Images show working of upcoming app archive function on Android

Images have surfaced of the upcoming app archive feature of the Android operating system that will allow users to free up storage space on their Android devices. The feature appears to be part of Google Play Services.

Twitter user AssembleDebug succeeded to activate the app archive function on his Android device and shared images of this on social media. It shows how he can archive an app if he tries to delete it from the apps management page in the Google Play Store app. The images show how AssembleDebug tries to remove an app and is given the option to archive that same app. With this option, the app will be removed, but the app data such as account information and documents will remain on the device. The app icon remains visible on the device, but will receive a cloud icon in the event of archiving. It is enough to press that icon to download the app again via Google Play.

Google announced the app archive feature earlier this year. This feature would allow Android users to save storage space without permanently uninstalling an app. The archive function only works with apps built with Android Gradle Plugin 7.3. The function works by creating a new type of apk called archived apk’s. Those are very small APKs that keep the user data until the app is restored. It is unknown when the feature will be officially rolled out.

App archive function Google Android