Google to label battery-draining apps in Google Play

Google will introduce warning labels for battery-draining apps on Google Play starting March 1, 2026, according to the official Android developers’ blog.

The new system uses the Excessive Partial Wake Locks metric developed with Samsung. The algorithm analyses how often an app prevents a device from entering sleep mode to perform background tasks.

Under Google’s criteria, an app will be classified as power-intensive if it keeps the device awake for more than two hours per day.

Such apps will receive a special label in Google Play, may face limits in promotion, and could be removed from recommendation lists.

Experts say the move is aimed at pushing developers to optimize their apps and improving overall energy efficiency across the Android ecosystem.