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Android will automatically archive unused apps

Yesterday, Google launched a new AutoArchive feature that removes over 60% of unused app data from an Android phone to save space on the device.

Yesterday, Google launched a new AutoArchive feature that removes over 60% of unused app data from an Android phone to save space on the device. This is expected to reduce app removals while still allowing users to quickly download apps when they are needed.

In a post on the Android Developers blog, Google stated that this feature will not delete user data and will mark the presence of the app with a cloud icon on the device.

Android users will see an offer to use the auto-archive feature when their device runs out of storage while trying to install a new app. They will be able to enable a feature that automatically archives unused apps, as well as removing things like permissions and temporary files, and turning off notifications (Google started rolling out the ability to automatically revoke permissions from unused apps in Android 11).

Android will automatically archive unused apps

“Your device has run out of memory and you can’t install this app.” With app archiving enabled, your device will detect when you don’t have enough storage space and automatically archive apps you use infrequently. Your personal data will be saved in case you download this app again,” the description reads.

The Google announcement notes that the feature will only be available to apps that developers use the App Bundle to publish, a format mandatory for new apps from August 2021. The benefit for developers is that users will be less likely to see their apps in uninstall suggestions when the device needs to free up storage space. The search giant first introduced AutoArchive in March 2022, talking about a new app bundle format called Archived APK.

Users can manually check for unused apps by going to Settings > Apps > Unused apps. The system usually shows in parentheses “Last opened more than 3 months ago” or “Last opened more than 6 months ago” for each product. You can manually uninstall these applications to free up storage space.

The new feature will make Android devices more competitive with iOS, which has been offering uninstall apps for years. In 2017, Apple introduced personalized recommendations for deleting unused apps in iOS 11.

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