diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index de17025..1fe1262 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ The project is under active development. Core blogging workflows are broadly ava
 ## Available Features
 
 - Native Iced desktop workspace with localized menus, tabs, anchored editor popovers, automatically paged post/media sidebars, dialogs, tasks, embedded Wry previews, and a live Pico CSS theme editor.
-- Post and translation authoring with change-aware draft/published lifecycle, in-place published-frontmatter updates, metadata, tags, categories, links, media, and batch gallery-image import.
+- Post and translation authoring with change-aware draft/published/archive lifecycle, explicit unarchive, in-place published-frontmatter updates, metadata, tags, categories, links, media, and batch gallery-image import.
 - Media import, thumbnails, metadata translations, filters, validation, post assignment, and sequential drag-and-drop insertion into post editors.
 - WordPress WXR migration with saved analyses, HTML-to-Markdown and shortcode conversion, conflict/taxonomy review, recoverable 500-item execution batches, media-parent linking, progress reporting, and optional AI-assisted taxonomy mapping.
 - Post, Liquid template, and Lua script editing with dedicated syntax highlighting and explicit syntax-check feedback, including publish-time enforcement of the bDS2 Liquid tag/filter/operator subset, using a custom Ropey/Syntect/Cosmic Text editor and the documented, bDS2-signature-compatible project-scoped [`bds` host API](docs/scripting/API_REFERENCE.md) across utilities, rendered macros, and Blogmark transforms, including airplane-gated Git sync.
diff --git a/crates/bds-core/src/engine/post.rs b/crates/bds-core/src/engine/post.rs
index cdf307b..2813551 100644
--- a/crates/bds-core/src/engine/post.rs
+++ b/crates/bds-core/src/engine/post.rs
@@ -199,17 +199,6 @@ pub fn update_post(
             post.content = published_body;
         }
         post.status = PostStatus::Draft;
-    } else if post.status == PostStatus::Archived {
-        if post.content.is_none() && !post.file_path.is_empty() {
-            let abs_path = data_dir.join(&post.file_path);
-            if abs_path.exists()
-                && let Ok(file_content) = fs::read_to_string(&abs_path)
-                && let Ok((_fm, body)) = read_post_file(&file_content)
-            {
-                post.content = Some(body);
-            }
-        }
-        post.status = PostStatus::Draft;
     }
 
     post.updated_at = now_unix_ms();
@@ -389,26 +378,47 @@ pub fn archive_post(conn: &Connection, data_dir: &Path, post_id: &str) -> Engine
             "post is already archived".to_string(),
         ));
     }
-    // Reload content from filesystem if transitioning from published (content is NULL)
-    if post.status == PostStatus::Published && post.content.is_none() && !post.file_path.is_empty()
-    {
-        let abs_path = data_dir.join(&post.file_path);
-        if abs_path.exists()
-            && let Ok(file_content) = fs::read_to_string(&abs_path)
-            && let Ok((_fm, body)) = read_post_file(&file_content)
-        {
-            post.content = Some(body);
-            qp::update_post(conn, &post)?;
-        }
-    }
     let now = now_unix_ms();
-    qp::update_post_status(conn, post_id, &PostStatus::Archived, now)?;
     post.status = PostStatus::Archived;
+    post.updated_at = now;
+    qp::update_post(conn, &post)?;
+    fts_index_post(conn, data_dir, &post)?;
     emit_post(&post, NotificationAction::Updated);
     crate::engine::embedding::sync_post_best_effort(conn, data_dir, &post);
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Restore an archived post to an editable draft.
+pub fn unarchive_post(conn: &Connection, data_dir: &Path, post_id: &str) -> EngineResult<Post> {
+    let mut post = qp::get_post_by_id(conn, post_id)?;
+    if post.status != PostStatus::Archived {
+        return Err(EngineError::Conflict(
+            "cannot unarchive a post that is not archived".to_string(),
+        ));
+    }
+
+    post.content = Some(restore_content_for_unarchive(data_dir, &post));
+    post.status = PostStatus::Draft;
+    post.updated_at = now_unix_ms();
+    qp::update_post(conn, &post)?;
+    fts_index_post(conn, data_dir, &post)?;
+    emit_post(&post, NotificationAction::Updated);
+    crate::engine::embedding::sync_post_best_effort(conn, data_dir, &post);
+    Ok(post)
+}
+
+fn restore_content_for_unarchive(data_dir: &Path, post: &Post) -> String {
+    post.content.clone().unwrap_or_else(|| {
+        if post.file_path.is_empty() {
+            return String::new();
+        }
+        fs::read_to_string(data_dir.join(&post.file_path))
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|raw| read_post_file(&raw).ok().map(|(_, body)| body))
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    })
+}
+
 /// Discard unpublished draft changes and restore the published version.
