Abstract
- Google might integrate an app archiving feature into Android 15, allowing users to easily free up storage space by manually archiving rarely used apps.
- Archiving an app on Android removes unnecessary files, leaving behind a stripped-down version, while also making it easier to restore if needed.
- An app archiving feature would be useful for users with limited storage or who are hesitant to delete apps, giving them control over which apps to keep. However, its availability in the next version of Android is not confirmed.
If you’re running out of storage space on your phone, a quick fix is to delete apps you rarely use. But it’s a hassle, especially when you’re deciding which ones to discard. In 2022, Google introduced a Play Store feature to automatically archive unused apps when storage space runs out. But there’s a catch: it only works for Play Store apps, so you can’t freeze those downloaded from external sources or even manually archive apps of your choice. There’s hope that Google could integrate this directly into Android, extending the reach of archiving beyond just Play Store apps.
According to Android Detective Mishaal Rahman, writing for Android Authority, Google may have plans to include an app archiving feature in Android 15. In the Android 14 QPR2 beta update, Rahman revealed new test commands that allow developers to archive or restore their apps.
When you archive an app on Android, it does spring cleaning. The heavy stuff gets kicked out, leaving behind a scaled-down version on your device. Archived apps are also easy to spot – just look for the cloud icon hanging over the app icon. If you ever feel the need to revive an archived app, just tap it. It will come back to life, completely rebuilt, as long as the app is still available.
Google Play will now automatically archive the apps you use the least
Increase your storage without deleting apps
This feature is a lifesaver for users on Android devices without expandable storage or for those who are hesitant to delete apps for extra space. We all have that one app, maybe for a one-time coupon or an ad-obsessed game, that takes up space until the dreaded deletion day arrives. And with today’s phones taking on multiple roles—camera, music player, library, and file manager—storage has become a hot commodity, forcing us to part with apps we thought we couldn’t live without.
The app archiving feature isn’t available yet, but there are hints suggesting that you can freeze and restore apps directly from the app info page in settings in the next version of Android. If Google makes this a standard feature of Android, it will be easier for everyone, no matter where they get their apps. In addition, users will be given the power to manually select apps that deserve a place in the archive.
Since we won’t get any official Android 15 rumors anytime soon, it’s unclear if this feature will make it to the public release. Google might throw some curveballs and shake up whatever it’s up to, so keep those expectations in check.