Recently, Android expert Mishaal Rahman shared evidence about it an application archiving feature in development.
This feature, presumably intended for Android 15, Saves storage space by deleting most of an unused app while preserving your user datawhich provides a better experience if you decide to reinstall.
Currently on Android, when you uninstall an app, all associated data is removed from the device along with the app itself. Depending on the type of app, this may result in locally stored files or content being lost, and any app that relies on user accounts will ask for login information again if you want to download it again later.
On the other hand, Archiving an app uninstalls the app itself, but leaves your user data on your device. It’s like you can uninstall video games from consoles or PCs without losing your local save files. In addition to your personal app data, you’re left with an “Archived APK,” which is more or less just a link in your app drawer that allows you to re-download the app from the Play Store.
This archiving feature could be great for apps that you only need occasionally. Assuming you have a fast connection, reinstalling an archived app should only take a few seconds and everything should be where you left it when you archived the app.
Once you’re done, you can archive it again, confident that your data will be intact the next time you download the app again.
Importantly, unlike iOS’s system-level app uninstall feature, Android’s ongoing version of app archiving is actually a Play Store feature. That means heApps installed from other stores, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Store, do not have the same archiving and restore capabilities.