Auto-archive is a new feature that allows users to free up space on their device without the need to completely uninstall an app. Once the user opts in, infrequently used apps will be partly removed from the device to save space, whilst the app icon and the user’s personal app data will be preserved. When the user wants to start using the app again, they can simply tap to re-download it and pick up where they left off (as long as the app is still available on Google Play).
To help users to successfully install new apps frictionlessly without worrying about storage, we are introducing a new feature: auto-archive.
android-developers.googleblog.com