Google will penalize Android apps worldwide on the Play Store that misuse wake locks and cause unnecessary battery drain, using defined performance checks to enforce technical quality and increase user transparency.
The updated policy, announced as part of Google’s technical quality directives for developers, targets apps that keep devices awake when the screen is off without a legitimate operational need. Wake locks, which underpin functions such as continuous music playback or uninterrupted file downloads, remain permitted when justified. Google’s focus is on implementations that prevent devices from entering lower power states for extended periods, a behavior identified as a major source of accelerated battery depletion in real-world usage.
From March 1, 2026, apps determined to be holding wake locks excessively may face concrete enforcement measures on the Play Store. Google states that offending apps can lose prominence in recommendation surfaces, reducing their likelihood of being suggested to users during app discovery. The company will also attach a specific warning label on affected app listings, explicitly informing prospective users that the app “may drain your phone battery more quickly,” thereby integrating power impact into install decisions.
To guide developer practices, Google links these penalties to quantifiable thresholds. On phones, an app will be classified as causing excessive battery drain if it keeps the device awake for more than two cumulative hours within a 24-hour period without a valid, policy-compliant reason. This assessment aligns wake lock behavior with observable device impact, using cumulative awake time as a measurable indicator rather than relying solely on background runtime or foreground usage statistics.
The policy also references existing criteria on wearables. Google already flags apps on compatible watches when they consume more than 4.44% of the device’s battery per hour during active sessions. Under the new framework, mobile and wearable apps that cross their respective thresholds face the same spectrum of consequences: reduced visibility in Play Store recommendations or a publicly displayed battery-drain warning.
Google reports that it collaborated closely with Samsung in creating the new battery metric, incorporating manufacturer input into the methodology used to evaluate and label excessive consumption.
