In an era where flagship smartphones are expected to offer ample storage, Google’s Pixel series continues to launch with a base model of just 128GB. The latest Pixel 9 series, priced from 9, boasts impressive features like 8K video upscaling and the ability to save a Gemini Nano model for faster AI computations, yet it still adheres to this seemingly outdated storage standard. This situation can be frustrating for users who frequently encounter the dreaded “storage full” notification.
How I use app archiving on Android 15
Fortunately, Android 15 introduces a feature called “app archiving,” which serves as a temporary solution to alleviate storage woes. This innovative function allows users to remove apps from their devices without losing any associated data. Essentially, the app goes into a hibernation mode on the user’s Google account, ready to be reinstalled whenever needed. When the app is restored, all settings and login information remain intact, making it a far more convenient option than the traditional uninstall-and-reinstall process.
When my Pixel phone approaches 95% storage capacity, I take a moment to assess which apps I can temporarily part with. For instance, if I don’t have any upcoming travel plans, I might archive my travel apps. Similarly, I could decide to live without Instagram for a few days or choose between my audio apps, like Pocket Casts and Spotify. Even Slack can take a brief hiatus without causing too much disruption.
This app archiving feature is particularly beneficial for users who frequently capture photos and videos, as well as those who download music or podcasts for offline listening. The “storage full” notification often appears at the most inconvenient times, making it challenging to decide what to delete. With app archiving, I can take a moment to breathe, allowing me to continue using my phone while I later determine which media or cached data can be permanently removed. A helpful tip I often employ is to go through my videos in Google Photos and select Delete from device to free up space while retaining them in my Photos account.
Moreover, Android 15 allows users to set certain apps to automatically archive when storage runs low, eliminating the need for on-the-spot decision-making. Here’s how to manually archive an app:
How to manually archive an app on Android 15
- Tap and hold on an app’s icon on your home screen or app drawer.
- Tap the info icon (i inside a circle) at the top left of the pop-up.
- Select Archive.
How to automatically archive some apps when storage is low
- On the home screen or in the app drawer, tap and hold on the icon of the app you wish to automatically archive.
- Tap the info icon (i inside a circle) at the top left of the pop-up.
- Enable Manage app if unused.
- Repeat this process for each app you want to automatically archive.
This feature ensures that when your phone’s storage nears capacity, it will automatically archive the selected apps, relieving you of the burden of remembering to do so manually.
How to unarchive an app on Android 15
To restore an archived app, simply locate its icon in your app drawer, which will display a cloud download overlay. A quick tap on the icon will reinstate the app to its previous state.
Don’t have Android 15? There’s still a way to archive apps
If you haven’t yet received Android 15 or if your device isn’t a Pixel, there’s still a method to utilize app archiving. This feature is primarily associated with the Google Play Store and has been available for some time. However, it lacks the granular control offered by Android 15, as it automatically selects the least used apps for archiving when storage is low.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your account avatar in the top right corner.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select General.
- Enable Automatically archive apps.
To view archived apps, follow these steps:
- Tap your account avatar in the top right corner of the Play Store.
- Go to Manage apps & device.
- Select the second Manage tab.
- Scroll through the selection chips to find Archived.
