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Google Finalizes Android Wake-Lock Metric, Sets Play Store Penalties for 2026

Battery efficiency now counts in Core Vitals to curb apps that quietly keep phones awake.

Overview

  • The “Excessive partial wake locks” measure has graduated from beta into Android Core Vitals and is now visible in Android Vitals for all developers.
  • A session is labeled excessive when it exceeds two cumulative hours of non-exempt wake locks within 24 hours, with system-held cases such as audio playback exempt.
  • Apps cross the unacceptable-behavior threshold if at least 5% of sessions over the previous 28 days are excessive, which triggers developer alerts in dashboards.
  • Beginning March 1, 2026, qualifying apps may receive a prominent red warning on their Play Store listings and face reduced placement or exclusion from recommendation surfaces.
  • Google developed the metric with Samsung and is expanding Android Vitals with analysis tools that expose energy-intensive background activity for easier debugging.