# Archive a channel

{!admin-only.md!}

Archiving a channel will immediately unsubscribe all users from the channel,
remove the channel from search and other typeaheads, and remove the channel's
messages from **Combined feed**.

Archiving a channel does not delete a channel's messages. Users will still be
able to find any given message by searching for it. However, links to
messages and topics in the channel may or may not continue to work.

In most cases, we recommend [renaming channels](/help/rename-a-channel) rather
than archiving them.

## Archive a channel

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|stream|all}

1. Select a channel.

1. Click the **trash** <i class="fa fa-trash-o"></i> icon near the top right
   corner of the channel settings panel.

1. Approve by clicking **Confirm**.

!!! tip ""

    You can also hover over a channel in the left sidebar, click on the
    **ellipsis** (<i class="zulip-icon zulip-icon-more-vertical"></i>), and
    select **Channel settings** to access the **trash**
    <i class="fa fa-trash-o"></i> icon.

{end_tabs}

!!! warn ""

    Archiving a channel is currently irreversible via the UI.

## Unarchiving archived channels

If you are self-hosting, you can unarchive an archived channel using the
`unarchive_stream` [management command][management-command]. This will restore
it as a private channel with shared history, and subscribe all organization
owners to it. If you are using Zulip Cloud, you can [contact us](/help/contact-support)
for help.

[management-command]:
https://zulip.readthedocs.io/en/latest/production/management-commands.html#other-useful-manage-py-commands

## Related articles

* [Edit a message](/help/edit-a-message)
* [Delete a message](/help/delete-a-message)
* [Delete a topic](/help/delete-a-topic)
* [Message retention policy](/help/message-retention-policy)
* [Channel permissions](/help/channel-permissions)
* [Zulip Cloud or self-hosting?](/help/zulip-cloud-or-self-hosting)