Archiving a server removes it from your active list but keeps the messages and files intact
When you archive a Discord server, the server itself stays on Discord's servers. Your messages, files, and member list remain there. The server just moves out of your sidebar into a separate archived section, so you see a cleaner list of servers you actively use. You can unarchive it anytime and it returns to your sidebar exactly as it was.
Archiving is different from deleting. A deleted server is gone — Discord removes all the messages, channels, and files permanently. An archived server is just hidden from view. This matters if you want to keep a record of old projects, communities, or conversations without cluttering your active server list.
Key Takeaways
- Archiving hides a server from your sidebar but keeps all messages, files, and member data on Discord's servers.
- Only the server owner can archive a server; members cannot archive servers they do not own.
- You can view archived servers in a separate section and unarchive them at any time with no data loss.
- Archiving does not change who can see the server or access its content — it only changes what you see in your own sidebar.
- If you want to permanently remove a server and all its data, you must delete it instead of archiving it.
How to archive a server you own
Open Discord and right-click on the server name in your sidebar. A menu appears with several options. Select "Archive Server" from that menu. Discord will ask you to confirm — click "Archive" again to complete the action.
The server disappears from your main sidebar when ready. To see it, click the arrow or expand button at the bottom of your server list (the exact location depends on whether you use Discord on desktop, mobile, or web). Your archived servers appear in a separate section labeled "Archived Servers" or similar.
If you do not see an archive option when you right-click, you are not the server owner. Only the person who created the server can archive it. If the owner has left the server, the oldest remaining admin or moderator with the right permissions may be able to archive it instead, depending on the server's role settings.
What data stays and what you can still access
Every message ever posted in that server remains readable. Every file uploaded — images, documents, videos — stays accessible. The member list, channel structure, roles, and permissions all stay exactly as they were. If someone later unarchives the server, nothing has changed.
Other members can still see and access the server if they were already in it. Archiving only affects what appears in your own sidebar. If the server is public and someone searches for it, they can still find it and join. Archiving does not make a server private or hidden from others.
If you want to prevent others from accessing the server, you need to change the server's privacy settings or delete it entirely. Archiving is purely a personal organization tool.
How to unarchive a server
Open your archived servers section and find the server you want to unarchive. Right-click on it and select "Unarchive Server." The server returns to your main sidebar in the same position it occupied before, with all data intact.
Unarchiving takes a few seconds. If the server does not when ready reappear, refresh Discord or close and reopen the app. There is no limit to how many times you can archive and unarchive the same server.
When archiving makes sense versus when to delete instead
Archive a server if you want to keep the record but do not need to see it regularly. This works well for completed projects, seasonal communities, or groups that go inactive but might restart later. You preserve the history without losing sidebar space.
Delete a server only if you want Discord to permanently remove all messages, files, channels, and member records. Deletion is irreversible — once you delete a server, that data is gone. You cannot recover it. Use deletion when a server has served its purpose and you have no reason to keep the record.
If you are unsure whether you will need the server again, archive it first. You can always delete it later if you decide you do not need it. You cannot undelete a server, but you can unarchive one when ready.
Privacy and data considerations when archiving
Archiving does not change who has access to the server's data. If someone was a member before you archived it, they can still read all the messages and see all the files. If the server is public, new people can still join and see the full history.
If you have posted personal information, passwords, or sensitive details in a server, archiving does not hide that information from other members. The only way to remove that data is to delete the specific messages (if you have permission) or delete the entire server.
Discord stores archived servers on the same servers as active ones. Your data is subject to the same Discord privacy policy and data retention practices whether the server is archived or active. Archiving is a display preference, not a security or privacy measure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can members see that a server is archived?
No. Archiving is a personal choice that only affects your sidebar. Other members see the server as normal and have no way to know you archived it. The server functions exactly the same for them.
What happens to direct messages if I archive a server?
Direct messages are separate from servers. Archiving a server does not affect your DMs with people from that server. Your private conversations stay in your direct message list unless you archive those conversations separately.
Can I archive a server I do not own?
No. Only the server owner can archive a server. If you want to hide a server from your sidebar without archiving it, you can mute it or move it to a folder instead, but those are different features from archiving.
If I leave a server and then rejoin, will it still be archived?
No. Leaving a server removes it from your sidebar entirely. When you rejoin, it appears as a normal active server again. Your archive status does not carry over after you leave.
Does archiving a server delete anyone's messages?
No. Archiving does not delete or modify any messages. Every message posted before, during, or after archiving remains visible to all members who have access to that server.