Google has officially acknowledged that the Instagram app was responsible for significant battery drain issues on some Android devices, putting to rest the growing complaints from frustrated users over the past few weeks.
Instagram, the popular Meta-owned platform known for photo and video sharing, boasts more than a billion active users globally. Its widespread popularity, however, has made this issue particularly disruptive. Numerous Android users recently reported unusual battery consumption, even when the Instagram app wasn’t actively being used. Now, Google has stepped in to confirm the root cause.
According to Google, a recent version of the Instagram app was consuming more power than it should, and more alarmingly, it was doing so in the background — even when the app wasn’t opened. Background processes, which are meant to remain minimal unless essential, were found to be overly active, leading to noticeable battery drains across a wide range of Android devices.
The issue led to spikes in battery usage reports, with some users noticing Instagram consuming up to 20-30% of their battery on light usage days. Others experienced their phones heating up or shutting down faster than usual, even with background app restrictions turned on.
Thankfully, the latest update to the Instagram app includes a fix. Both Google and Meta have encouraged users to ensure they have installed the most recent version available on the Play Store to resolve the issue. The fix is expected to restore normal battery behavior and reduce unnecessary background activity.
This incident highlights the delicate balance developers must maintain between app performance and system resource usage. It also underscores the importance of timely updates, not only for features but also for performance optimizations and bug fixes.
For users concerned about their device’s battery health, it is advisable to keep all apps updated, monitor battery usage in settings, and consider restricting background activity for apps that misbehave.
As Meta continues to enhance Instagram’s functionality, ensuring it remains efficient and non-intrusive will be crucial especially for an app so deeply integrated into the daily digital routines of millions.
