Android 15 is set to introduce a significant enhancement to its app management capabilities by extending the ‘app archiving’ feature to F-Droid, marking a pivotal moment for third-party app stores. This development positions F-Droid as the first external platform to embrace this innovative functionality, allowing users greater flexibility in managing their app storage.
Google relaxes rules about app archiving
The Android Operating System has been a cornerstone of mobile technology for years, evolving alongside the changing landscape of device storage. In an era when storage was often a luxury, Google implemented various strategies to help users optimize their available space. One of the most straightforward methods for reclaiming storage is the uninstallation of apps. However, the repetitive cycle of installing, removing, and reinstalling can be tedious for users.
To alleviate this burden, Android introduced the concept of app archiving. This feature allows users to delete an app’s installation files while retaining their data, enabling a seamless transition back to the app whenever needed. Historically, however, Google imposed strict limitations on this feature, restricting it primarily to applications sourced from the Google Play Store. This meant that users could not archive apps obtained from third-party platforms, limiting their options for managing storage effectively.
F-Droid is the first third-party app store to support the ‘app archiving’ feature
With the arrival of Android 15, Google has taken a notable step forward by loosening these restrictions. The new version will permit third-party app stores to utilize the app archiving feature, a change that is expected to enhance user experience significantly. Torsten Grote, a maintainer at F-Droid, has played a crucial role in this transition by submitting a patch that introduces experimental support for the archiving feature within the latest stable version of F-Droid.
This integration means that users will be able to archive and unarchive apps from F-Droid in a manner consistent with the process for apps downloaded from the Google Play Store. In practical terms, this means that end-users will likely experience a seamless transition, with no additional actions required on their part.
As Android 15 executes app archiving commands, F-Droid will be equipped to interpret and manage these instructions effectively, allowing users to restore archived apps effortlessly. For years, applications from third-party app stores faced limitations in terms of capabilities and system access compared to their Play Store counterparts. Google’s recent decision to relax these restrictions appears to be a response to increasing regulatory scrutiny, signaling a shift towards a more open and user-friendly ecosystem.
