Play Store has option to archive apps for users with enough storage

Google has added an option in the Play Store settings to archive apps, even if there is still sufficient storage available. This option was previously only visible if the phone had little storage left.

Automatically archive Google Play Store

Now the option is visible to everyone or at least to many users, reports GApps Leaks. The option is also visible on an editorial phone with sufficient storage, where it was not there before. The option is off by default. The archive function has been available since last year, but until now it was only available when there was too little storage as an action when cleaning up the storage.

The feature works by removing the app itself from the phone, but retaining user data. Apple has been doing something similar in iOS for years. The feature means that there is more space on the storage, while users if they want to continue with an app can reinstall it, after which the user data is ready in the app.