MC1215074 - SharePoint Embedded apps can now archive containers to reduce storage costs and improve Copilot results
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Last Updated
Published Jan 8, 2026
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Summary
SharePoint Embedded apps now support container archival to reduce storage costs by up to 75% and improve Copilot search relevance. Rollout begins February 2026. Admins must opt in via PowerShell and update apps to manage archived containers using new Graph APIs and SharePoint Admin Center options.
More information
Updated February 4, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
Non-Microsoft SharePoint Embedded applications now support container archival. This feature helps organizations reduce storage costs by up to 75% by moving large or inactive content to low-cost storage tiers. It also improves Copilot search relevance by prioritizing active content and reducing noise from outdated data.
When this will happen:
- Public Preview: Rollout will begin in early February 2026 and is expected to complete by mid-March 2026 (previously late February).
How this affects your organization:
Who is affected: Admins managing SharePoint Embedded applications and developers integrating with SharePoint Embedded APIs.
What will happen:
- New Graph APIs will be available to archive and unarchive containers, enabling integration with your application workflows.
- SharePoint Admin Center will include options to archive and reactivate containers alongside existing container management capabilities.
- Archival support is OFF by default. To enable this functionality, you must opt in using a PowerShell cmdlet.
What you can do to prepare:
- Enable archival support by running the appropriate PowerShell cmdlet:
- For a new container type: Use
New-SPOContainerTypewith the parameter-IsArchiveEnabled. Learn more: New-SPOContainerType (Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell) | Microsoft Learn. - For an existing container type: Use
Set-SPOContainerTypewith the parameter-IsArchiveEnabled. Learn more: Set-SPOContainerType (Microsoft.Online.SharePoint.PowerShell) | Microsoft Learn.
- For a new container type: Use
- Update your application to handle archived container status and display appropriate messaging to end users.
- Optionally, expose archival and reactivation options in your application interface.
- Review documentation for Graph API integration and PowerShell cmdlet usage.
Compliance considerations:
No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.