# Free Up Storage Space by Archiving Inactive Apps Instead of Uninstalling
In the current smartphone environment, storage capacity is more crucial than ever. As flagship and mid-range devices increasingly do away with microSD card support, users must depend solely on the internal storage of their devices. Apps, games, photos, and videos can rapidly fill this space, compelling users to find ways to create room for new content. Although uninstalling apps is a standard approach, **archiving inactive apps** presents a more effective and user-friendly option.
## What Is App Archiving?
Launched as a feature in the Google Play Store in 2022 and now part of **Android 15**, app archiving permits users to offload about **60% of an app’s data** while preserving vital details such as the app icon, login information, and user data. This feature is especially advantageous for users with devices that have limited storage, such as **128GB smartphones** or budget Android devices.
By opting to archive apps instead of deleting them, users can recover substantial storage space without losing their app configurations or data. When an archived app is required again, it can be swiftly reinstated without the trouble of re-downloading and reconfiguring all settings anew.
## How to Manually Archive Unused Android Apps in Android 15
Manually archiving apps in Android 15 is an easy task. Here’s how to do it:
1. **Open the Settings app** on your device.
2. Go to the **Apps** section.
3. Choose the app you’d like to archive.
4. Alternatively, you can long-press the app’s icon on your home screen and select **App info**.
5. Tap the **Archive** option, which appears beneath the app’s logo.
To restore the app, just tap the **grayed-out icon** with a download symbol on your home screen, or utilize the **restore** option from the **Settings** app.
### Important Notes:
– **Pre-installed apps** (like Google’s standard apps) cannot be archived. Only apps that you manually download can be archived.
– When restoring an archived app, it will be re-downloaded from the Play Store, which might take a few seconds depending on your internet speed.
## How to Prevent Apps from Archiving Automatically in Android 15
By default, Android 15 may automatically archive apps that haven’t been utilized in a while. If you want to manage this manually, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the **App info** page for the specific app.
2. Scroll down to the **Unused app settings** section.
3. Turn off the toggle for **Managed app if unused**.
This action will stop the app from being archived automatically.
## How to Automatically Archive Apps on Any Android Version
If you’re not operating on Android 15, you can still set up automatic archiving through the Google Play Store:
1. Launch the **Play Store** app.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap **Settings**.
3. Tap **General** to open the menu.
4. Enable the toggle for **Automatically archive apps**.
With this setting activated, infrequently used apps will be archived automatically when your device runs low on space.
## Why Archiving Is Better Than Uninstalling
When you uninstall an app, you erase all evidence of it from your device, including login details, personal information, and the app’s icon. If you wish to use the app again, you’ll need to re-download it and set everything up anew, which can be tedious.
Archiving, in contrast, only eliminates the non-essential components of the app, such as large files and resources, while preserving crucial data like your login credentials and app settings. The Play Store replaces the app’s original APK with a smaller **”Archived APK”**, taking up significantly less space.
When you restore the app, it fetches the necessary parts from the Play Store, ensuring that you’re using the most current version. Do note, however, that this will only function if the app remains available on the Play Store.
## Who Benefits from App Archiving?
Archiving is particularly beneficial for users with **budget Android devices** or those with limited storage. Many cheaper Android phones priced under $200 come with minimal internal storage; while some provide microSD card support, internal storage is typically faster and more dependable.
By activating app archiving, users can create storage space without forfeiting their app data or settings. This is especially useful for individuals who frequently download new apps but don’t want to lose their progress or configurations in apps that are used less frequently.
## Custom Android Skins and Archiving
Certain Android devices, like those from **Oppo** and **OnePlus**, have long featured options that “pause” or “freeze” inactive apps. Although these capabilities prevent apps from utilizing system resources such as RAM, they do not create storage space. Android’s archiving feature takes a step further by actually removing