 pub fn discard_post_draft(conn: &Connection, data_dir: &Path, post_id: &str) -> EngineResult<Post> {
     let mut post = qp::get_post_by_id(conn, post_id)?;
@@ -2370,6 +2380,65 @@ mod tests {
 
         let from_db = qp::get_post_by_id(db.conn(), &post.id).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(from_db.status, PostStatus::Archived);
+        assert_eq!(from_db.content, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn update_archived_post_keeps_archived_status() {
+        let (db, dir) = setup();
+        let post = create_post(
+            db.conn(),
+            dir.path(),
+            "p1",
+            "Archived",
+            Some("draft body"),
+            vec![],
+            vec![],
+            None,
+            None,
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        archive_post(db.conn(), dir.path(), &post.id).unwrap();
+
+        let updated = update_post(
+            db.conn(),
+            dir.path(),
+            &post.id,
+            Some("Changed while archived"),
+            None,
+            None,
+            Some("changed body"),
+            None,
+            None,
+            None,
+            None,
+            None,
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(updated.status, PostStatus::Archived);
+        assert_eq!(updated.title, "Changed while archived");
+        assert_eq!(updated.content.as_deref(), Some("changed body"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn unarchive_published_post_restores_body_from_file() {
+        let (db, dir) = setup();
+        let post = create_published_post(&db, &dir, "Published", "file body");
+        archive_post(db.conn(), dir.path(), &post.id).unwrap();
+        let archived = qp::get_post_by_id(db.conn(), &post.id).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(archived.content, None);
+
+        let unarchived = unarchive_post(db.conn(), dir.path(), &post.id).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(unarchived.status, PostStatus::Draft);
+        assert_eq!(unarchived.content.as_deref(), Some("file body"));
+        assert!(unarchived.updated_at >= archived.updated_at);
+        let from_db = qp::get_post_by_id(db.conn(), &post.id).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(from_db.status, PostStatus::Draft);
+        assert_eq!(from_db.content.as_deref(), Some("file body"));
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/bds-core/tests/domain_events.rs b/crates/bds-core/tests/domain_events.rs
index 2da4100..a8a52b5 100644
--- a/crates/bds-core/tests/domain_events.rs
+++ b/crates/bds-core/tests/domain_events.rs
@@ -335,6 +335,20 @@ fn representative_shared_mutations_emit_exactly_one_typed_event_each() {
         &post.id,
         NotificationAction::Updated,
     );
+    bds_core::engine::post::archive_post(db.conn(), dir.path(), &post.id).unwrap();
+    assert_one_entity_event(
+        &subscription,
+        DomainEntity::Post,
+        &post.id,
+        NotificationAction::Updated,
+    );
+    bds_core::engine::post::unarchive_post(db.conn(), dir.path(), &post.id).unwrap();
+    assert_one_entity_event(
+        &subscription,
+        DomainEntity::Post,
+        &post.id,
+        NotificationAction::Updated,
+    );
 
     bds_core::engine::media::update_media(
         db.conn(),
diff --git a/crates/bds-ui/src/app.rs b/crates/bds-ui/src/app.rs
index b593d7c..40aac89 100644
--- a/crates/bds-ui/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/bds-ui/src/app.rs
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ fn persist_post_editor_preview_state_impl(
             Some(state.template_slug.clone())
         };
         post.do_not_translate = state.do_not_translate;
-        if matches!(post.status, PostStatus::Published | PostStatus::Archived) {
+        if post.status == PostStatus::Published {
             post.status = PostStatus::Draft;
         }
         post.updated_at = bds_core::util::now_unix_ms();
@@ -6875,6 +6875,33 @@ impl BdsApp {
         Task::none()
     }
 
+    fn unarchive_post_editor(&mut self, post_id: &str) -> Task<Message> {
+        if let Err(error) = self.persist_post_editor_state(post_id) {
+            self.notify_operation_failed("editor.unarchive", error);
+            return Task::none();
+        }
