Google is introducing a new Play Store policy to curb battery-draining apps. Starting March 1, 2026, apps that hold excessive wake locks – keeping devices awake without reason – will face penalties such as reduced Play Store visibility and warning labels on their listings.
The change adds battery efficiency to Google’s “core technical quality metrics,” alongside app crash and responsiveness data. Apps that keep a phone awake for over two hours in 24 hours or drain more than 4.44% of a smartwatch’s battery per hour may be flagged.
Google says it developed the new battery metric in collaboration with Samsung to encourage more power-efficient app design and give users greater transparency.
Source: Android Authority
