Google plans to enforce stricter memory-use limits for Android apps through the Play Store, responding to wider hardware constraints and a shortage of RAM. The move matters because apps that exceed the limits may run more slowly, be shut down by Android, and potentially face reduced visibility or publishing options on Google Play.

The per-app limits were introduced with Android 17 and first appeared on Pixel phones, before expanding across manufacturers’ devices with 4GB to more than 16GB of RAM. Google says enforcement will begin in February 2027, giving developers time to optimise their apps; the policy may also reflect reduced RAM in base versions of the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL compared with last year’s models.