How to archive a Google Classroom class (and reuse it next year)
Quick answer
- On your Classroom homepage, find the class in the Classes section.
- On the class card, click More (⋮) › Archive › Archive.
The class becomes read-only for everyone and moves to Archived classes (Menu ≡ › Archived classes). Nothing is deleted: Drive files and student work stay in Drive. To bring the work into a new class, use Copy on the class card or Reuse post inside the new class.
New homepage, new place to look. Since July 2026 the Classroom homepage is a dashboard, with your class cards in a Classes section near the bottom. Older screenshots that show a "Classes page" grid still work the same way: the More (⋮) menu on each card is where archive, copy and restore live.
Archive a class
Teachers and co-teachers can archive.
On a computer: class card More (⋮) › Archive › Archive. You can now select several classes and archive them at once.
On Android or iPhone: class card More › Archive, or open the class › Settings › scroll to the bottom › Archive.
What archiving does:
- The class is read-only for everyone until it's restored. No new posts, comments or turn-ins.
- Students can still open it and see their work.
- Drive files and student work stay in Drive.
- The class calendar stays in Google Calendar until someone removes it.
Find, restore or delete an archived class
- Find it: Menu (≡) › Archived classes.
- Restore it: archived class card More › Restore › Restore. It becomes active again for everyone.
- Delete it: archived class card More › Delete › Delete. Primary teacher only, and permanent.
Reuse last year's class: two ways
Option 1: Copy the whole class (best for a new year)
On a computer, class card More › Copy, change the name if you like, then Copy. You'll get an email when it's ready. You can copy an archived class; the copy is active.
| Comes with the copy | Doesn't |
|---|---|
| Title, section, description, subject | Students and co-teachers |
| Topics | Grades |
| Assignments, quizzes and questions, as drafts | Announcements, comments and student posts |
| Materials and attachments you're allowed to copy | Room number and general settings |
| Rubrics, grading system and categories | The class code (the copy gets a new one) |
Because assignments come in as drafts, nothing reaches students until you open each one, set new dates and click Assign. Use this to stagger the year: schedule September now, the rest later.
Option 2: Reuse one post at a time (best for a few favorites)
In the new class, go to Classwork › Create › Reuse post, pick the old class, pick the post, then click Reuse. Tick Create new copies of all attachments so this year's class doesn't share files with last year's. Step-by-step guide.
End-of-term checklist
- Return all work so students can edit their files again.
- Export or record final grades (Grades tab, or your school's sync).
- Copy the class if you'll teach it again, before you archive.
- Archive. Students keep read-only access to their work.
- Delete only classes you're sure you'll never need; archiving is safer.
Questions teachers ask
Does archiving delete student work?
No. The class becomes read-only, but class files and student work stay in Google Drive and you can still open the class from Archived classes.
Where do archived classes go?
On a computer: open Menu (≡) › Archived classes, or expand Archived classes at the bottom of the Classes section on your homepage. The menu item only appears once you have archived at least one class.
How do I delete a class?
Archive it first, then on the archived class card click More › Delete › Delete. Only the primary teacher can delete a class, and it can't be undone. Files stay in the class Drive folder.
Can students leave an archived class?
No. Students can't unenroll from an archived class. Restore it first if a student needs to leave.
Does Copy class bring the students too?
No. A copied class has no students, co-teachers, grades, announcements or comments. It gets a new class code, and copied assignments arrive as drafts.