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How to Archive and Unarchive Trello Cards, Lists and Boards

How to Archive and Unarchive Trello Cards, Lists and Boards

Are you looking to declutter your Trello workspace and boards or keep track of completed tasks? With archiving, you can remove cards from your active lists and boards without deleting them permanently. This can come in handy when you want to clean up your workspace or when you want to reference completed tasks without cluttering your active lists.

Now, let's dive into the different ways you can archive and unarchive cards, boards, and lists in Trello.

How to Archive Trello Cards

There are several ways to archive cards in Trello, depending on the platform you're using and the type of card you want to archive. Here are the main methods:

  • From the card menu: Open the card, scroll down and click the "Archive" button in the bottom-right corner.

  • From the board view: Hover over the card and click the "Archive" button on the right side.

  • Using keyboard shortcuts: Select the card and press the "a" key.

  • On mobile: Tap on the card, then tap the "Archive" button at the bottom.

how to archive and delete a Trello card

How to Unarchive Trello Cards

To bring an archived card back to your active lists and boards, use one of these methods:

  • From the board menu: Click the three dots "..." in the top-right corner, select "Archived items," hover over the card, and click the "Unarchive" button on the right side.

how to unarchive a Trello card
  • From the card menu: Open the card, click the "More" button (three dots) in the top-right corner, and select "Unarchive."

  • Using keyboard shortcuts: Select the card and press the "u" key.

  • On mobile: Tap the "Board menu" button in the top-left corner, select "Archived items," tap on the card, and then tap the "Unarchive" button at the bottom.

How to Archive and Unarchive Trello Boards

how to close and archive Trello board

You can also archive and unarchive entire boards in Trello. Here's how:

  • To archive a board: Click the  three dots "..." in the top-right corner. Click “…More” and select "Close Board." Confirm the action in the pop-up window and your board is closed.

  • To unarchive a board: Click the three dots "..." in the top-right corner, select "...More," and then select "Archived boards." Click on the board and then click the "Reopen board" button on the right side.

  • On mobile: Follow the same steps as above, but tap on the buttons instead of clicking them.

What's the Difference Between Archiving and Deleting?

Archiving and deleting are two different actions in Trello– with different consequences and implications. Archiving removes cards, boards, or lists from your active items without deleting them permanently, while deleting removes them permanently from your account. 

Here are the main differences between archiving and deleting in Trello:

  • Recovery: Deleted items cannot be recovered, while archived items can be easily unarchived.

  • Data loss: Deleting also deletes all the data and attachments associated with the item, while archiving retains them.

  • Impact on other users: Deleting an item removes it from the board for all team members, while archiving only removes it from your view.

Overall, archiving is a more flexible and safer option than deleting in Trello, as it allows you to free up real estate in your workspace without losing any data or affecting other users.

What are the Benefits of Archiving in Trello?

There are several benefits to using the archiving feature in Trello, including:

  • Decluttering your workspace: 

Archiving helps you remove completed or unnecessary items from your active lists and boards, keeping your workspace organized and focused.

  • Tracking progress: 

You can reference archived items later without cluttering your active lists, which can be helpful when reviewing your progress or reporting on your work.

  • Collaboration: 

Archiving can also be useful for team collaboration, as it allows you to remove items from your view without affecting other team members.

  • Data retention: 

Archiving allows you to retain all the data and attachments associated with an item, which can be useful for reference or compliance purposes.

How to Archive and Unarchive Trello Lists

In addition to cards and boards, Trello also allows you to archive and unarchive lists. Here’s what you need to do:

How to Archive Lists in Trello

To archive a list in Trello, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the list you want to archive.

  2. Click on the "List menu" button (represented by three dots) in the top-right corner of each list.

  3. Select the "Archive" option from the menu.

If you're interested, you can read our comprehensive guide on Trello.
And finally here are some frequently asked questions about the subject:

Can Archived Cards Be Retrieved in Trello?

Yes, archived cards in Trello can be retrieved at any time. You just need to search for them, find them and unarchive them to bring them back to the board.

Where Can You View Archived Cards in Trello?

You can view archived cards by going to the board menu, selecting More, and then clicking Archived Items. This will show both archived cards and lists from the board.

How to Find a Specific Card to Unarchive Among Multiple Archived Cards

To find a specific card, go to the Archived Items section and use the search bar to quickly locate the card you're looking for. Once found, you can click Send to Board to unarchive it.

Which Cards Should Be Archived? Which Cards Should Be Deleted?

Archive cards that are no longer active but may be needed for future reference. They include important information that is not needed any more at that time. Cards can be deleted if they contain outdated or irrelevant information that won’t be needed again in the future.

How Long Are Archived and Deleted Cards Kept in Trello?

Archived cards are kept indefinitely in Trello until manually unarchived or deleted. Deleted cards, however, are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.


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