resources. Non-compliant apps will receive warnings on their Play Store listings, and their visibility may be reduced. A new measurement system, developed with Samsung, tracks "excessive partial wake locks," which monitor how long apps keep devices awake while the screen is off. If an app exceeds a threshold of 5% of total user sessions with excessive wake locks over a 28-day period, it will trigger notifications on the developers' dashboard. Developers must rectify these issues by March 1, 2026, to keep their apps on the Play Store. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance transparency regarding app resource utilization and improve battery performance across Android devices.

AppWizard

November 17, 2025

Google will now warn about battery-hungry Android apps

Google is enhancing the Android user experience by addressing battery drain caused by applications. The company is collaborating with developers to create power-efficient apps and has introduced new "technical quality metrics" to identify apps that excessively drain battery life. A specific focus is on "excessive partial wake locks," developed in partnership with Samsung, which can significantly escalate battery usage. A new beta metric for excessive partial wake locks has been refined and will soon be available as a core vital for all developers. Starting March 1, 2026, Google will implement new standards that could affect app visibility on the Play Store. Apps that do not meet the quality threshold for excessive wake locks may be excluded from prominent discovery surfaces and could receive warnings about potential battery drain. An app is considered to have excessive wake lock usage if it holds more than 2 cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period, with a threshold for "bad behavior" set at exceeding 5% of user sessions classified as excessive over the past 28 days. Developers will receive alerts if their app surpasses this limit.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Google to flag Android apps with excessive battery use on the Play Store

Google is implementing measures to enhance battery performance on Android devices by monitoring apps in the Google Play Store for high background activity and excessive battery drain. Applications that exceed a defined "bad behavior threshold" may be flagged, affecting their visibility. Developers must adapt their apps to a new metric called "excessive partial wake locks" by March 1, 2026. This metric tracks the duration apps maintain background activity while the screen is off and will measure non-exempt wake locks over a 28-day period. An app is considered excessive if it accumulates over two hours of non-exempt wake locks in a 24-hour period, with the threshold set at 5% of user sessions. Developers exceeding this threshold will be notified. The initiative aims to improve user experience by addressing excessive resource consumption, though it is not specifically targeting malware.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

Starting March 1, Google will warn and ‘label’ Android apps that … – The Times of India

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.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Android phones to warn users about apps draining battery from March 2026

Google will implement a new system on 1 March 2026 to help Android users identify apps that drain battery life. Developers will be required to label apps that consume high amounts of power due to background activity. Apps categorized as heavy battery consumers will be removed from Play Store recommendations. Certain apps, such as those for audio playback or ride-hailing, may be exempt from these restrictions. Google will set metrics to define acceptable background activity levels and limit how often apps can use "wake locks." Developers exceeding this limit will be notified and may face reduced visibility or removal from the Play Store.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Google to Warn Users About Battery-Draining Apps, Plans Red Labels on Play Store by 2026

Google will introduce a proactive alert system for Android by March 2026 to identify battery-draining applications. This system will flag apps that maintain more than two hours of non-exempt wake locks within a 24-hour period across at least 5 percent of user sessions over 28 days. Users will receive warnings about problematic apps, which will also display red battery alerts in the Google Play Store. Developers of poorly optimized apps may face reduced visibility in the Play Store. Google collaborated with Samsung to enhance the system's accuracy, ensuring legitimate background processes are not flagged. This initiative aims to empower users and encourage developers to optimize their applications for better battery performance.