What happened
Google will start flagging Android apps on the Play Store if they use too much battery in the background. Apps that hold non-system wake locks for more than two hours in a user session, and in more than about five percent of sessions over a 28-day period, will be marked as high drain. Developers must meet the new rule by March 1, 2026.
Who is affected
Any developer with an Android app on Google Play is covered. Organizations with their own mobile apps also need to review their code and any third-party SDKs that might cause excessive background activity.
Why CISOs should care
High battery use often signals unnecessary background activity. That can include risky behavior and poor data handling. If an organization’s app gets flagged, it can lose visibility on Google Play and damage user trust. Third-party libraries can also trigger the issue, which raises supply chain concerns for mobile teams.
3 practical actions
- Review wake lock use across your Android apps and check all third party libraries.
- Set up monitoring for battery use and background activity so you can catch issues before Google flags them.
- Work with your development team to update apps well before the 2026 deadline and include battery checks in your mobile security process.