Google adjusts Android app quality requirements due to memory shortages

Google announced two new quality requirements for Android applications to address the industry memory chip shortage triggered by the AI data center boom. One focus is on reducing in-app memory usage and optimizing code. Google stated that the mobile industry is facing significant hardware supply constraints, which are changing the availability of device memory and, in turn, affecting user experience.

To this end, Google has set new performance thresholds in areas such as dynamic memory usage and bitmap usage, and has increased code optimization requirements to prevent app stuttering and crashes. The company will launch new tools to alert developers to optimize when applications exceed the thresholds. More diagnostic tools will be released later this year, including a Memory Limiter feature that prevents applications from excessively occupying device memory.

Developers must meet the new thresholds by February 2027. Additionally, all Play Store applications must comply with the Zero Tap Sign-In requirement by April 2027, which automatically restores user login status during device migration via the Android Restore Credentials API. These changes aim to help app and game developers continue to provide high-quality experiences in a market with limited memory supply, especially targeting price-sensitive low-end devices.