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Google is rolling out a policy change in the Play Store, targeting apps that keep devices awake unnecessarily to improve smartphone battery life. Designed in collaboration with Samsung, the new system introduces a metric called ‘excessive partial wake locks’ that may significantly reshape how Android apps run in the background.
The use of these locks enables the applications to disable the Sleep mode of the devices, thus providing the uninterrupted execution of such tasks as music playing, data synchronizing, or file transferring in the background, even when the screen is off. While it’s great, it’s also one of the most common sources of hidden battery drain when abused.
Now, Google has defined bad behavior as when 5 percent of an app’s user sessions over 28 days exceed the new limits. This threshold, the company said, is intended to catch only the worst offenders without punishing legitimate background activity.
Starting from March 1, 2026, Google will take action against an app holding a non-exempt wake lock for more than two hours within any 24-hour window. If the app crosses the limit of 5% excessive sessions, it enters a ‘warning zone’ where several implications are triggered:
Reduced visibility in Play Store recommendations
Lower ranking in discovery and top lists
A visible warning badge on the app listing warns users of possible battery drain.
Google says, “In some cases, we may display a warning on your store listing to indicate to users that your app may cause excessive battery drain.”
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To help developers meet these stricter standards, Google is bringing a detailed wake-lock insights table under Vitals in the Play Console. Now, developers can see exactly which wake lock tags and their respective durations are causing excessive background activity.
The policy roll-out follows a beta programme launched in April 2025, which Google says helped refine the metrics using real-world device data.
The update guarantees more transparency regarding battery-draining apps and a longer lifespan for the user’s gadgets. For developers, it represents the beginning of a new period of responsibility.
The misuse of background activity can unavoidably affect the application’s visibility, reputation, and downloads. This upgrade may just revolutionize app creation and usage as stricter regulations and pressure begin to make their way into the development space.
