Android 15, set to release in the coming months, will introduce a new feature that allows users to archive apps on their smartphone to free up space without having to uninstall them completely. This feature is currently available in the Google Play Store for apps downloaded from the marketplace, but lacks manual control and does not support apps from other sources. The discovery of code strings for this feature in the recent Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 update by Mishaal Rahman from Android Authority has sparked interest. Rahman was able to activate the “archive” and “restore” options, successfully archiving an app without losing any user data. This experiment showcased the significant reduction in app size after archiving, with the ability to easily restore the app with all data intact. The feature simplifies the process of managing storage on smartphones, especially when needing to make space for new apps or media content. Apple offers a similar feature called App offloading for iPhones, but lacks manual control over which apps to archive.
Android 15 May Include Feature for Archiving Apps to Free Up Storage Space
