## Overview

Every Internal Chat channel has a lifecycle. When a project ends or a topic falls out of use, you
don't have to delete the channel: you can **archive** it (close it while keeping the history) and
later **restore** it if it becomes relevant again. Only when you're sure the content is no longer
useful can an administrator **delete it permanently**.

Beyond the lifecycle, a channel can be **linked to a Team**. In that case, Conversa Labs keeps the
channel's members in sync with the team: anyone who joins the team also joins the channel, and
anyone who leaves the team is removed from it — with no manual member management.

## Prerequisites

- The **Internal Chat** module enabled for the account.
- To archive, restore or manage a channel's team link: be a **channel owner/admin** or an
  **account administrator**.
- To **delete permanently** (purge): be a **channel owner/admin** or an **account administrator**
  — this is a restricted action.
- For the team link: at least one **Team** must exist in the account to choose from.

## Step by step

**1. Archive a channel**

1. Open the channel and go to its **settings**.
2. Choose **Archive**.
3. The channel leaves the active list and becomes **read-only**: no one can post anymore, but the
   entire **history is preserved**.

**2. Restore (unarchive) a channel**

1. Filter the list to show **archived channels**.
2. Open the archived channel and choose **Restore**.
3. The channel returns to the active list and posting reopens, right where it left off.

**3. Delete permanently (purge)**

1. As an administrator, open the channel's **settings**.
2. Choose **Delete**.
3. The channel and all of its content (messages, members and mentions) are removed. **This action
   is irreversible.**

**4. Link the channel to a Team**

1. In the channel's **settings**, select a **Team** in the team-link field.
2. Save. Conversa Labs syncs the team's members into the channel.

**5. Understand member auto-sync**

- With the channel linked to a team, **joining the team adds** the person to the channel and
  **leaving the team removes** them, automatically.
- You don't need to add or remove members by hand: manage them through the team itself.

## Settings & options

- **Archive vs delete**: archiving is reversible and preserves the history; deleting is permanent
  and removes everything. Prefer archiving whenever in doubt.
- **Archiving the CHANNEL vs archiving the CONVERSATION**: two different things, easy to mix up.
  What this article describes is archiving the **channel**, done in the settings by an
  administrator: it closes the room for **everyone** and makes it read-only. **Archive
  conversation**, in the row's action menu, is an **individual** preference — it takes the
  conversation out of **your** list only, affects nobody else, and works on direct messages too.
  See the conversation actions article.
- **Posting policy when archived**: an archived channel is **read-only** — no member can post while
  it stays archived. When you restore it, posting goes back to normal.
- **Team link (`team_id`)**: a channel can point to a Team. While the link exists, the channel's
  member list mirrors the team's.
- **Automatic member sync**: turned on by the team link; changes to the team are reflected in the
  channel.

## Use cases

- **Wrap up a project**: when a campaign ends, archive the "june-campaign" channel. The history
  stays available for reference and the active list stays clean.
- **Restore access**: did the topic come back? Restore the archived channel instead of creating a
  new one — all the previous context is still there.
- **Mirror a team**: link a channel to the **Sales Team**. Anyone who joins sales becomes part of
  the channel without anyone having to invite them.

## Tips, limits & best practices

- **Prefer archiving over deleting.** Deletion is irreversible and limited to whoever administers
  the channel or the account.
- In channels **linked to a team**, manage people **through the team**, not the channel's member
  list — otherwise the sync will undo any change you make by hand.
- Keep the active list lean by archiving what's no longer in use; archiving never loses the history.
- Reserve deletion for channels with clearly no value (tests, duplicates).

## Troubleshooting

- **I can't delete the channel**: permanent deletion requires being a **channel owner/admin** or an
  **account administrator**. A plain member does not see the option — they can only leave the
  channel or archive the conversation for themselves.
- **A member came back to the channel on their own**: the channel is likely **linked to a team** and
  the person is still part of it. Remove them through the team (or unlink the team) instead of from
  the channel.
- **The archived channel doesn't show up**: the list shows only active channels by default. Use the
  **archived** filter to find it, then restore it.

## See also

- [Conversation actions: mark unread, mute, pin, archive and delete](/hc/ajuda/articles/internal-chat-acoes-da-conversa-en)
- [Channels, direct messages and announcements](/hc/ajuda/articles/internal-chat-canais-diretas-anuncios-en)
- [Internal Chat overview](/hc/ajuda/articles/internal-chat-overview-en)