Google has announced a new metric on the Google Play Store to help users monitor apps that consume excessive battery. This initiative targets apps that misuse “wake locks,” which prevent smartphones from entering sleep mode while running background processes.
According to Google, wake locks are a major contributor to battery drain. The company has now defined thresholds to identify apps that use excessive battery while running in the background. A user session is considered excessive if non-exempt wake locks exceed two hours within a 24-hour period. Exceptions include background processes that provide clear user benefits, such as audio playback or user-initiated data transfers.
If an app repeatedly violates Google’s battery usage guidelines, a warning label will appear on the Google Play Store. The label reads: “This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity.” This alert is intended to discourage downloads of battery-heavy apps, as users may avoid installing them to preserve battery life.
Google has also warned that apps failing to address wake lock issues may face stricter consequences. Non-compliant apps could become ineligible for discovery in certain sections of the Play Store, limiting their visibility to potential users.
The new battery metric is set to take effect on March 1st. Developers are encouraged to review their apps and reduce background battery consumption before the deadline to avoid warnings or reduced discoverability.
This initiative reflects Google’s broader effort to improve user experience on Android devices by promoting efficient apps and preventing unnecessary battery drain. With millions of apps available on the Google Play Store, this move is expected to help users make more informed choices while encouraging developers to optimize app performance.
Overall, the new metric aims to strike a balance between app functionality and battery efficiency, ensuring that Android users get a smoother, longer-lasting experience from their devices.
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