How to Archive Apps on Android: Manual vs Auto Archiving
The Play Store has an option toautomatically archiveapps that are not actively used when your device is low on storage.Android 15brings a new option to manually archive apps giving you more control over which apps to archive and which to keep.
We will show you how to archive apps on Android (both manually and automatically), explain the differences between the methods, and describe what happens after archiving.
Archiving Apps Manually vs Automatically
When you archive an app, your phone replaces the base APK with a lightweight “archived APK.” This archived APK preserves the app’s icon and minimal code while keeping the app’s data intact. This helps savestorage spacewithout fully uninstalling the app. You can still view the app icon on the home screen and app drawer. Tapping on the icon will re-download the app and restore it as is with all data (including logged-in accounts, uploaded data, and tuned settings) intact as if it was always there.
This is true for both manual and auto methods, however, there are some key differences.
Auto Archive
Google Play Store Auto-Archiving has been around since last year. When turned on, it automatically removes rarely used apps when your storage runs low. It works on all Android devices running Android 10 or later but there is a catch. It can only archive apps installed from the Play Store and only when they are in the Android App Bundle format which means it will archive only some apps but not all.
Manual Archive
Android 15’s App Archiving is a new feature that also applies only to Play Store apps. You can archive apps manually so you have full control over which apps to archive and which apps to keep. Some examples can be work apps that you may use once in a while. Requires Android 15 or later.
However, it’s more versatile—you’re able to archive apps whether they are in APK or Android App Bundle format. So you can archive all the Play Store apps.
How to Archive Apps on Android
Manually Archive Apps on Android 15 or Later
Enable Automatic Archiving on Google Play
The archived app (manually or automatically) will appear on the home screen or in the app drawer. A cloud icon will appear on top of the app icon indicating that it is archived. Just tap on the app icon to download the app instantly.
Note:Disabling the automatic app archive feature won’t reinstall archived apps. You must manually reinstall them by tapping on the app icon.
you may see a list of all the archived apps on the Play Store. Tap on theprofile picand selectManage apps and devices. Tap onManage taband select theArchived chipto see all the archived apps.
Choosing the Right Archiving Method
Android’s app archiving feature lets users better manage device storage while keeping important apps installed. Whether you choose Android 15’s manual archiving or Google Play’s auto-archiving feature, both can help you keep your phone running smoothly without losing access to your favorite apps.
We think Google will soon discontinue Play Store’s auto-archive feature as it only makes things complicated.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
