Android phone users may soon get a ‘battery’ warning before downloading these apps

For users, this update offers clearer transparency, and one more tool to avoid apps that quietly kill battery life behind the scenes.

Android users may soon see a new type of alert on the Google Play Store, a red warning badge telling them that an app “may use more battery than expected.” Google is preparing to flag apps that quietly drain power in the background, thanks to a new battery-impact metric developed jointly with Samsung.

Google’s latest Android vitals update introduces a metric that tracks “excessive partial wake locks.”

By Ayushmann Chawla

Ayushmann Chawla is the Deputy Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times. A seasoned tech journalist with years of experience working for some of the industry’s leading media organizations, his articles can also be read on Live Mint. His passion extends beyond journalism—he’s a dedicated automobile enthusiast, always ready to explore the latest in car technology and design. A self-confessed gadget lover, Ayushmann finds joy in testing new devices and sharing his findings with his audience. Instagram: ayushmannchawla

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The move targets apps that misuse “partial wake locks,” a mechanism that prevents a device from going to sleep so apps can continue running even when the screen is off. When abused, these wake locks can cause severe battery drain, something Google now wants to highlight before users hit the download button.

How the new system works

Google’s latest Android vitals update introduces a metric that tracks “excessive partial wake locks.” After months of beta testing and fine-tuning with developer feedback, the company has now set a strict threshold for bad behaviour.

An app will be considered excessive if it holds more than two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within 24 hours. System-related exceptions exist, such as wake locks used for audio playback or user-initiated file transfers, but most background tasks are not exempt.

If at least 5% of an app’s user sessions in the last 28 days cross the threshold, Google will classify the app as a battery culprit.

What this means for users

Starting March 1, 2026, apps that exceed the limit will face two consequences:

Reduced visibility in the Play Store, they will be removed from major discovery sections like recommendations.

A red warning label on their app listing, alerting users that the app has “high background activity” and may drain the battery faster than expected. This means Android users will know before installing whether an app has a history of misusing background resources.

A push for better battery performance

Wake lock misuse has long been one of the biggest causes of unexplained battery drain on Android phones. By publicly flagging apps that abuse the feature, Google hopes to pressure developers into optimizing background behaviour and improving battery life across the ecosystem.

For users, this update offers clearer transparency, and one more tool to avoid apps that quietly kill battery life behind the scenes.