What you need to know
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Android 15 aims to save storage space by archiving unused apps while preserving user data.
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Archiving apps is a new feature expected to appear in the stable release of Android 15, and it allows users to free up space on their device without completely deleting apps.
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Archiving an app removes everything but the icon and code, making it easy to restore via Google Play.
The next version of Android is set to save storage space by moving unused apps to the side while keeping your data safe, and now we’re going to take a look at how Android 15 might handle app archiving.
Last month, Android detective Mishaal Rahman tipped us off about a new feature in the works: app archiving. This handy addition, which is likely to come in the stable release of Android 15, allows you to reclaim space on your device without completely deleting apps.
Instead, when you archive an app, the operating system will remove everything except the app’s icon and code. This allows you to easily restore an app through Google Play by simply tapping the icon, ensuring a seamless transition if you decide to reinstall it.
Rahman, writing for Android Authority, has now given us a detailed look at how the process will work. It looks like you’ll be able to choose whether to manually back up apps as needed, or to do it automatically on the phone. The entire system runs on what Google calls archived APKs.
Rahman tried archiving apps using the Uber app on the Pixel 8 Pro. Before Uber was archived, Mishaal notes, the app was taking up 387MB of storage space on his phone. After archiving, that space was reduced to about 18 MB — a significant reduction.
However, after restoring the app, it was found that none of the app data was deleted and you don’t need to sign in again.
If you have a fast internet connection, reinstalling the archived app should take just a few seconds. And when it comes back, everything should be exactly as you left it when you archived it.
The feature is currently said to be a Google Play feature, but once launched, it is expected to work at the OS level. This implies that we can look forward to its debut as an Android 15 feature.