Android users may soon start seeing new notices on the Play Store whenever an app is suspected of quietly consuming more power than it should. From March 1, 2026, Google will begin flagging applications that frequently keep a phone awake in the background, hinting to users that such apps could be responsible for unnecessary battery loss.
| Image credit: StarklyTech
- Google will flag Android apps that secretly drain battery by keeping phones awake too long.
- From March 2026, Play Store will warn users about apps with excessive background power use.
- Apps causing frequent wake locks may lose Play Store visibility and get public battery warnings.
- Google and Samsung’s new battery standard targets developers with poor energy optimisation.
- The new rule aims to create a cleaner Android ecosystem with smarter, battery-friendly apps.
Android users may soon start seeing new notices on the Play Store whenever an app is suspected of quietly consuming more power than it should. From March 1, 2026, Google will begin flagging applications that frequently keep a phone awake in the background, hinting to users that such apps could be responsible for unnecessary battery loss.
This initiative stems from Google’s growing effort to promote better app performance and energy efficiency across Android devices. Earlier this year, a special monitoring tool was tested with select developers, and that same tool — now called the excessive partial wake lock metric — will become a standard part of Android development practices. The project is the result of close coordination between Google’s engineering team and Samsung, marking another step toward unified battery standards across manufacturers.
| Image credit: Google
The system uses a new behavioural threshold to decide when an app crosses the line. If an app repeatedly forces a device to stay awake for more than two hours within a 24-hour period, it may trigger Google’s alert mechanism. However, wake locks used for critical functions such as active audio playback or ongoing data transfers won’t be penalised under the new rules, ensuring essential tasks remain uninterrupted.
Apps that consistently show signs of poor energy management over a month-long observation period — specifically when at least 5% of their user sessions display excessive wake activity — risk being deprioritised in Play Store recommendations. Some listings could even feature a visible notice cautioning potential users about elevated battery drain tendencies.
By implementing these guidelines, Google aims to hold developers accountable for inefficient coding that silently drains mobile batteries. The company’s long-term plan appears to be building a cleaner ecosystem where users can trust apps not just for features, but for sustainable battery behaviour as well.