Guide: Archive and restore
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/archive-and-restore
Topic: Automation
Time: about 1 minutes
Who can do it: Owner, Administrator or Manager
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: An automation you no longer want stops at once and leaves the list; its results, runs and people stay, and it can come back any time.
Context: There is no Delete. An automation has runs, results and people hanging off it, so removing it would orphan them. Archive stops it and takes it off the list; the Archived filter shows it with its lifetime results and its people; Restore brings it back paused, never live on its own.

Before you start:
1. Archive is in the row menu, the editor menu and the bulk bar.
2. Messages already sent stay in people's inboxes.
3. Restore comes back paused.

Steps:
Step 1 of 2: Archive it.
Where: More on the row, then Archive. The modal is not red: it says what stays. Confirm, and the toast offers Undo.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-archive.en.webp (The archive modal: it stops, leaves the list, everything it produced stays.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-archive-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The row is gone from All; Archived appears above the list with a count.

Step 2 of 2: Restore it.
Where: The Archived filter, then More on the row, then Restore. It comes back paused; turn the switch on when you are ready.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-home.en.webp (Archived rows keep their results and their people.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/automation-home-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The row is back on All, paused.

If something is off:
Problem: I want to remove it for good
Fix: Archive is as far as it goes: the people it reached and their consent lines are records you may need later.

Common questions:
Question: Do people reached by an archived automation stay under People?
Answer: Yes, with a From archived filter to find them.
Question: Can I archive several at once?
Answer: Yes: Select several, tick the rows, Archive in the bar.

Related guides:
- The Automation list: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/the-automation-list
- People and exports: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/people-and-exports
- Runs: what each automation did: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/runs-what-each-automation-did

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/keyword-automations/archive-and-restore.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt