Battery-guzzling apps are in trouble. Google has taken a major step, and this change will now be implemented.

Some apps consume excessive battery power due to background activity. Google has now decided to take action against such apps.

If your phone's battery doesn't last long, it doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong with the phone or battery. There are some apps that continue to drain your phone's battery. However, such apps are soon to be eliminated. Google has decided to identify apps on the Play Store that consume excessive battery power and take action against them. Plans are also underway to add a battery-guzzling warning tag to these apps.

Google has made this decision.

Google has issued new guidelines to app developers. Now, Android apps will have to undergo a new performance check before being listed on the Play Store. This includes a check called 'Wake Locks'. Wake locks keep the phone awake even when the screen is off. This feature is useful during music playback and file downloads, but it does consume a lot of battery.

New rules will come into effect on March 1st

From March 1st, 2026, apps that excessively use wake locks without reason will be in trouble. Google has stated that it will take action against these apps and will not recommend such apps to customers. It will also place a warning label below the app stating that it consumes a lot of battery. Google wants developers to create more power-efficient apps. It also wants to be transparent and inform users about which apps can drain the phone's battery quickly. Indeed, many apps remain active in the background and fetch various types of data, including location. This causes the phone's battery to drain quickly even when locked.