If your Android smartphone’s battery is draining quickly for no apparent reason, it could be due to apps running in the background. Google is addressing this issue with new tools designed to better identify apps that use too much power.
Identifying Excessive Background Activity
As part of the new beta version of the Android platform, developers can now track “excessive wake locks” using the Android Vitals panel in the Play Console. Wake lock is a system-level feature that keeps the phone active even when it should be idle—for example, when the device is locked and the screen is off. Some apps rely on this function for valid reasons, such as streaming music or providing location tracking. However, improper or excessive use, especially in the background, can lead to significantly faster battery drain.
The new Android Vitals metric highlights apps that have used the wake lock feature for more than three hours in a 24-hour period while operating only in the background. According to Google, this has been a common concern raised by Android users. By flagging this behavior, the new tool allows developers to detect and fix problems before they reach a wider audience.
Improving App Performance Across Devices
Google continues to collaborate with major smartphone manufacturers like Samsung to develop a shared understanding of what constitutes good performance across Android devices. This partnership aims to help developers build apps that function consistently and efficiently on a variety of smartphones.
Going forward, Google plans to release even more tools for developers to build higher-performing apps, notes NIX Solutions. The excessive wake locks metric is currently in beta, and developers are encouraged to participate in the testing phase and share their feedback.
These efforts reflect Google’s broader strategy to improve the user experience by ensuring that apps do not unnecessarily drain device batteries. We’ll keep you updated as more integrations and improvements become available.