What archiving a Facebook group does

Archiving a Facebook group freezes it in place. Members can still see all past posts, photos, and conversations, but nobody — including you — can post new content, add members, or change the group settings. The group stays visible in members' group lists and in search results, but it stops being active.

This is different from deleting a group, which removes it entirely and erases all content. Archiving is useful when a group has served its purpose but you want to preserve the history — a project team wrapping up, a temporary event group, or a community that's moving to a different platform.

Only the group admin can archive a group. Once archived, any admin can unarchive it later if needed, which restores posting and membership changes.

Key Takeaways

  • Only a group admin can archive a group, and the option appears in the group settings menu under "Edit Group Settings."
  • Archiving keeps all past posts and photos visible to members but stops anyone from posting new content or adding new members.
  • Members remain in the archived group and can still see it in their group list, but the group appears inactive.
  • An archived group can be unarchived at any time by an admin, which restores full posting and membership functions.
  • Archiving is permanent until you unarchive it — there is no time limit, and archived groups take up no extra storage space.

Steps to archive a group on desktop

Open Facebook in a web browser and go to the group you want to archive. You must be an admin of the group to see the archive option.

Click the three dots or gear icon in the top right of the group cover photo. This opens a menu. Select Edit Group Settings. Scroll down until you see the option labeled Archive This Group or Archive Group. Click it.

Facebook will ask you to confirm. Read the message — it will tell you that members can still see past posts but cannot post new content. Click Archive to confirm. The group is now archived.

Steps to archive a group on mobile

Open the Facebook app and navigate to the group. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the screen.

Scroll down and tap Edit Group Settings. Continue scrolling until you find Archive This Group. Tap it, then confirm when Facebook asks you to verify the action. The group is now archived.

The mobile interface is the same as desktop — the location of the menu button may vary slightly depending on your phone's screen size, but the settings menu always contains the archive option.

What members see in an archived group

Members can still find the group in their group list and can still view all past posts, photos, comments, and files. They can read conversations from before the group was archived. However, they cannot post new messages, upload photos, create events, or start discussions.

If a member tries to post in an archived group, they will see a message saying the group is archived and posting is not allowed. The group will appear slightly grayed out or marked as archived in their group list, depending on which version of Facebook they use.

Members are not automatically removed from an archived group. If you want to remove members before archiving, you must do that separately through the member management settings.

Unarchiving a group later

If you change your mind, any admin can unarchive the group at any time. Go back to Edit Group Settings, scroll to the bottom, and look for Unarchive This Group. Click or tap it and confirm.

Once unarchived, the group returns to normal. Members can post again, new members can be added, and all settings can be changed. There is no time limit on how long a group can stay archived — you can unarchive it after days, months, or years.

When to archive instead of delete

Archive a group if you want to keep the history. This works well for project groups, class groups, event groups, or communities that served a specific purpose and are now complete. Members often appreciate being able to look back at old conversations and files.

Delete a group only if you want to remove it completely and erase all content. Deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Once deleted, all posts, photos, and member records are gone. Use deletion only when you are certain the group's history is no longer needed.

If you are unsure, archive first. You can always delete later, but you cannot recover a deleted group.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can members post in an archived group?

No. Once a group is archived, no one — including admins — can post new messages, upload photos, or create events. Members can only view past content. If you need the group to be active again, you must unarchive it first.

Will members be removed from an archived group?

No. Members stay in the group and can still see it in their group list. They can view all past posts and conversations. If you want to remove members, you must do that through the member management settings before or after archiving.

Can I unarchive a group after archiving it?

Yes. Any admin can unarchive a group at any time by going to Edit Group Settings and selecting Unarchive This Group. There is no time limit — a group can stay archived for as long as you want.

What is the difference between archiving and deleting a group?

Archiving keeps all past content visible but stops new posts. Deletion removes the group entirely and erases all posts, photos, and member records permanently. Archiving is reversible; deletion is not.

Do archived groups take up storage space?

No. Archived groups use the same amount of space as active groups — Facebook does not charge extra or reduce storage for archived content. The group remains accessible to members indefinitely.