Android will learn to more effectively identify applications that are too “gluttonous”

If your Android smartphone’s battery is draining quickly for no apparent reason, it could be because apps are running in the background. Google is set to help solve this problem by launching a series of new tools that will more effectively identify apps that are using too much power.

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As part of the new beta release of the Android software platform, developers will be able to monitor “excessive wake locks” using the Android Vitals panel in the Play Console. Wake lock is a system-level feature that keeps your phone awake even when it should be idle, such as after you lock the device and turn off the screen. Some apps use the feature for legitimate purposes, such as playing music or tracking your location. However, improper use of the feature, especially in the background, can significantly drain your device’s battery.

The new metric flags apps that have used the wake lock feature for more than three hours in the last 24 hours, while only running in the background. Google says it has seen numerous complaints from Android users, and will provide developers with a new tool to help them identify the issue before it affects many people.

Google continues to work closely with major smartphone makers like Samsung to develop a more consistent definition of what “good” performance looks like on Android devices. The goal is to help developers create better apps that work equally well across smartphones from different brands.

Going forward, Google plans to roll out more developer tools to help developers build more efficient apps. As for the excessive wake-up blocking metric, it is currently in beta testing. Google encourages developers to join in and provide feedback.