The universal dread for smartphone users isn't a cracked screen, but the creeping anxiety of a dying battery. Despite improvements in technology, the race between battery life and our relentless usage feels perpetually lost. We’ve all been there – anxiously watching the percentage tick downwards, hoping to reach a charger before the screen fades to black.
Often, the silent culprits behind this drain are the apps we willingly install. Some demand significant processing power even during normal use, while others relentlessly operate in the background, consuming energy without our direct interaction. Identifying these battery hogs can be a frustrating process of digging through device settings.
Soon, however, a significant change is coming to the Play Store. Starting in early 2026, a new warning system will proactively flag apps with potentially problematic battery usage. Imagine seeing a clear alert before downloading an app, stating it “may use more battery than expected due to high background activity.”
This isn’t a sudden decision, but the culmination of months of work. Google partnered with Samsung to develop a metric called “excessive partial wake locks,” designed to pinpoint apps that excessively activate the device’s display. This initial beta program allowed developers to understand and address these issues.
The algorithm has since been refined, and the metric is now being rolled out to all developers. Google will flag apps that repeatedly wake the screen – exceeding two hours within a 24-hour period. If 5% of user sessions demonstrate this behavior over a 28-day period, the app will be considered a battery drain.
The consequences for developers are significant. Apps flagged for excessive battery usage may be removed from Play Store search results, drastically reducing their visibility. More visibly, a battery warning will be displayed directly on the app’s page, likely deterring potential downloads.
Developers now have until early next year to optimize their apps and correct this “bad behavior.” The hope is that this initiative will lead to a noticeable improvement in overall battery performance for smartphone users. It’s a push for efficiency and a better mobile experience.
This isn’t an isolated effort. The Play Store has consistently worked to improve app quality and security. Recent additions include live threat detection to identify malware and alerts for apps with unusually high uninstall rates or declining user bases.
Looking ahead, keeping an eye on the Play Store app pages will be more important than ever. If you spot the battery warning, it might be a clear signal to reconsider installing – or even uninstalling – that particular application.
