Google Auto-Archive

The new feature is expected to reduce the uninstall rate of apps and will still allow users to quickly download apps when they need them.

In a post on the Android Developers Blog, Google stated that this feature will not remove user data and will mark the app's presence with a cloud icon on the device.

Android users will see a prompt to use the auto-archive feature when their device runs out of storage while trying to install a new app. They can then choose to turn on the feature, which automatically archives their unused apps while also removing things like permissions and temporary files and turning off notifications. Google started rolling out the ability to automatically revoke permissions from unused apps with the release of Android 11.\"Your device is out of storage and you won't be able to install this app. With app archiving enabled, your device will detect when you're low on storage space and automatically archive apps you don't use often. Your personal data will be saved in case you download the app again,” says Google's prompt.

The company's announcement notes that the feature will only be available for apps where developers use the App Bundle to publish their apps — a format required for new apps starting in August 2021. The benefit for developers is that users will be less likely to see their apps appear in uninstall suggestions when the device needs to free up storage space. The search giant first previewed auto-archiving in March 2022, introducing a new app package format called Archived APKs.

Users can manually check for unused app by going to Settings > Apps > Unused apps. The system usually shows the app in brackets like "Last opened 3 months ago" and "Last opened 6 months ago". You can choose to manually remove these apps to free up some storage space as well.

This feature will make Android devices more competitive with iOS, which for years has been making suggestions about which apps to uninstall once you're not using them. In 2017, Apple introduced personalized recommendations for removing unused apps in iOS 11. To enable automatic removal of these apps, iPhone users can go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap Turn on the Offload Unused apps toggle.