Archive and unarchive channels#

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Archive a channel#

Delete public channels and private channels when they’re no longer needed by archiving them. Archiving channels removes them from the channel sidebar and marks them as read-only. Anyone can archive a public or private channel they’re a member of, unless your system admin has disabled your ability to do so.

Tip

You can continue to access archived channels, unless your system admin has disabled your ability to do so.

To archive a channel, select the channel name at the top of the center pane to access the drop-down menu, then select Archive Channel.

To archive a channel:

  1. Tap the channel you want to delete.

Select a channel that you want to edit.
  1. Tap the More Use the More icon in the top left corner to access Mattermost desktop apps customization settings. icon located in the top right corner of the app.

Tap on More options to access available options for the channel.
  1. Tap View info.

Tap on View info to see the basic channel info.
  1. Tap Archive Channel.

Tap on Archive channel to archive the current channel.
  1. Tap Yes to confirm.

Tap on Yes to confirm your choice.

Note

  • When a Mattermost user is deactivated in the system, your direct message channel with that user are archived and marked as read-only. An Archived icon Archived channels are identified with a File Box icon. displays next to archived channels.

  • Group message channels can’t be archived, but they can be closed to hide them from the channel sidebar.

  • The default Town Square channel can’t be archived.

  • System admins can archive channels without needing to be a channel member by using the System Console.

  • Because a copy of the channel exists on the server, you can’t reuse the URL of an archived channel when creating a new channel.

Unarchive a channel#

System admins and Team admins can restore archived channels. When a channel is unarchived, channel membership and all its content is restored, unless messages and files have been deleted based on a data retention policy.

Search for the channel if required. Then, open the channel, select the channel name at the top of the center pane to access the drop-down menu and select Unarchive Channel.

Unarchive a channel.

To unarchive a channel:

  1. Tap the channel you want to unarchive.

Select a channel that you want to edit.
  1. Tap the More Use the More icon in the top left corner to access Mattermost desktop apps customization settings. icon located in the top right corner of the app.

Tap on More options to access available options for the channel.
  1. Tap View info.

Tap on View info to see the basic channel info.
  1. Tap Unarchive Channel.

Tap on Unarchive channel to unarchive the current channel.
  1. Tap Yes to confirm.

Tap on Yes to confirm your choice.

Tip

Alternatively, system admins can unarchive channels via the mmctl, and Team admins can unarchive channels via the API.