Google is implementing a new policy to penalize Android apps that excessively drain device batteries, a move aimed at improving user experience and transparency. The change, announced today, adds battery efficiency as a core technical quality metric for apps listed on the Google Play Store.
this crackdown addresses a long-standing user frustration: apps running in the background and consuming power without clear justification. Google’s existing quality metrics already assessed app crashes and unresponsiveness; now, battery performance joins that evaluation. Developers will be expected to optimize their apps for power efficiency, and users will gain greater insight into which apps are impacting their battery life.
On phones, an app will be flagged for excessive battery drain if it keeps the device awake for more than two cumulative hours in a 24-hour period without a valid reason. For Wear OS devices, apps draining more than 4.44% of the watch’s battery per hour during active sessions will also be flagged. Apps exceeding these thresholds risk reduced visibility in the Play Store or a public warning label regarding battery consumption.
Google stated it collaborated with Samsung in the development of this new battery metric.The policy builds on existing efforts to provide users with more control over app behavior and improve the overall quality of the Android ecosystem.
