How to archive and unarchive e-mail messages

Archiving is a convenient feature that is available in most e-mail clients and services. It is helpful for recordkeeping and also gives you an option when you're unsure whether to keep or delete an e-mail message. The following sections contain information to archive e-mail messages, and how to unarchive and return them to your inbox.

To proceed, select your e-mail program from the list below and follow the steps.

Google Gmail

Gmail is unique because it can archive, unarchive, and mute e-mail messages. We cover each process below.

How to archive a message

1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
2. Locate and open the message you want to archive.
3. In the upper-left corner of the message window, click the Archive icon.

4. If successful, a confirmation message is shown in the lower-left corner of the browser window.

How to unarchive a message

1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left menu, if not expanded, click the More selector.

3. Click the All Mail option.

4. Locate the message you want to unarchive.
5. In the upper-left corner of the message window, click the Move to Inbox icon.

6. If successful, a confirmation message is shown in the lower-left corner of the browser window.

How to mute a message

Gmail also offers the option to mute a message rather than archive it. The difference between these features is that unlike an archived message, when a muted message is replied to, it's not automatically moved back to your inbox.

1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
2. Locate and open the message you want to mute.
3. In the upper-left corner of the message window, click the More icon.

4. Select Mute in the drop-down menu.

How to unmute a message

Follow steps 1-3 from the previous section and select Unmute in the drop-down menu.

Yahoo! Mail

How to archive a message

1. Go to the Yahoo! Mail website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side of the screen, locate and click the folder containing the message you want to archive.

3. Click the message to open it.
4. In the top-middle section of the screen, click the Archive icon.

5. After a moment, a confirmation prompt appears.

How to unarchive a message

1. Go to the Yahoo! Mail website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side of the screen, click the Archive folder.

3. Click the message you want to unarchive.
4. In the top-middle section of the screen, click the Restore to Inbox icon.

5. A confirmation prompt appears when the message is moved.

Outlook.com

How to archive a message

1. Go to the Outlook.com website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side, click Folders to expand the menu.

3. Locate the folder containing the message you want to archive.

4. Open the message you want to archive.

5. At the top of the screen, under the Home tab, click the Archive button.

6. Once the message is archived, a confirmation message is displayed.

How to unarchive a message

1. Go to the Outlook.com website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side, click Folders to expand the menu.

3. Under Folders, select Archive.

4. Click the message you want to unarchive.
5. At the top of the screen, under the Home tab, click the Move to button.

6. Select a folder; we chose Inbox for this example.

7. Once the message is unarchived, you see a confirmation message.

Aol Mail

How to archive a message

1. Go to the Aol Mail website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side of the screen, locate and click the folder containing the message you want to archive.

3. Click the message to open it.
4. In the top-middle section of the screen, click the Move icon.

5. Select Archive from the drop-down menu.

6. After a moment, a confirmation prompt appears.

How to unarchive a message

1. Go to the Aol Mail website and sign in if necessary.
2. On the left side of the screen, near the bottom, click the Archive folder selector.

3. Click the message you want to unarchive.
4. In the top-middle section of the screen, click the Restore to Inbox icon.

5. A confirmation prompt appears when the message is moved.

Apple Mail

This section contains instructions for those using macOS on a desktop or laptop computer. If you're on an iMac or MacBook, follow the steps below.

How to archive a message

1. Open Apple Mail.

2. In the sidebar, click the folder with the message(s) you want to archive. We're using the Inbox for this example.

3. To archive one or more messages, select or highlight them, then click the Archive selected messages icon in the upper-right corner.

How to unarchive a message

1. Open Apple Mail.

2. In the sidebar, click the Archive folder.

3. Select the message you want to unarchive, then click the two arrows pointing to the right.

4. Select Move at the bottom of the pop-out menu.

5. Hover your mouse cursor over the destination folder and select the appropriate client.

6. The selected message is unarchived to the specified folder.