---
title: "Archiving Group Data"
slug: "archiving-group-data"
updated: 2026-08-05T06:09:24Z
published: 2026-08-05T06:09:24Z
canonical: "docs.smarsh.com/archiving-group-data"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smarsh.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Archiving Group Data

You can archive text, images, voice messages, videos, files, location, emoji, and call records.

When archiving group chat emails, if the number of recipients exceeds 50, the extra recipients are shown in the email body.

For example:

- TO (Recipients list): wx00001, wx00003, wx00004…wx00050
- Email Body: wx00051, wx00052

## WeChat Group (Third-Party Group)

A group originally created by a standard WeChat user. Regardless of whether a WeCom employee is invited to join or if ownership is later transferred to a WeCom user, it remains classified as a WeChat Group.

- **Creator:** WeChat user.
- **Members:** WeChat users and WeCom employees.
- **Data Access:** No access. WeCom cannot retrieve group information through API and cannot classify it as an External Group, even after ownership transfer.
- **Constraint:** These groups are personal assets of the WeChat user, not company assets.

The following is an example of WeChat Group email:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Example_WeChat.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)

- If a WeChat user adds a WeCom user to a group, a WeCom logo will appear on top. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 1.53.02 AM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)
- WeCom users who have an Archiving Subscription will notify WeChat members that their messages are archived by default. Members can refuse archiving by disagreeing with the Terms and Conditions. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 1.53.09 AM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)

## WeCom Customer/External Group

A group created by a WeCom employee that includes at least one member who is a WeChat user.

- **Creator:** WeCom employee.
- **Members:** Mix of WeCom employees and WeChat users.
- **Data Access:** Accessible via the company's WeCom API — the company retains ownership of the group relationship.
- **Use Case:** Customer support, sales channels, partner collaboration.

The following is an example of WeChat Customer or External Group:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Example_Customer_External_group.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)

- In a WeCom customer or external group with a WeCom user having an Archiving Subscription, external WeChat users will be notified of mandatory message archiving. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 1.53.16 AM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)
- Members can choose to refuse archiving, which allows them to disagree with message archiving and leave the group chat. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 1.53.23 AM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)

## WeCom (Internal) Group

A group created by a WeCom employee where all members are internal employees of the same enterprise.

- **Creator:** WeCom employee.
- **Members:** Exclusively internal staff.
- **Data Access:** Accessible via the company's WeCom API.
- **Use Case:** Internal team collaboration, departmental announcements, project coordination.

The following image is an example WeCom internal group:

![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Internal_Group.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)

- In a WeCom Internal Group, chat archiving is mandatory when the organization turns on Archiving.
- Users who join a WeCom Internal Group are notified with the following message, indicating that the chat history will be archived. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/20248637-fef6-4111-82b6-c3bf43c0155e/Images/Documentation/Screenshot 2025-08-24 at 1.53.37 AM.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-28T18%3A50%3A44Z&se=2026-10-28T19%3A50%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=3trM9uoSPRLm3kSKqfdOT64JjiOwmfJRs29Nkv2iEIc%3D)