Google Sets New Android Memory Limits to Combat Chip Shortages

Google introduced new quality requirements for Android applications to mitigate the impact of memory chip shortages driven by AI data center demand. The company is establishing performance thresholds for bitmap usage and dynamic memory, forcing developers to optimize code to prevent application slowdowns and crashes, particularly on low-end devices.

To assist developers in meeting these standards, Google is releasing alert tools and will launch a Memory Limiter feature later this year for deeper diagnostic insights. Developers have until February 2027 to comply with the new memory thresholds.

In a separate update to Play Store requirements, Google announced that applications must support Zero Tap Sign-In by April 2027. This feature is designed to automatically restore user sign-in states when users migrate to new devices.