# Trash and archive

Where deleted mail waits, what archived means, and how to bring either back.

Source: https://jade.email/help/trash-and-archive/

**Delete** moves an email to Trash so you can restore it before permanent deletion. **Archive** moves it out of your everyday mail views without scheduling deletion. A rule's **Auto-delete** action is different: it schedules permanent deletion and skips Trash.

## Trash

Deleting from the reading view, bulk action bar, or a row swipe moves the email to Trash. A rule that sets **Deleted** status does the same. The list shows trashed mail from every inbox, newest first.

Trash normally keeps an email for 30 days before permanent deletion. If your rules also set an **Auto-delete** duration, that schedule takes precedence and counts from the original receipt time. See [Auto-delete rules](https://jade.email/help/rules.md#auto-delete).

Drafts skip the trash

Discarding a draft deletes it permanently on the spot. The 30-day window applies to received and sent mail, not drafts.

## Restoring an email

Select rows and choose **Restore** from the bulk action bar, use the restore button that appears when you hover a row, or open the email and choose **Restore**. The email returns to your mail views marked as read (sent mail returns to Sent), keeps its category and inbox, and the 30-day clock is cancelled.

## Delete forever

**Delete forever** removes an email immediately, without waiting out the 30 days. It's available on a row, in the reading view, or in the bulk action bar for a selection. This one is irreversible, so it asks for confirmation. Everything the email carried, including attachments, is removed.

## Archive

Archived mail leaves Everything, category views, and inbox views. Search still finds it and marks the result **Archived**. You can archive mail from the reading view, bulk action bar, or a row swipe. Rules can also set **Archived** status, and a move to an Archive folder in a connected IMAP client archives mail. Find archived mail under Archive in the sidebar.

Archiving doesn't itself schedule deletion. However, rules can combine **Archived** status with **Auto-delete**, so an email archived by rules can still be scheduled for permanent deletion.

## Unarchiving

Select rows and choose **Unarchive** from the bulk action bar, use the hover button on a row, or open the email and choose **Unarchive**. The email returns to your mail views marked as read. Deleting from the Archive view moves mail to the trash, where the normal 30-day window applies.

If a rule keeps archiving mail you want to see, open the email's inbox settings and adjust the rule. **Reprocess** isn't available in Archive or Trash. Unarchive or restore received mail before applying your current rules to it.