In modern software development, file accumulation is an inevitable side effect of agility. Every time your team compiles code to test an improvement or fix, a Build is generated—that packaged version of your application ready to be installed on a device. However, maintaining an infinite history of these versions is no longer sustainable or secure.
To address this challenge, starting January 15, 2026, we will activate the new Build Retention Policy. This feature, whose capacity will adapt to your current subscription plan, transforms the way you manage your application lifecycle, moving from indefinite storage to an intelligent and automated one.
When "saving everything" becomes a risk
Keeping an infinite version history not only clutters your workspace. It can also pose a security risk if old versions—without the latest patches—remain accessible indefinitely.
The challenge for IT and DevOps teams is to clean up this history without accidentally deleting critical versions for audit or rollback purposes, a manual task that consumes valuable time.
Intelligent automation
The new Build Retention allows you to define clear rules on how long a version lives in your ecosystem before being archived and deleted. Previously, builds were kept indefinitely; with this new system, cleanup runs itself based on the rules you define.
What Is the lifecycle of a build?
To ensure you never lose data by mistake, we have designed a staged deletion process that prioritizes the security of your assets:
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Active retention period: the build remains available and operational for the time stipulated in your configuration.
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Pending deletion state: when a build reaches the end of its retention, it doesn’t disappear instantly. It enters a “pending deletion” state where it remains for a 30-day grace period.
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Permanent deletion: after the grace period ends, the build is permanently removed from the system.
Automatic rules
We know business continuity is critical. That’s why, even with strict retention limits, the system applies protection logic:
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Always available: Applivery automatically retains a minimum number of recent builds per release.
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Logical priority: If the limit is reached, the oldest builds are deleted first, while the most recent ones are kept, ensuring your team always has access to the latest functional version.
Configuration guide
Flexibility is part of our architecture. You can configure these policies at two hierarchical levels:
Workspace level (global policy)
This configuration acts as the default standard. All apps within the workspace will inherit this configuration unless you indicate otherwise.
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Go to your Workspace, find Settings, and select Storage.
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Scroll down to Build retention policy.
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Specify the retention period (days) and the number of recent builds to keep per release.
App level (specific exceptions)
Ideal for critical applications requiring a more extensive history or one different from the rest of the organization.
- Go to App Distribution and select the App.
- Go to the Settings tab and select Advanced.
- In Build retention policy, you can choose to inherit the Workspace configuration or define a custom policy.
For Enterprise customers: the Unlimited Retention option is exclusive to Enterprise plans and must be activated explicitly upon request by contacting our team.
Value for your strategy
Activating this feature in January 2026 brings immediate benefits to your workflows:
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DevOps automation: eliminates the friction of manual repository cleanup.
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Security and compliance: reduces the attack surface by ensuring old and vulnerable versions are automatically deleted.
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Order and efficiency: maintain a clean and organized workspace, making it easier for testers to always find the correct version.
Get ready for the change
The feature arrives on January 15, 2026. It is the ideal time for your team to define the retention policies that best suit their operational needs.
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Doubts about your current capacity? Check the availability of this function on our pricing page.
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Need unlimited retention? If you are an Enterprise customer, contact us to manage your activation before the launch.