+        let (Some(db), Some(data_dir)) = (self.db.as_ref(), self.data_dir.as_ref()) else {
+            return Task::none();
+        };
+        match engine::post::unarchive_post(db.conn(), data_dir, post_id) {
+            Ok(post) => {
+                if let Some(editor) = self.post_editors.get_mut(post_id) {
+                    editor.content = post.content.clone().unwrap_or_default();
+                    editor.status = post.status;
+                    editor.updated_at = post.updated_at;
+                    editor.is_dirty = false;
+                    editor.last_edit_at_ms = 0;
+                }
+                if let Some(tab) = self.tabs.iter_mut().find(|tab| tab.id == post_id) {
+                    tab.is_dirty = false;
+                }
+                self.notify(ToastLevel::Success, &t(self.ui_locale, "editor.unarchived"));
+            }
+            Err(error) => self.notify_operation_failed("editor.unarchive", error),
+        }
+        Task::none()
+    }
+
     fn delete_media_editor(&mut self, media_id: &str) -> Task<Message> {
         let Some(db) = &self.db else {
             return Task::none();
@@ -10803,6 +10830,86 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn preview_persist_keeps_archived_canonical_post_archived() {
+        let (db, project, tmp) = setup();
+        let created = post::create_post(
+            db.conn(),
+            tmp.path(),
+            &project.id,
+            "Archived",
+            Some("Body"),
+            Vec::new(),
+            vec!["article".to_string()],
+            None,
+            Some("en"),
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        post::archive_post(db.conn(), tmp.path(), &created.id).unwrap();
+        let archived = bds_core::db::queries::post::get_post_by_id(db.conn(), &created.id).unwrap();
+        let mut editor = PostEditorState::from_post(
+            &archived,
+            "preview",
+            &["en".to_string()],
+            &[],
+            Vec::new(),
+            Vec::new(),
+            Vec::new(),
+        );
+        editor.title = "Changed while archived".to_string();
+
+        let result = persist_post_editor_preview_state_impl(&db, &editor).unwrap();
+
+        match result {
+            PersistedPostState::Canonical(post) => {
+                assert_eq!(post.status, PostStatus::Archived);
+                assert_eq!(post.title, "Changed while archived");
+            }
+            PersistedPostState::Translation(_) => panic!("expected canonical post save"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn post_editor_unarchive_action_restores_draft_and_body() {
+        let (db, project, tmp) = setup();
+        let created = post::create_post(
+            db.conn(),
+            tmp.path(),
+            &project.id,
+            "Archived",
+            Some("File body"),
+            Vec::new(),
+            Vec::new(),
+            None,
+            Some("en"),
+            None,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        post::publish_post(db.conn(), tmp.path(), &created.id).unwrap();
+        post::archive_post(db.conn(), tmp.path(), &created.id).unwrap();
+        let archived = bds_core::db::queries::post::get_post_by_id(db.conn(), &created.id).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(archived.content, None);
+
+        let mut app = make_app(db, project, &tmp);
+        open_post_editor(&mut app, &archived);
+        let _ = app.handle_post_editor_msg(PostEditorMsg::Unarchive);
+
+        let from_db = bds_core::db::queries::post::get_post_by_id(
+            app.db.as_ref().unwrap().conn(),
+            &created.id,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(from_db.status, PostStatus::Draft);
+        assert_eq!(from_db.content.as_deref(), Some("File body"));
+        assert_eq!(app.post_editors[&created.id].status, PostStatus::Draft);
+        assert_eq!(app.post_editors[&created.id].content, "File body");
+        assert!(app.toasts.iter().any(|toast| {
+            toast.level == ToastLevel::Success
+                && toast.message == t(UiLocale::En, "editor.unarchived")
+        }));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn preview_persist_bypasses_fts_for_translation_updates() {
         let (db, project, tmp) = setup();
