How to Archive Files with Squirrel

2 min read

Squirrel makes archiving old or unneeded files simple for end users, directly from SharePoint.

This guide shows you how to archive a file using Squirrel’s Self Service Archiving feature.

What happens when you archive a file?

When you archive a file using Squirrel:

The file is automatically moved from SharePoint to long-term, low-cost storage.
A stub file replaces the original. This looks identical but contains a link to restore the file when needed.
The file no longer consumes space in your SharePoint quota.

In the SharePoint document library, locate the Archive button in the file row.
Click the Archive button.

The file will be removed from SharePoint and a stub file will appear in its place.
The stub file can later be used to restore the original file when required.

Archived files are securely stored and can be restored by clicking the stub file at any time.
Archiving helps free up valuable SharePoint storage space.
If you do not see the Archive button, your administrator may need to enable this feature for your site.

Q: Can I archive multiple files at once?

This depends on how your administrator has configured Squirrel. Generally, archiving is performed one file at a time.

Q: Where do archived files go?

Archived files are securely stored in Azure Blob Storage archive location, but are available in the Squirrel System, which is configured by your IT team.

Q: Can I still access archived files?

Yes — simply open the stub file and use the restore link to bring the file back when needed.

Q: What if I delete the stub file?

If the stub file is deleted, your IT administrator can still restore the file from the archive.