Archive a domain's incoming and outgoing email in cPanel

cPanel's Archive feature keeps copies of the messages the server processes for a domain. It can support an internal retention policy, but it does not capture messages sent through another provider that never pass through this server.

Set the scope and retention

In cPanel > Archive, find the domain and select which types of email you want to keep: incoming, outgoing and, where relevant, outgoing mailing list email. Review separately the option that sets defaults for new domains; do not confuse it with changing a single existing domain.

Choose the retention you need and check the space available. The copies use hosting storage. A shorter retention can delete messages you still need from the archive: check your organisation's policy before changing it.

The archive starts collecting the relevant mail flow once it is turned on. It does not automatically rebuild old messages or turn content that was already in the mailboxes into archived mail.

Access the archive

From the same screen you can get the access details, open webmail or download the content. The special login uses archive@your-domain with the main cPanel password, according to the documented configuration of this feature. Copy the secure values your account shows.

Do not share that password with anyone who only needs to read a mailbox: it gives other administrative access to the service. Limit who can download or keep the archive.

If you sign in over IMAP or webmail, check the subscription to the archive folders and how they are split by date. A folder you cannot see is not necessarily empty. The usage shown may lag behind newly processed messages.

Check that it is collecting what you expect

Test incoming and outgoing mail with your own accounts and find both copies. In Track Delivery you can see the archiving action as well as the original delivery; they are not necessarily two sends to the recipient.

A copy stored on the same hosting does not protect you against every incident affecting that account. If you need independent retention, download and verify the archive or use the solution set out in your policy. The feature does not, on its own, prove immutability or regulatory compliance either.