Android app archiving removes an app’s software while keeping its home-screen icon and data, so you can reinstall it when you need it again. It suits apps you use only occasionally, but availability depends on your Android device and the app must still be offered in the store to restore.
What Android app archiving does
When an app is archived, the device removes its software, permissions and temporary files, and stops its notifications. It keeps the app’s icon and data. Tapping the dimmed icon can start reinstalling the app.
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Archiving can reclaim storage without making you set the app up from scratch, but it is not a backup. Google’s instructions describe retaining app data on the device; they do not guarantee recovery if that data is separately deleted or the app is no longer available. Google also does not publish a universal storage-savings figure: the space recovered depends on the app and its data.
How to archive an app manually
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Open Settings > Apps.
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Select the app you rarely use.
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Tap Archive, if that option is available.
Google says some archiving steps require Android 15 or later and supporting hardware. Its help page does not list every compatible device, so check the app’s Settings page and Play Store options on your own phone. The cited instructions are Google Play Help’s UK English page; labels and feature availability may differ by device or region. Google Play Help: Archive unused apps on Android.
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How to restore an archived app
Tap the app’s dimmed icon to trigger reinstallation. You can also open its App info page or find the app in Play Store and reinstall it there. Restoring requires the relevant store to be installed and the app to remain available in that store. If the phone lacks enough free storage, it may prompt you to manage storage before reinstalling.
How to let Android archive apps automatically
Google Play offers an opt-in for automatic archiving in its settings. To keep a particular app from being managed this way, open that app’s App info page in Settings and switch off Manage app if unused. The exact setting names and availability can vary, so look for the option on your device rather than assuming every Android phone has it.
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Archiving, hibernation and permission reset are different
| Feature | What it does | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| App archiving | Removes app software, permissions and temporary files; stops notifications; retains the icon and data. | Reinstall the app when needed, if it remains available in the store and the device supports archiving. |
| App hibernation | Force-stops an unused app, resets permissions, and deletes cache and compiled artifacts while aiming to preserve app data. | AOSP describes hibernation-specific behavior beginning with Android 12; implementation can vary by device maker. |
| Permission auto-reset | Resets sensitive runtime permissions for qualifying unused apps. | Android developer guidance describes this behavior for apps targeting Android 11 or later that have been unused for a few months. It does not remove the app. |
These features can have related privacy effects, but they are not interchangeable. In particular, a manufacturer’s “sleeping apps” control should not be assumed to work like Google Play archiving. See the Android Open Source Project documentation on app hibernation and the Android 11 permissions guidance.
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It is a practical choice if you want to free storage but keep the app’s icon and on-device data for a later reinstall. Before archiving, consider whether you rely on the app’s notifications or need it to work immediately: archiving stops notifications, and reinstalling takes time and depends on the app still being in the store. If the app is unavailable there, the normal restore route may not work. For an app you need at short notice, leaving it installed may be more convenient.
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