Akshay Bhalla reports reclaiming 15GB on his phone by combining Obtainium with Android’s built-in app-archiving feature. That is one person’s result, not a typical or guaranteed saving—and Obtainium itself does not archive apps. Android handles archiving; Obtainium helps track and update apps from their release sources.
What Obtainium does—and what it doesn’t
Obtainium is an open-source Android app manager for installing apps from release pages and tracking updates from those sources. It can help people who sideload apps avoid having to check each developer’s page manually.
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It is not a storage cleaner or an archiving tool. In Bhalla’s account, Android’s archive feature reduces the space used by rarely opened apps while retaining their data; Obtainium helps manage the apps’ sources and updates. The reported 15GB came from this combined approach and his storage habits, including clearing junk data from apps he kept—not from an Obtainium feature alone. Bhalla’s September 2026 account does not specify his phone model, app list, or an independently verified measurement.
What app archiving changes
Archiving is different from uninstalling an app in the way Bhalla describes it: the app’s installed components are removed or reduced to free space, while its data—such as settings and login information—can remain so the app can be restored later. It does not mean every part of the app stays installed or that every app and device will behave identically.
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Android’s archive option may not be available for every app or on every device. Check the app’s information screen for an Archive control before relying on it. The sources do not establish a universal Android-version or device-compatibility matrix.
How to use the combination
- Add apps to Obtainium: provide the release source for an app you want it to track, then use Obtainium to check for releases and manage updates. Follow the app’s legitimate developer or project source.
- Archive apps you rarely use: open Android’s app-info controls for an eligible app and choose Archive, if that option is present. Keep frequently used apps installed.
- Restore an app when needed: use Android’s unarchive or restore control. The app may need to be downloaded again; its retained data can make returning to your previous setup easier.
- Update through the tracked source: use Obtainium to check for and obtain an available release. Its role is source tracking and updates, not restoration or storage management.
What to check before trusting a source
Obtainium can work with varied release sources, so the source you add matters. Privacy Guides’ overview of obtaining Android apps emphasizes that users are responsible for checking whether apps and sources are legitimate. Verify that a release page belongs to the developer or project before installing software from it.
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Will it free up 15GB on your phone?
There is no supported way to predict that from Bhalla’s anecdote. The amount depends on which apps you can archive and how much space their installed components occupy. The article provides no controlled test or details that would let readers estimate a comparable result. Treat 15GB as his personal report, not a promise; check your own storage and archive options to see whether the method helps.
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