How to access archived Class Teams in Microsoft – Where have my classes gone? 

Archived Class Teams keep things clutter-free. When a new school year begins, teachers and students need to focus on fresh classes, new timetables and priorities. Archiving old Class Teams is a good thing, it clears away last year’s clutter and removes Teams that no longer sync with your MIS data. 

But what if you still need access to those valuable lesson resources, assignments and Class Notebooks?  

You might wish to grab a resource or check an assignment from a previous class team.  

The good news is you can still reach them, and there are even smarter ways to do it. 

We’ve been supporting schools to work smarter in Microsoft 365, SharePoint and Teams for 10 years, so we know how important accessing old Class Teams is for students and teachers.  

We know that they still hold valuable lesson resources, assignments, feedback and Class Notebooks. Teachers often need to refer to them when planning, while students sometimes need access for revision or to fill gaps in their learning. The good news is that you can still get to your archived Class Teams. The even better news is that there are smarter ways to do it. 

Keep reading to find out:  

• What are archived Class Teams? 

• Why accessing archived Class Teams matters 

• How to find archived Class Teams 

Darren Hemming – our Chief of Operations – shows you how to access archived Class Teams in this helpful video guide:  

What are archived Class Teams? 

Each academic year, Microsoft Teams automatically archives old Class Teams. Archived Class Teams are no longer active for new teaching, but all the content is still there.  

Archiving Class Teams helps keep your current channels tidy and focused on the new school year. Meanwhile, teachers and students can go back to see past conversations, assignments, feedback, files and Class Notebooks. 

Why accessing archived Class Teams matters 

There are many reasons why you may want to access archived Class Teams in Microsoft: 

Teaching and learning continuity  

Many teachers like to reuse last year’s resources or adapt them for new groups. Being able to open an old Class Team means you can quickly find lesson plans, files and assignments without having to start from scratch.  

Accessing old Class Teams channels saves planning time and helps you build on what worked well. 

Reducing staff workload 

If you are spending the beginning of the term, hunting around for last year’s materials, that adds unnecessary pressure to an already overwhelming time.  

A simple, reliable way of finding archived Teams helps teachers and support staff focus on teaching and supporting students. 

Supporting students 

For many pupils, being able to go back into last year’s Class Notebook or assignments allows them to revisit feedback, refresh their understanding or catch up on work they may have missed.  

Referring back to previous Class Teams can make a real difference with revision and contribute to better learning outcomes. 

How to find archived Class Teams – where are my Class Teams?  

There are two main ways to get to your archived Class Teams:  

Use the Cloud Design Box Class Dashboard to access archived Class Teams 

For schools and trusts using Cloud Design Box, the Class Dashboard makes the whole process much simpler. It acts like a time machine, letting staff and students switch between academic years in just one click. 

From the dashboard, you can: 

• Jump straight into old Class Notebooks. 

• Reopen previous Class Teams without hunting through menus. 

• Save time at the start of the term when the workload is already high. 

• Help students quickly find the right class for the right year. 

This approach is faster, more reliable and reduces frustration for both staff and learners. 

Using Microsoft Teams to access archived Class Teams 

There is also a way to access the archived Class Teams app without any extra tools: 

1. Open Microsoft Teams. 

2. Tap on the three dots next to your Teams and Channels. 

3. From the dropdown, select Archived Teams. 

4. You’ll now see your old Class Teams. You can still access conversations, announcements, assignments and Class Notebooks from previous years. 

You can access old Class Teams this way, but it can take time to dig around for the right class and academic year. 

If you want a more straightforward way to manage archived Class Teams in your school or trust, the Cloud Design Box Class Dashboard gives you the tools to do it. It saves time, creates consistency and makes life easier for everyone. 

Discover how Cloud Design Box can help your school or trust make the most of Microsoft Teams.