What Is App Archiving on Android 15 and How to Use It

Oct. 16, 2024

Storage has been a major issue for long-term smartphone users who don’t upgrade their devices every year or two. This problem has only gotten worse with OEMs ditching storage expansion slots, and the ever-increasing resolution of photos and videos. But it seems Google has come up with an unlikely solution for it with Android 15, allowing you to archive apps on a system level. So, let’s see what this feature is all about and how to use it on your device.

What is App Archiving on Android 15?

Android 15’s feature listincludes a few notable features, and app archiving is one of them. It lets you archive apps, essentially removing a portion of the baseAPKof the app while retaining app data. This app data contains your login information and status, the changes you made inside the app, and any related cache.

App archiving saves you space and the hassle of setting up the whole thing again when you reinstall it, as your data remains intact. Just tap the app icon to unarchive it and start using it as if you never left. iOS already has a familiar feature called “Offload Apps” which works similarly.

The feature takes advantage of the compartmentalized nature of the Android App Bundle format. When app developers submit an Android App Bundle to Google Play, then Google’s developer tools spit an additional APK file known as “archived APK.”

This additional APK also gets installed with the rest of the app on your device. When you archive an app, itonly leaves the “Archived APK” fileon your device. This file is quite small in size and contains the app icon and the code to reinstall the app from the Play Store.

If your phone is running on Android 15, then you can easily archive apps on your Android phone by following these steps:

This action may take a second as Android uninstalls the base APK archiving the app. When you go back, the app icon will be greyed-out, showing that it has been archived.

Let’s say you changed your mind and want to use the app that you archived earlier. Well, restoring it only takes a few steps:

When you open the app, it will retain all the data, settings, and account details as before.

This new feature is useful for people like me who tend to install a bunch of apps, just to try them out once, and forget about them later. With 5G data speeds at our disposal, restoring apps shouldn’t take more than a few seconds if you decide to use the app again. It seems like Android 15 is only focusing on quality-of-life improvements. What do you think of this new app archiving feature on Android? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

As a tech journalist, I dive into the ever-evolving tech landscape with a particular interest for smartphones, apps, and gaming. With a passion for sharing insights, my articles blend expertise with a friendly touch—think of me as your friendly neighborhood tech support.