Android and iOS include features that remove parts of apps you rarely use to free phone storage while keeping the apps available to restore later. Android calls its feature Auto Archive; Apple calls its Offload Unused Apps.
Archiving or offloading removes most of an app’s files but keeps key files and its icon on the device. Tap the icon when you want to use it again, and the necessary files download so you can pick up where you left off. This differs from uninstalling an app, which removes it and may require you to download it again and sign in.
On Android, Auto Archive is off by default. Google says it can free up as much as 60% of the storage an app uses without removing the app or deleting user data. To enable it, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, go to Settings > General, and turn on Automatically archive apps. Android can then archive certain apps when storage runs low. You can also select an app in Settings > Apps and tap Archive.
On iOS, Offload Unused Apps was introduced with iOS 11 in 2017 and is also off by default. Turn it on in Settings > Apps > App Store. Apple does not explain how iOS chooses apps to offload; the article’s author presumes it selects apps left unused longest as storage runs low. To offload an app manually, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, select the app, and tap Offload App. The amount of space saved varies.
Source: TechRadar, reporting by David Nield.
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