---
title: Archive or close a chat space
sidebarTitle: Archive a chat space
description: >-
  Make a chat space read-only when it has run its course, and bring it back
  whenever you like.
audience: luminary
feature: chat-spaces
type: guide
availability: live
last_verified: '2026-10-13'
keywords:
  - archive chat
  - close chat space
  - read-only chat
  - restore chat
  - end group chat
url: >-
  https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/offerings/chat-spaces/archive-a-chat-space
---

# Archive or close a chat space

> Make a chat space read-only when it has run its course, and bring it back whenever you like.

## When to use this

- A cohort, retreat or program has ended and the room should go quiet.
- You want to pause a room for a while.
- You want to retire a space without losing its history.

Archiving is the way to close a chat space. Members keep their history, but nobody can post or join.

## Steps

**Step 1: Open the room**

Go to [Offerings → Chat Spaces](https://portal.bringsoul.life/chat-space) and open the space.

**Step 2: Post a closing note first**

Thank everyone and tell them what happens next: where to continue, or that the room stays
readable. Once it's archived, you can't post either.

**Step 3: Archive it**

Open the … menu at the top of the room and choose Archive. You'll see *"Chat space archived
successfully!"*

**Step 4: Find it later**

The space moves to the Archived tab in [Offerings → Chat
Spaces](https://portal.bringsoul.life/chat-space).

To bring it back, open it from the Archived tab, open the … menu and choose Unarchive. Members can post again straight away.

For a Community chat, use Archive in the room's Manage chat space menu, or Remove from Community on its card. Removing it from the Community also archives it.

## Good to know

- Deleting standalone chat spaces isn't available yet. Archive instead. Archived spaces stay out of your way on the Archived tab.
- Community chats have Delete permanently…, which removes the room, its messages and members for good. It only works once no members are left. Archiving is almost always the better choice.
- Archiving doesn't remove members or refund anyone. If members pay monthly or yearly for the space, contact [support@bringsoul.life](mailto:support@bringsoul.life) before you archive, so their billing can be stopped.
- Archived spaces can't take new members.

**Warning:** 
Archiving a paid recurring space doesn't stop its subscriptions by itself. Contact support first
so nobody keeps paying for a room they can't use.

## What your members see

Members can still open the room and scroll its history. A banner says _"This chat space is archived. This conversation is now read-only. New messages cannot be posted."_ The message box is gone.

## Related

- [Moderate a chat space](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/offerings/chat-spaces/moderate-a-chat-space)
- [Add a chat to your Community or a Circle](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/offerings/chat-spaces/community-and-circle-chat)
- [Chat Spaces introduction](https://help.bringsoul.life/luminaries/offerings/chat-spaces/introduction)