# Is there a way to auto archive a topic?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [January 17, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904 "2020-01-17T03:01:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Avraham](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Avraham)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904/1 "2020-01-17T03:01:02Z")
I saw [this post](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-delete-a-post/51617), but my question is a bit different in nature.
Is there a way to:
1. Automatically archive or delete a topic after a certain amount of time – in a specific category (not across the whole platform?)
2. Give the option to someone who creates a topic to choose how long they want the post to live in discourse before it is archived or deleted?
Thank you!
P.S. How does the search work here in discourse? In other words, how does the search choose what comes up first?
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### Author:  [@ondrej](https://meta.discourse.org/u/ondrej)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2020, 7:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904/2 "2020-01-17T07:43:32Z")
Hello,
for question 1 you can give support here:
> [@Topic Timer Archive option](https://meta.discourse.org/t/topic-timer-archive-option/94572):
>
> Continuing the discussion from [Unlist option in Topic Timer](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unlist-option-in-topic-timer/87676/2): Yes, exactly, why not archive? wink I’d like to propose an archive option in the Topic Timer. Use case: Make a competition where people can vote and close voting period automatically (archiving prevents voting). Actually I’d need this option right now and expected it in the drop down. I’m surprised that it is not included in the options.
* * *
However, for now you are just going to have to archive the topic manually with admin wrench.
> [@Avraham](#):
>
> Give the option to someone who creates a topic to choose how long they want the post to live in discourse before it is archived or deleted?
This can be a new #Contribute > Feature request and in itself. There are multiple examples of these things
> [@Allow regular user to archive (or close) their own topic?](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-regular-user-to-archive-or-close-their-own-topic/16498):
>
> Is there an easy way to allow regular users to be able to archive a topic they started? I don’t think this feature would be abused for what I’m considering using discourse for. For example for a buy and sell category, where the item is sold, or maybe a category discussing events, where the event is over, it would be good if the original poster could archive the topic themselves. A point in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks!
Furthermore, not sure how much support the team will have.
All the best 👍
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### Author:  [@albert\_vu](https://meta.discourse.org/u/albert_vu)
#### Post date: [August 8, 2022, 6:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904/3 "2022-08-08T06:50:04Z")
Another feature I think Discourse could consider is _ **auto-archive topics when they’re moved to a specific category** _.
So for our site, we’ve created a public category called “[Archive](https://forum.katalon.com/c/archive/78)” where we’re working to move old topics into it & archive them. We’ve also set the security settings so that only admins & moderators could create & reply to topics within said category.
This way, we believe, would tidy up our forum considerably whilst allow members to access old topics/post easily when needed.
Nevertheless, the current process of archiving topics is still quite tedious:
- Step 1: Search/Filter old, inactive topics from either each category’s topic list or in Advance Search.
- Step 2: Select all topics & move to said category.
- Step 3: Select all topics **again** to archive them.
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2023, 10:21am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/is-there-a-way-to-auto-archive-a-topic/138904/4 "2023-01-18T10:21:50Z")
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