# Safe to archive messages?
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [December 14, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010 "2017-12-14T02:03:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@shaundefense](https://meta.discourse.org/u/shaundefense)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010/1 "2017-12-14T02:03:07Z")
I’ve tried searching for a simple answer to this with no luck.
If I archive messages, do they ever get deleted? My hope is that they will stay there for future reference while keeping my inbox clean.
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010/2 "2017-12-14T02:20:52Z")
Archiving does not delete, no.
---
### Author:  [@SidV](https://meta.discourse.org/u/SidV)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010/3 "2017-12-14T13:12:55Z")
I love this answer to see what “_archive_” means 😉
> [@Best practices for archiving topics](https://meta.discourse.org/t/best-practices-for-archiving-topics/27069/4):
>
> It’s a subtle distinction but Close only prevents new replies. and Archive freezes a topic in carbonite so nothing about it can ever change. Ever. Refer to this handy diagram: The idea is that archived topics would eventually be moved out or deleted. Archiving a topic means it has one foot in the grave.
Check it out
---
### Author:  [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010/4 "2017-12-14T13:32:19Z")
A more exhaustive explanation (including that metaphor) is provided here:
> [@Understanding closed, unlisted, and archived topics](https://meta.discourse.org/t/what-is-the-difference-between-closed-unlisted-and-archived-topics/51238):
>
> bookmark This guide explains the differences between Closed, Unlisted, and Archived topics in Discourse, including their characteristics and use cases. person_raising_hand Required user level: All users Discourse offers various ways to manage topics, including closing, unlisting, and archiving. Each of these options serves a different purpose and has specific effects on how topics are displayed and interacted with. This guide will explain the differences between these three states and th…
---
### Author:  [@erlend\_sh](https://meta.discourse.org/u/erlend_sh)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/safe-to-archive-messages/76010/5 "2017-12-14T13:32:29Z")