Google Play Tightens App Rules to Combat Phone Slowdowns

Google is implementing stricter requirements for app developers on the Google Play Store, aiming to curb the performance issues caused by memory-hungry applications. These new regulations, announced on Google's Android Developers blog, address the global chip shortage and rising hardware costs by compelling software to become more efficient.

The core of the new policy involves setting stringent performance thresholds for dynamic memory usage, measured by the 90th percentile of users. For devices with 4GB of RAM, apps will be limited to 2GB of active memory usage and 1GB for background processes. Developers must also ensure images are released from memory when not displayed and optimize their code by at least 25%. These rules will apply to apps over 10MB and games over 50MB, with enforcement deadlines to be set.

Developers failing to meet these memory standards will face penalties, including reduced visibility and ranking in the Play Store, and restrictions on releasing new updates. To assist developers, Google has introduced new monitoring tools in the Play Console that provide real-time alerts for memory leaks and RAM shortages.

In addition to memory management, Google is mandating the adoption of the Zero-Tap Sign-In standard using the Restore Credentials API for all apps that support user logins. This feature will enable seamless and secure automatic sign-ins to apps on new Android devices without requiring users to re-enter credentials, simplifying the device migration process.

This shift signifies Google's move to place the burden of hardware efficiency on the software industry rather than on consumers through slower devices. The changes are expected to provide Israeli users with a smoother experience across all device price points and a more frictionless transition when upgrading to a new smartphone.