C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Android 15’s new app archiving function works with apps distributed as each APKs and Android App Bundles.
- In distinction, the Google Play Retailer’s app archiving function solely works with apps distributed as Android App Bundles.
- The explanation for this distinction is that Google needed to make use of a intelligent trick to make the Play Retailer’s app archiving function work on older variations of Android.
Google lastly rolled out the Android 15 replace to Pixel units as we speak, ending the almost month-and-a-half-long wait because it launched the working system’s supply code. One significantly cool trick in Android 15 is app archiving. This function frees up space for storing by eradicating an app’s set up and short-term recordsdata, however it doesn’t take away its information, saving you from having to set it up once more sooner or later. App archiving isn’t unique to Android 15, as Google’s app retailer already helps it, however the function is much less restrictive in Android 15 and works with all app distribution codecs — not simply app bundles.
Final 12 months, the Google Play Retailer rolled out an “auto-archiving” function that mechanically archives apps you don’t typically use. Google Play’s auto-archiving function achieves an identical outcome as Android 15’s app archiving function, however the best way it really works is totally completely different beneath the hood. See, with a purpose to make Google Play auto-archiving work with out OS-level assist, Google needed to make use of a intelligent trick: The corporate made use of the compartmentalized nature of the Android App Bundle format that many builders use to distribute Android apps on the Google Play Retailer.
When builders add an Android App Bundle for distribution on Google Play, the Play Console mechanically generates the bottom APK, break up APKs, and multi-APKs wanted for all configurations the app helps, however it additionally generates an extra “archived APK.” An archived APK is basically a trimmed-down model of the bottom APK that’s put in on units if you obtain many apps from Google Play. When the Google Play Retailer goes to archive an app, it installs the archived APK on prime of the bottom APK file, which is feasible as a result of the archived APK has the very same signature as the bottom APK.
Because the archived APK is sort of empty, save for the app’s authentic icon (with a cloud-download emblem overlaid on prime) and a few tiny quantity of code to ship the command to revive the app when the icon is tapped, it takes up a lot much less house. Plus, since solely the bottom APK was overwritten, the app’s information is stored intact, and all of the Play Retailer has to do to revive the app again to regular is redownload the bottom APK (and some other crucial splits).
To simplify issues for builders, Google determined to make the Play Retailer’s auto-archiving function solely work with Android apps distributed within the Android App Bundle format, as a result of with the best way bundles are sometimes generated and signed, builders don’t should do any further legwork to assist the function. One of many primary the reason why Google wished to bake app archiving assist into the OS is so third-party app shops can assist the function. Most third-party app shops don’t use app bundles, although, which is why Google determined to make app archiving in Android 15 work with apps distributed as APKs, too.
The truth that Android 15’s app archiving function works with common APKs isn’t talked about in Google’s documentation, however it’s simple to confirm. Instagram and Threads, two well-liked Android apps distributed within the APK format, can each be archived in Android 15, for instance. When Android 15 archives an app like this, it doesn’t set up an “archived APK” on prime of it. As an alternative, it utterly deletes the app set up recordsdata however nonetheless treats the app prefer it’s put in, so it seems within the house display and in Settings. Android additionally shops a replica of the app’s authentic icon in a personal information listing which it then applies a filter over and provides an overlay to make it clear the app is archived.
The truth that app archiving in Android 15 works with all Android apps is nice information, and it’ll hopefully spur third-party app shops so as to add assist for the function, simply as Google supposed. If you happen to’re questioning the right way to use the brand new app archiving function in Android 15, comply with that hyperlink the place my colleague Rita El Khoury explains every part.
