In the event you commonly run out of cupboard space in your Android telephone, some assistance is on the way in which – Google has simply introduced a brand new auto-archive characteristic for Android apps.

The brand new characteristic, introduced on the Android Builders Weblog (opens in new tab), guarantees to allow you to unencumber practically 60% of an app’s cupboard space, with out deleting the app or your person information. Builders might want to add the characteristic to their apps, however as soon as that is carried out you may begin to see auto-archiving seem as a brand new choice.

This may principally come within the type of a pop-up window, which can present up once you attempt to set up a brand new app on an Android machine that is out of storage. In the event you decide in, any unused apps shall be auto-archived to unencumber house for the brand new app.

You can inform which apps have been auto-archived due to a cloud icon with a downward-facing arrow (beneath), which can seem over the app’s authentic icon. Google says Android will begin by archiving your most sometimes used apps, which ought to restrict the variety of events that you will end up with out an essential app.

However if you wish to begin utilizing an archived app once more, you can merely faucet to re-download it – assuming you’ve sufficient cupboard space and the app’s nonetheless obtainable on Google Play.

Not all apps will have the ability to permit auto-archiving, as Google says it’s going to be restricted to apps which are revealed utilizing Android’s App Bundle format. However on condition that format has been necessary for Android apps since August 2021, it needs to be a useful new choice for the overwhelming majority of your apps.

Evaluation: Helpful for some, annoying for others

Android is lagging behind iOS on the subject of providing an auto-archiving characteristic for apps. An ‘Offload Unused Apps’ characteristic has been on the iPhone for nearly six years, having arrived in iOS 11 – and it stays the most effective methods to unencumber house in your iPhone.

That stated, it is not essentially a super characteristic for everybody. As on Android, the iOS equal is an opt-in mode fairly than a default, and that is as a result of it could actually probably go away you stranded with out a favourite app.

For instance, whereas ‘Offload Unused Apps’ is useful within the quick time period once you’re attempting to put in a brand new app, it is also simple to neglect that you’ve it enabled. And if you happen to’re someplace with out community protection or Wi-Fi, that may go away you fruitlessly tapping an app that you just thought was put in however has since been offloaded.

Nonetheless, having the choice is definitely a bonus general, and on iOS it is easy to change it off by going to Settings > Common > iPhone Storage, and tapping ‘disable’ subsequent to the Offload Unused Apps choice. It is seemingly that Android will quickly supply one thing comparable, maybe as a part of Android 14, however that is one thing that ought to turn out to be clearer quickly.