what you need to know
- Android 15 is designed to save storage space by archiving unused apps while retaining user data.
- App archiving is a new feature expected to debut in the stable version of Android 15, allowing users to free up space on their devices without deleting apps entirely.
- Archiving the app removes everything but icons and code, simplifying restoration through Google Play.
The next version of Android will save storage space while keeping data safe by moving unused apps aside, and now we’ve got a sneak peek at how Android 15 will handle app archiving.
Last month, Android Detective Mishaal Rahman gave us a preview of a new feature in the works: app archiving. This handy new feature, which may be coming to the stable version of Android 15, will let you reclaim space on your device without deleting apps entirely.
Instead, when you archive an app, the operating system deletes everything except the app icon and code. This way, you can easily restore the app through Google Play with just a click of the icon, ensuring a seamless transition should you decide to install it again.
Rahman, a contributor to Android Authority, has now given us the details on how the process works. It looks like you’ll be able to choose whether to manually archive apps if needed or let the phone handle it automatically. The entire system runs on what Google calls Archive APKs.
Rahman tried using the Uber app on his Pixel 8 Pro for app archiving. Mishaal noted that before archiving Uber, the app took up 387MB of storage space on his phone. After archiving, this space was reduced to about 18MB, a significant reduction.
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However, after restoring the app, it was discovered that none of the app’s data had been cleared, and you didn’t need to log in again.
If you have a fast internet connection, reinstalling archived apps can be easily done in just a few seconds. Once it comes back, everything should be exactly as it was when you saved it.
Currently, the feature is said to be a Google Play feature, but it is expected to work at the OS level upon release. This means we can expect it to debut as a feature in Android 15.