# Difference between archiving a choice property and disabling it in a form **URL:** \ **Category:** Tips, Tricks & Best Practices\ **Tags:** marketing\ **Created:** [October 7, 2026, 8:23am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147 "2026-10-07T08:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moya2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@moya2](https://community.hubspot.com/u/moya2)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 8:23am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/1 "2026-10-07T08:23:18Z")
You can register multiple options for a choice-type property. In that case, I think each option can be archived. If you archive a few options and then reopen the property settings, they are categorized as “Enabled Options” rather than “Archived.” Their position in the list is at the very bottom, and their display within the form is turned off. What is the difference between “Display in Form: Off” and “Archived” for an option? ---
**Author:** ![Berangere](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/berangere/32/220784_2.png) [@Berangere](https://community.hubspot.com/u/Berangere)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 10:26am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/3 "2026-10-07T10:26:22Z")
Hi @moya2 and Happy Wednesday! Thanks for asking the HubSpot Community! 🧡 I’d love to hear form our Top Experts: Hi @danmoyle, @CHawkins and @HFisher7 do you have any tips to help @moya2, please? In the meantime, here are some resources that can help: - [Properties API - HubSpot docs](https://developers.hubspot.com/docs/api-reference/latest/crm/properties/guide) - [Manage enumeration property options](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/properties/manage-enumeration-property-options#archive-enumeration-options) Thanks so much and have a fantastic day! Bérangère ---
**Author:** ![CHawkins](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/chawkins/32/87643_2.png) [@CHawkins](https://community.hubspot.com/u/CHawkins)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/5 "2026-10-07T14:03:07Z")
Hi @moya2! Great question, these two look similar but they do different jobs. **Display in form: Off** This only controls forms. The option stays fully active everywhere else, so your team can still pick it on records, and it works in workflows, imports, filters, and reports like any other value. Use this when a value is valid internally but you don’t want prospects choosing it, like “Existing customer” on a lead form. **Archived** This retires the value. It’s hidden so nobody can select it going forward, but records that already have it keep it, and it still shows up in reports and segments so your historical data doesn’t break. Use this for legacy values you want to phase out without wiping history. On what you’re seeing: archived options should move to a separate **Archived options** tab in the property editor (Field type tab), not stay in the main list. That’s also where you restore them. If yours are still sitting at the bottom of the enabled list with forms toggled off, I’d double check that tab and make sure you clicked Save after archiving, since the change doesn’t stick until you save. One more thing worth knowing: changes to property options don’t automatically sync to existing forms built in the newer form editor. So if you’re trying to pull an option off a live form, you’ll want to edit that form field directly too. HubSpot’s walkthrough for both is here: [Manage enumeration property options](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/properties/manage-enumeration-property-options) Thanks for the tag @Berangere 🧡 ---
**Author:** ![JayaSinha](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/jayasinha/32/229101_2.png) [@JayaSinha](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JayaSinha)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/6 "2026-10-07T16:49:53Z")
Hello @moya2 , The two settings are separate options in the property editor. The “In forms” switch is used to prevent an option from being used in forms. If you leave it on, the option appears in your forms. HubSpot notes that changes to this switch don’t sync to existing (non-legacy) forms. Archiving is done by selecting the options in the table and clicking Archive, and you can unarchive them later. HubSpot says other tools that display property data, such as reports and segments, will still display archived options. If the editor shows archived options differently from this, I’d send a screenshot to HubSpot Support from the Help menu. With Regards, Jaya Sinha. ---
**Author:** ![danmoyle](https://d10pqhm3lwygmk.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/community.hubspot.com/danmoyle/32/91166_2.png) [@danmoyle](https://community.hubspot.com/u/danmoyle)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/7 "2026-10-07T19:49:35Z")
@moya2 I think the difference is simply archive means it will be deleted (including data in your CRM it has stored), whereas disabling it in forms means you can no longer include it on your HubSpot forms. This would allow you to keep the properties, and add your own data to them, but your website visitors wouldn’t be able to input data in forms. ---
**Author:** ![JHay4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@JHay4](https://community.hubspot.com/u/JHay4)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2026, 7:09am UTC](https://community.hubspot.com/t/topic/161147/9 "2026-10-08T07:09:55Z")
I see people mix these two up all the time, and the replies here disagree, so here’s how it works. “In forms” off only hides the option on forms. Archiving stops anyone picking that option going forward, but records that already have the value keep it. Reports and segments still show it too. To archive or restore: - Click the settings icon, then Properties - Hover the property and click Edit - Open the Field type tab - Tick the options, then click Archive - To undo it, open the Archived options tab, tick them, click Restore One catch: option changes don’t sync to existing forms in the newer form editor, so check your live forms afterward. Works on all HubSpot plans. Hope that clears it up for you! Help article (has screenshots): [Manage enumeration property options](https://knowledge.hubspot.com/properties/manage-enumeration-property-options)