> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.booksgpt.ai/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Archive a client workspace

Archive when you stop keeping a client's books. The records stay. Start over and Delete are the other two buttons, and they are not the same thing.

Open **All pages** in the left sidebar, then click **[Settings](https://app.booksgpt.ai/go/settings)** and **Workspace**. The page opens on **Details**. Select **Data**. **Workspace lifecycle** is on that view.

On a phone:

- Open the menu and tap **Settings**.
- Under **Settings section**, choose **Workspace**.
- Tap **Data**. **Details** and **Data** fill the width of the screen.
- The cards stack. Each button sits under its description.

|| Only the workspace owner can archive or reactivate.

## Archive, not delete

- Archive keeps the records readable and reportable, and keeps the client's access.
- **Start over** clears the books so you can import again. The workspace stays. There is no undo. See "Redo or undo an import".
- Delete removes everything after a recovery window, and everyone loses access immediately.

See "Delete a client workspace" if you are finished with the company for good. See "Archive, start over, or delete a workspace" if you are choosing between the three.

![Archive workspace, Start over, and Delete workspace on the Data view](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/section.png)

## Archive this workspace

1. Click **Archive workspace**.
2. Read the facts, especially that the bank connections stop for good.
3. Tick **I understand the bank connections cannot be restored.**
4. Click **Archive workspace**.

![The archive dialog, with the bank connections warning ticked and Archive workspace ready](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/archive-dialog.png)

What that does:

- **The books stay readable.** You can still open the workspace, run every report, and export. Nothing is deleted.
- **No one can make changes** until you reactivate.
- **The client keeps their access.** Anyone you invited keeps reading their own books. Their sign-in still works.
- **The bank connections stop, for good.** Reactivating restores editing. Each feed has to be connected again. Transactions already imported stay where they are.
- **Scheduled reports stop, and stay stopped.** Reactivating does not start them again. You would switch them back on yourself.
- **The workspace slot frees immediately.** If this workspace held a paid extra-workspace seat, the dialog names that charge.

| Archive does not make the zip. If you want a copy first, use **Download everything** on this same **Data** view, then **Prepare export**. Wait for the email that the zip is ready, download it, then archive.

## Bring it back

On the archived workspace, open **Settings**, stay on **Workspace**, and select **Data**. **Workspace lifecycle** shows **Archived on** the date, with **Reactivate workspace**.

![Archived on August 12, 2026, with Reactivate workspace on the Data view](https://booksgpt.ai/help/lifecycle/archived.png)

Reports and exports still work. Reactivating restores editing. The bank feeds were disconnected and each one has to be reconnected.

On a phone, **Reactivate workspace** sits under the archived date. **Settings section** is still how you reach **Workspace** before you tap **Data**.

**Delete this workspace** is still on this view if you later decide to remove the company. See "Delete a client workspace".