What You Need to Know

The Online Archive will move all your Outlook content that is more than four (4) years old to a new, dedicated archive mailbox named “Online Archive.” 

Items archived will include emails, Calendar items, Notes, and Tasks that are more than four years old. Note that in Outlook on the Web, Microsoft calls it the “In-Place Archive.”

The Online Archive is a separate mailbox from your current Inbox—but you will still access it in Outlook.

You can easily search both your Inbox and the Online Archive for Outlook items.

Online Archive is a required feature that cannot be undone, once implemented. 

The Online Archive is a cloud-based mailbox, distinct from any pre-existing email “Archive” folders containing archived messages in a device-based mailbox file. 

The Online Archive process, once initiated, may happen gradually. 

It may take many days for eligible Outlook items to fully migrate to the Online Archive mailbox after the implementation date.

To learn more, visit the IT@Cornell webpage, Outlook Online Archive.

Get Started with Online Archive Sooner, or Set a Different Retention Period

A self-service form will be available starting Tuesday, September 8, 2025. 

Use this form to turn on your Online Archive sooner than October 12 and to set a shorter retention period than 4 years. (4 years is the maximum value that content can be retained once the Online Archive has been enabled.) The form will allow you to set your retention period to 1, 2, 3, or 4 years.

Why Is Cornell Making This Change?

The Outlook Online Archive will improve mailbox performance and accessibility, ensure compliance with existing data retention policies, and reduce the cost of Cornell’s email storage and management.

The Online Archive was piloted in Spring 2025 for CIT and other IT staff, providing valuable information about its impact to Cornell customers.

If you have concerns or questions, contact the Email Services at email-online-archive@cornell.edu.