Quick Setup Checklist
Use this checklist to find, download, and work with historical messages and flow runs.
- Confirm what archiving means and why it happens after 90 days.
- Understand which data is archived and where it disappears from the UI.
- Download daily or monthly archives from Account → Archives.
- Export messages and flow runs using date ranges when needed.
- Use the Archives API endpoint for data older than 90 days.
To keep your workspace fast and focused on recent activity, messages and flow runs older than 90 days are automatically archived.
Archiving lets you retain access to historical data while keeping inboxes and contact pages lightweight.
[CAPTURE: Account page showing the Archives section.]
RapidPro archives:
- Messages older than 90 days
- Flow runs older than 90 days
Once archived:
- These items no longer appear in Inbox, Flows, or on Contact pages
- They remain available for download and analysis from Account → Archives
To download archived data:
- Go to your Account page.
- Open the Archives section.
- Choose how you want to download your data: Daily archives or Monthly archives.
[CAPTURE: Archives section showing daily and monthly download options.]
Archived files use the same format as API endpoints, which makes them easier to process with existing tools.
Even after archiving, you can still export messages and flow runs using the standard export tools.
Use date range filters to target the timeframe you need.
[CAPTURE: Messages export dialog showing date range options.]
If your integrations use the API to retrieve historical data:
- Messages and flow runs older than 90 days are no longer available via standard endpoints.
- You must switch to the Archives API endpoint to retrieve older data.
[CAPTURE: Developer documentation showing archive-related API endpoints.]
Common Issues & Fixes
I can’t find older messages or flow runs
Explanation: Items older than 90 days are archived automatically.
Fix: Download them from Account → Archives.
My API integration stopped returning older data
Possible cause: Your integration is still using standard endpoints.
Fix: Update your integration to use the Archives API endpoint for data older than 90 days.
Can I disable archiving?
Answer: No. Archiving is automatic and cannot be disabled.