diff --git a/crates/bds-ui/src/app/editor_handlers.rs b/crates/bds-ui/src/app/editor_handlers.rs
index 692921c..7d7743a 100644
--- a/crates/bds-ui/src/app/editor_handlers.rs
+++ b/crates/bds-ui/src/app/editor_handlers.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ impl BdsApp {
             },
             Save(String),
             Publish(String),
+            Unarchive(String),
             Discard(String),
             ShowDelete {
                 tab_id: String,
@@ -208,6 +209,9 @@ impl BdsApp {
                 PostEditorMsg::Publish => {
                     deferred = DeferredPostAction::Publish(tab_id.clone());
                 }
+                PostEditorMsg::Unarchive => {
+                    deferred = DeferredPostAction::Unarchive(tab_id.clone());
+                }
                 PostEditorMsg::Discard => {
                     deferred = DeferredPostAction::Discard(tab_id.clone());
                 }
@@ -323,6 +327,7 @@ impl BdsApp {
             } => self.translate_post_to(&post_id, &target_language),
             DeferredPostAction::Save(tab_id) => self.save_post_editor(&tab_id, true),
             DeferredPostAction::Publish(tab_id) => self.publish_post_editor(&tab_id),
+            DeferredPostAction::Unarchive(tab_id) => self.unarchive_post_editor(&tab_id),
             DeferredPostAction::Discard(tab_id) => self.discard_post_editor(&tab_id),
             DeferredPostAction::ShowDelete { tab_id, name } => {
                 Task::done(Message::ShowModal(modal::ModalState::ConfirmDelete {
diff --git a/crates/bds-ui/src/views/post_editor.rs b/crates/bds-ui/src/views/post_editor.rs
index 9e95ad4..bd295d8 100644
--- a/crates/bds-ui/src/views/post_editor.rs
+++ b/crates/bds-ui/src/views/post_editor.rs
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ pub enum PostEditorMsg {
     RemoveCategory(String),
     Save,
     Publish,
+    Unarchive,
     Discard,
     Delete,
     InsertLink,
@@ -486,7 +487,7 @@ pub fn view<'a>(
     .into();
 
     let mut header_action_items: Vec<Element<'a, Message>> = vec![
-        status_badge(&state.status),
+        status_badge(locale, &state.status),
         quick_actions,
         button(
             text(t(locale, "common.save"))
@@ -511,6 +512,19 @@ pub fn view<'a>(
             .into(),
         );
     }
+    if !on_translation && state.status == PostStatus::Archived {
+        header_action_items.push(
+            button(
+                text(t(locale, "editor.unarchive"))
+                    .size(13)
+                    .shaping(Shaping::Advanced),
+            )
+            .on_press(Message::PostEditor(PostEditorMsg::Unarchive))
+            .style(inputs::secondary_button)
+            .padding([6, 16])
+            .into(),
+        );
+    }
     if !on_translation && state.status == PostStatus::Draft && state.published_at.is_some() {
         header_action_items.push(
             button(
@@ -1235,11 +1249,20 @@ fn content_actions_visible(mode: &str) -> bool {
     mode == "markdown"
 }
 
-fn status_badge<'a>(status: &PostStatus) -> Element<'a, Message> {
+fn status_badge<'a>(locale: UiLocale, status: &PostStatus) -> Element<'a, Message> {
     let (label, color) = match status {
-        PostStatus::Draft => ("Draft", Color::from_rgb(0.8, 0.7, 0.2)),
-        PostStatus::Published => ("Published", Color::from_rgb(0.2, 0.7, 0.3)),
-        PostStatus::Archived => ("Archived", Color::from_rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5)),
+        PostStatus::Draft => (
+            t(locale, "editor.statusDraft"),
+            Color::from_rgb(0.8, 0.7, 0.2),
+        ),
+        PostStatus::Published => (
+            t(locale, "editor.statusPublished"),
+            Color::from_rgb(0.2, 0.7, 0.3),
+        ),
+        PostStatus::Archived => (
+            t(locale, "editor.statusArchived"),
+            Color::from_rgb(0.5, 0.5, 0.5),
+        ),
     };
     container(
         text(label)
diff --git a/locales/ui/de.ftl b/locales/ui/de.ftl
index 2b4293e..5a71dc4 100644
--- a/locales/ui/de.ftl
+++ b/locales/ui/de.ftl
@@ -419,6 +419,11 @@ editor-translate = Übersetzen
 editor-templateSlug = Vorlage
 editor-doNotTranslate = Nicht übersetzen
 editor-publish = Veröffentlichen
+editor-unarchive = Wiederherstellen
+editor-unarchived = Als Entwurf wiederhergestellt.
