Highlights

• Android 15 poised to include an in-built app archiving feature.
• Automatic archiving introduced in 2022 now expands beyond Play Store apps.
• Users can easily reactivate archived apps with a simple tap.
• Feature designed to significantly reduce app storage footprint on devices.

Android users who are grappling with limited storage space, Google’s innovation in app archiving is likely to offer some temporary respite.

Introduced in 2022 via the Play Store, this feature automatically archives unused apps, thereby freeing up essential storage without requiring users to manually decide which apps to remove.

However, this functionality was limited to apps obtained from the Play Store, leaving out those downloaded from external sources and offering no option for manual archiving by the user.

Android 15 to Have In-Built App Archiving

There’s a potential expansion on the horizon, as hinted by recent discoveries within an Android 14 QPR2 beta update.

Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority uncovered new testing commands that suggest developers might soon have the ability to archive or restore their apps directly.

This indicates Google’s intention to integrate the app archiving feature more deeply into the Android operating system, potentially making it a standard feature in Android 15.

The mechanics of app archiving on Android involve a significant reduction in the app’s footprint on the device.

Only the essential components are retained, while the bulk of the app’s data is removed, symbolised by a cloud icon on the app icon for easy identification.

Should the user decide to reactivate an archived app, a simple tap suffices to restore it to its full functionality, assuming the app remains available on the Play Store.

A Growing Need For Storage on Android

This feature addresses a critical need for users of devices without expandable storage options and those reluctant to permanently delete apps to reclaim space.

Your Android smartphones serve multiple purposes—from photography and music playback to reading and file management—the demand for storage has never been higher.

App archiving promises to alleviate some of this pressure by allowing users to temporarily remove apps without losing them entirely.

While the full implementation of this feature in Android 15 remains speculative, the evidence points towards a more flexible and user-friendly approach to managing apps and storage space.

FAQs

What is the app archiving feature in Android?

App archiving allows Android users to temporarily remove unused apps while retaining their essential components, thereby freeing up storage space without permanent deletion.

How does app archiving work on Android devices?

When an app is archived, most of its data is removed, leaving a minimal footprint. A cloud icon appears on the app icon, indicating its archived status. Tapping on the app restores it to full functionality.

Will Android 15 support archiving for apps not downloaded from the Play Store?

Indications from Android 14 QPR2 beta testing suggest that Android 15 may extend archiving capabilities to include apps downloaded from external sources, offering a more comprehensive solution.

How can I restore an archived app in Android?

Restoring an archived app is as straightforward as tapping on its icon. The app will download its main components again, assuming it’s still available on the Play Store.

Also Read: The Best Android Apps of 2023 

Also Read: List of Battery-Draining Android Apps with 20 Million Downloads Removed from the Google Play Store