MC1325441 Stay informedUpdated messageNew featureUser impactAdmin impact

(Updated) Microsoft Purview | Data Lifecycle Management - Archive SharePoint files under retention

Microsoft Purview Microsoft 365 admin center

Versions captured by this deployment. Earlier versions and notices may be missing; first observed is not first published.

Ends: 11 Jan 2027
Roadmap: 561208
Platforms: Web

Rollout dates are often only in the text. When Microsoft moves them, the change shows under "What changed".

Microsoft's start date: 28 May 2026
Last changed by Microsoft: 12 Oct 2026
First seen here: 19 Oct 2026
Versions seen: 1

What the notice says

Microsoft's text, with its sections, lists and tables; source markup removed

Updated October 12, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

What and Why

Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management is introducing the ability to archive SharePoint files based on retention policies. This feature helps organizations reduce storage costs by moving inactive content to Microsoft 365 Archive while maintaining compliance and discoverability. By excluding archived content from Copilot indexing, organizations can also improve the relevance and quality of Copilot responses, ensuring users focus on current, active data.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 561208.

Rollout Schedule

Public Preview: We will begin rolling out early September 2026 (previously mid-August) and expect to complete by early October 2026 (previously early September).

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early November 2026 (previously early October) and is expected to complete by early December 2026 (previously early November).

Impact on Your Organization

Who is affected

Admins managing Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management
Organizations using retention policies in SharePoint Online and OneDrive

Platforms/ServicesPlatforms/Services

Microsoft Purview (Data Lifecycle Management)
SharePoint Online
Microsoft 365 Archive
Microsoft Copilot

What will happen

A new Archive option will be available within retention policy settings in Data Lifecycle Management.
Admins can configure retention policies to move inactive files to Microsoft 365 Archive storage.
Archived files remain available for compliance scenarios, including eDiscovery.
Archived content will be excluded from Copilot indexing, helping improve answer relevance.
This feature is not enabled by default and requires admin configuration.
Existing retention policies and compliance configurations remain unchanged unless updated by admins.

Action Required / Recommendations

No immediate action is required.

To prepare and take advantage of this feature:

Review your current retention policies in Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management.
Evaluate opportunities to reduce storage costs by archiving inactive content.
Update retention policies to include the new Archive option where appropriate.
Inform compliance and records management stakeholders about this new capability.
Review internal documentation and processes related to data lifecycle and storage optimization.

Compliance Considerations

Question	Answer
Does the change store new customer data?	Yes. Archived files are stored in Microsoft 365 Archive (low-cost storage tier).
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?	Yes. Files meeting retention criteria can be moved from active storage to archive storage while remaining discoverable.
Does the change introduce or modify AI/ML capabilities interacting with data?	Yes. Archived content is excluded from Copilot indexing, influencing how Copilot processes and retrieves organizational data.
Does the change modify Purview retention policies or workflows?	Yes. Adds a new Archive action within retention policy configuration in Data Lifecycle Management.
Does the change affect eDiscovery or Content Search?	Yes. Archived content remains discoverable for compliance workflows such as eDiscovery.
Does the change include an admin control?	Yes. Admins configure and enable the feature through retention policy settings in Purview.

561208

What changed

Between the versions this installation saw, newest first

This installation has seen one version of this notice, first on 19 Oct 2026. Later changes will show here.

Linked documentation

Microsoft pages the notice links to

The notice links to no Microsoft Learn or Support page that this installation reads.

Not confirmed here

What this page cannot tell you

Whether your tenant is affected: this is Microsoft's notice, not a check of your settings.
Versions before 19 Oct 2026: this installation first saw the notice after Microsoft posted it.