Google is adding a new service that manages unused apps to enter a state of “hibernation” and allows storage to be optimized according to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and XDA Developers.

So the first details of Android's app hibernation feature are here. If an app is hibernated for a single user, the system will clear cache. Google will add more for package-level hibernation (app is hibernated for all users).

Source: https://t.co/q16Md5dKNu

H/T @luca020400 https://t.co/UC4JEoJI7f pic.twitter.com/9bqq1RjeBr

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) January 15, 2021

A todo referenced in the code tells us that the next step will be to support package-level hibernation that will affect all users, although it’s unclear how that will differ. It’s possible that all of the app’s data will be cleared and/or that the app itself will effectively be removed from the device, to be reinstalled when the user turns off hibernation.

Android Open Source Project (AOSP)

Source: Android Open Source Project (AOSP), XDA Developers