Google Play Store now warns users about apps that drain more battery

Google Play

• Google Play Store now warns users about battery-draining apps
• Apps with high background activity may get reduced visibility
• Google urges developers to optimize app background processes

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Google has begun introducing warning labels on the Google Play Store to alert Android users about applications that consume excessive battery power. The move is part of the company’s efforts to improve app quality and reduce background activity that negatively affects smartphone battery life.

New warning labels for battery-draining apps

According to Google, the Play Store will now show alerts on apps that demonstrate behaviour linked to excessive battery usage. The warning will inform users that the app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity.

These labels are based on Android’s performance metrics, particularly data collected through Android Vitals. If an app consistently consumes battery resources beyond the acceptable limit, it may trigger a warning for users before installation or during browsing on the Play Store.

In addition to displaying warnings, Google said that apps identified with excessive battery usage could also see reduced visibility across the Play Store. This means such apps may be excluded from recommendation sections and other discovery surfaces.

What causes excessive battery drain

The issue often arises from the misuse of a feature called “partial wake lock.” This mechanism allows an app to keep a smartphone’s CPU active even when the screen is turned off. While the feature has legitimate uses, improper implementation can cause unnecessary background activity and drain the battery faster.

Google defines problematic behaviour when an app keeps the CPU active for extended periods during sessions in which the screen remains off. Specifically, the company flags apps that maintain partial wake locks for long durations in more than five percent of user sessions over the past 28 days.

Such behaviour increases energy consumption and reduces battery efficiency on Android smartphones.

Steps recommended for developers

Google has also issued guidance for developers whose apps are affected by the new policy. The company recommends reducing unnecessary background processes and optimising how apps perform tasks such as background syncing, sensor monitoring, location tracking, and network communication.

Developers are encouraged to review how their apps use wake locks and adopt more efficient alternatives wherever possible.

The rollout of these warning labels began earlier this month and will expand gradually to more apps over the coming weeks. Through this change, Google aims to provide greater transparency to users while encouraging developers to build applications that use system resources more responsibly.