If your Android device is running low on storage, the first thought might be to uninstall some apps to free up space. But uninstalling an app can be inconvenient, especially if you might need it again soon. A better solution in such cases is app archiving. Archiving allows you to delete the app’s installation files without losing your data. When you need the app again, you can easily restore it. However, for this feature to work, the app store from which the app was originally installed must support archiving.

With the launch of Android 15, third-party app stores now have the ability to support this app archiving feature, and F-Droid is leading the way as the first third-party app store to integrate this functionality. This advancement marks a big step forward for alternative app stores in keeping pace with Google Play’s capabilities.

What Is F-Droid?

For those unfamiliar, F-Droid is a popular open-source app store that offers free, open-source apps created by independent developers. It is a great alternative for users looking to bypass the Google Play Store. Although F-Droid may not have all the mainstream apps available on Google Play, it is a treasure trove of unique and useful applications, many of which are not found in Google’s store.

Unlike Google Play, F-Droid operates as a community-driven, non-profit project that relies on contributions from a small group of developers. The open-source nature of F-Droid ensures that its apps are transparent and do not require you to spend money or compromise your privacy.

F-Droid’s Support for Android 15’s Archiving Feature

One of the maintainers of F-Droid, Torsten Grote, recently submitted a patch to enable experimental support for Android 15’s app archiving feature. This patch was officially accepted and will be part of the F-Droid 1.22 release. Once available, this feature will let users archive and unarchive apps downloaded from F-Droid on Android 15, much like how it works with the Google Play Store.

Here’s how it works: when you archive an app in Android 15, the operating system sends a signal to the app store where the app was originally installed—in this case, F-Droid. F-Droid then processes this request and can restore the app when you want to use it again. F-Droid simply needed to add a bit of code to recognize the archive signal from Android 15, making the process smooth and automatic.

Archiving Works for All Android App Formats

Although F-Droid primarily distributes apps in the APK format, Android 15’s app archiving feature is designed to support all Android app formats. This means users who download apps from F-Droid will not encounter issues when archiving and restoring their apps, regardless of the format. The seamless integration of this feature highlights F-Droid’s ability to stay updated with Android’s newest capabilities.

The Growing Power of Third-Party App Stores

F-Droid’s adoption of app archiving in Android 15 demonstrates the growing sophistication of third-party app stores. Historically, app stores like F-Droid have lagged behind Google Play in terms of features and updates. However, Google has started opening up more APIs to bridge this gap. Over the past few Android versions, Google has introduced new capabilities for third-party app stores, such as allowing them to install updates without user confirmation in Android 12, enabling them to manage app updates in Android 14, and now, supporting app archiving in Android 15.

In addition to app stores, Google has also made this archiving feature available to third-party launchers in Android 15. This means launchers like Niagara Launcher can also handle app archiving, making it easier for users to manage their device’s storage space, regardless of which app store or launcher they prefer to use.

Conclusion: F-Droid and the Future of Third-Party App Stores

F-Droid’s early adoption of Android 15’s app archiving feature is a promising development for users who prefer alternatives to Google Play. It signals that third-party app stores are becoming more robust and competitive, offering features that once were only available through Google Play. As Google continues to open up Android’s capabilities to third-party developers, it will be exciting to see how other alternative app stores take advantage of these changes.

F-Droid’s embrace of these new features makes it more than just a niche app store—it is evolving into a viable alternative for users who prioritize open-source software and privacy without compromising on modern app management features.