Google Play Adds Auto-Archive for Apps to Free Up Space on Your Phone
Running out of space on your Android device? Google's Play Store now offers an “auto-archive” feature that downsizes unused apps without losing the personal data attached to them.
Google introduced app archiving(Opens in a new window) last year, but it will now be an automatic process(Opens in a new window), if you opt in. Archiving removes the core parts of an app while retaining personal data, freeing up space to install other apps or documents; the app’s icon also stays on your phone. Android's new auto-archive feature can reportedly shrink an app’s size by close to 60%, Google says.
An archived app will show a cloud download symbol over its normal icon, much like on iOS. Upon launching the archived app, users will be asked to re-download it from the Play Store. When you open it up, saved data—like app login details, photos, or gameplay—should be there.
Android users will be prompted to turn on auto-archiving the first time they run out of space when trying to install a new app or game. If they choose to enable it, the Play Store will automatically archive unused apps until enough space has been cleared for a new app.
For the feature to work, developers will need to use App Bundle(Opens in a new window) to publish their apps, which ensures that only necessary resources are downloaded onto your phone during app installation, Android Police notes(Opens in a new window).
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