Google starts labeling battery-draining apps in the Play Store

Google has begun displaying warning labels for apps deemed to drain device batteries in the Google Play Store. The move, reported by Engadget on Friday, had been announced previously by Google and has been rolled out gradually since 1 March. The label will inform users if an app potentially consumes more battery when running in the background, even if not in use. The label bears the warning: “This app may use more battery than expected due to high background activity.” Google states that the label will not appear on all devices immediately, as the rollout is being implemented gradually for affected apps over the coming weeks. Google’s assessment of battery-draining apps relates to the “partial wake lock” mechanism in the Android operating system. This feature allows apps to keep the phone’s processor active even when the device screen is off. In some conditions, the feature is indeed required, for example for audio playback or location services. However, Google notes that many apps abuse the mechanism for other non-essential activities, thereby impacting battery consumption. Google also provides technical documentation for developers to understand the rules for using this feature in more detail. Meanwhile, users are advised to pay attention to the warning label in the Play Store and consider avoiding flagged apps until developers improve their energy consumption.