Microsoft 365 | Email Archiving

Announcing Email Archiving. Starting December 26, 2024, active email accounts will have the “AutoArchive” feature applied.  The "AutoArchive" feature in Outlook automatically moves old emails from your inbox to a separate archive folder, helping manage mailbox space by removing items that have reached a specified age limit.  The purpose of this change is to free up storage space and ensure better email management.

Here are the key details:

What:

• Older emails will be automatically stored in a separate archive folder called “In-Place Archive – StarID@minnstate.edu”.

• Emails older than 9 months (280 days) will automatically be transferred to your In-Place Archive, freeing up space in your primary Inbox.

• Any existing folder structure you have created for managing your emails will be replicated in your In-Place Archive.

When:

• Auto Archiving already started in early November for inactive accounts.

• The feature will be rolled out to active accounts over the upcoming Winter Break, beginning December 26, 2024.

Why:

This is a necessary action, as our IT system doesn’t have unlimited storage. Some users have worked with Minnesota State for many years, and thus understandably have substantially large email boxes.  By implementing this change, we can move data to a system with more storage capacity while still maintaining easy access to your data.

Impact:

Users should experience minimal impact from this change. The archive will replicate your existing folder structure, ensuring continuity. Additionally, the Search function will automatically include both your Inbox and Archive folders when performing a search.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we make this transition. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.