Google Play Store to start flagging battery-draining apps from 2026
Google is cracking down on Android apps that drain your battery in the background.
From March 1, 2026, if an app keeps your phone awake for too long in the background, it could get penalized—meaning less visibility on the Play Store and a warning label about high battery use.
This move comes after teaming up with Samsung and looking at real-world battery stats.
What actually happens to these apps?
If an app burns through your battery in more than 5% of user sessions over a month, it gets hit with penalties—like disappearing from recommendations and getting tagged with: "This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity."
Apps playing music or handling transfers you start are safe from this rule.
Developers get a heads-up
Google's giving developers tools (like Android Vitals) to spot and fix these issues before they're penalized.
There's even a new table to help track down which part of their code is causing the drain.
The goal? Better battery life for everyone—and fewer annoying surprises when you check your phone's charge.