Google is changing requirements for Android apps as developers face an industry-wide memory chip shortage due to the AI data center boom. This week, the tech giant announced two new app quality requirements. One of them focuses on reducing your app’s memory usage and optimizing its code.
The company explains that the mobile industry currently faces “significant hardware supply constraints that alter device memory availability,” which in turn can impact consumers’ device experience.
To address this, Google is currently establishing new performance thresholds across several areas, including dynamic memory usage and bitmap usage. Additionally, Google has added code optimization requirements designed to prevent performance-related app slowdowns, crashes, and more.
To help developers, the company is rolling out new tools that alert them when their apps cross new thresholds and allow them to take action by optimizing their code. Google said more diagnostic tools will be coming later this year, including deeper insights provided by the Memory Limiter feature, which prevents apps from using too much device memory.
Google says the changes will help Android app and game makers continue to deliver high-quality experiences and reflect markets where memory may not be as widely available, especially for lower-end devices where price is a concern.
Developers have until February 2027 to meet new thresholds listed on Google’s Android Developer site.
Additionally, by April 2027, the company will require all Play Store apps to meet zero-tap sign-in requirements on device migration. This standard requires apps with user sign-in, whether optional or required, to automatically restore the user’s sign-in state when moving between Android devices using the Android Restore Credentials API.
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