Technologies are presented that optimize application management on a computing device through contextual application archival and retrieval. A method of managing applications may include: learning contextual relevancy of one or more applications installed on a computing device to a user of the device and determining whether an application is no longer contextually relevant to the user. If the application is no longer contextually relevant, the device may send a request to an application management service to obtain and/or maintain the application; create a placeholder for the application at the device; and remove the application from the device. The device may monitor contextual inputs for relevancy of the archived application. If contextual relevancy is determined, the device may send a request to the service to provide the archived application or a replacement of the archived application to the device; receive the requested application; install the requested application; and remove the placeholder.