In-org archival and mass delete
Key Takeaway
Deleting removes data permanently. An archive policy in the Archive app moves old records out of live storage but keeps them viewable, searchable, and restorable in Salesforce.
When an org's storage gets close to its limit, the org slows down and can eventually block new records. Admins shrink live data in two main ways: they delete it with Mass Delete Records, or they archive it with the Archive app. The choice matters because deleted data is gone, but archived data stays available inside Salesforce.
Why storage limits matter
When an org goes over 80% of its storage limit, reports, dashboard refreshes, global search, and indexing can slow down. At 100% usage, full system errors occur, such as blocked record creation. To fix the problem, an admin can delete data or archive it.