---
key: archive-or-restore-a-project
title: Archive or restore a project
audience: staff
section: projects-tasks
routes: ["/work/projects", "/work/projects/:uid/:tab?/:itemUid?"]
permissions: ["work.projects.archive"]
features: ["work.projects"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Find a project on the Projects page, archive it when it is finished or cancelled so it leaves active lists, and restore it if you need it back.
keywords: [close project, finish project, cancel project, remove project, delete project, old projects, find project, filter projects]
related: [create-a-project, complete-or-archive-a-task, create-a-portfolio]
---

In the sidebar, open **Projects & Tasks**, then **Projects**. The page address is `/work/projects`. Archiving a project keeps everything on it; it only moves the project out of active views and pickers.

## Before you start

- Archiving needs the **Archive projects** permission; bringing one back needs **Restore projects**. Without them, **Archive** and **Restore** are not in the row menu.

## Steps

1. Find the project. Type in **Search projects**, or press **Filters** and narrow by **Status**, **Account** or **Portfolio**.
2. Open the menu at the end of the row and choose **Archive**.
3. **Archive this project?** opens. Give a reason if it asks for one, then press **Archive project**.

Already on the project? Open its **Actions** menu (⋯). **Archive project** is the last item, in red, and opens the same dialog. On an archived project, **Restore project** is the first item.

To bring a project back:

1. Find the project. It stays on the Projects list with the archived status; to see only archived projects, press **Filters** and set **Status** to that status.
2. Open the row menu and choose **Restore**, then confirm in **Restore this project?** with **Restore project**.

## What you see

- The project's **Status** changes to the archived status. It stays on the Projects list but leaves active work views and the project pickers.
- **View** in the row menu opens the project; **Edit** opens its form. The same **Archive** or **Restore** button also sits at the top of the edit form.
- **Reset filters** clears everything you set. **Manage columns** adds columns such as **Description** or **Archived At**.

## If something looks different

- **Archive** and **Restore** are missing from the menu: your role lacks those permissions.
- The menu item is greyed out: Nova is still finishing the last archive or restore; wait a moment.
- **No projects found.**: the search or filters excluded everything; press **Reset filters**.
- You only want to finish some of the work: mark tasks done or archive them one by one instead; see [[complete-or-archive-a-task]].