+editor-statusDraft = Entwurf
+editor-statusPublished = Veröffentlicht
+editor-statusArchived = Archiviert
 editor-discard = Verwerfen
 editor-validate = Validieren
 editor-run = Ausführen
diff --git a/locales/ui/en.ftl b/locales/ui/en.ftl
index 109601f..664e84f 100644
--- a/locales/ui/en.ftl
+++ b/locales/ui/en.ftl
@@ -404,6 +404,11 @@ editor-translate = Translate
 editor-templateSlug = Template
 editor-doNotTranslate = Do Not Translate
 editor-publish = Publish
+editor-unarchive = Unarchive
+editor-unarchived = Restored to draft.
+editor-statusDraft = Draft
+editor-statusPublished = Published
+editor-statusArchived = Archived
 editor-discard = Discard
 editor-validate = Validate
 editor-run = Run
diff --git a/locales/ui/es.ftl b/locales/ui/es.ftl
index c1c37e2..d0ef3e3 100644
--- a/locales/ui/es.ftl
+++ b/locales/ui/es.ftl
@@ -419,6 +419,11 @@ editor-translate = Traducir
 editor-templateSlug = Plantilla
 editor-doNotTranslate = No traducir
 editor-publish = Publicar
+editor-unarchive = Desarchivar
+editor-unarchived = Restaurado como borrador.
+editor-statusDraft = Borrador
+editor-statusPublished = Publicado
+editor-statusArchived = Archivado
 editor-discard = Descartar
 editor-validate = Validar
 editor-run = Ejecutar
diff --git a/locales/ui/fr.ftl b/locales/ui/fr.ftl
index d38b19c..f585678 100644
--- a/locales/ui/fr.ftl
+++ b/locales/ui/fr.ftl
@@ -419,6 +419,11 @@ editor-translate = Traduire
 editor-templateSlug = Modèle
 editor-doNotTranslate = Ne pas traduire
 editor-publish = Publier
+editor-unarchive = Désarchiver
+editor-unarchived = Restauré comme brouillon.
+editor-statusDraft = Brouillon
+editor-statusPublished = Publié
+editor-statusArchived = Archivé
 editor-discard = Annuler les modifications
 editor-validate = Valider
 editor-run = Exécuter
diff --git a/locales/ui/it.ftl b/locales/ui/it.ftl
index f7eca45..260e13d 100644
--- a/locales/ui/it.ftl
+++ b/locales/ui/it.ftl
@@ -419,6 +419,11 @@ editor-translate = Traduci
 editor-templateSlug = Modello
 editor-doNotTranslate = Non tradurre
 editor-publish = Pubblica
+editor-unarchive = Ripristina
+editor-unarchived = Ripristinato come bozza.
+editor-statusDraft = Bozza
+editor-statusPublished = Pubblicato
+editor-statusArchived = Archiviato
 editor-discard = Scarta
 editor-validate = Valida
 editor-run = Esegui
diff --git a/specs/post.allium b/specs/post.allium
index 9078d77..0d0a7b7 100644
--- a/specs/post.allium
+++ b/specs/post.allium
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ surface PostControlSurface {
         PublishPostRequested(post)
         DeletePostRequested(post)
         ArchivePostRequested(post)
+        UnarchivePostRequested(post)
         DiscardPostChangesRequested(post)
         SyncPostFromFileRequested(post)
         ImportOrphanPostFileRequested(project, relative_path)
@@ -238,6 +239,15 @@ rule ArchivePost {
     ensures: post.status = archived
 }
 
+rule UnarchivePost {
+    when: UnarchivePostRequested(post)
+    requires: post.status = archived
+    ensures: post.status = draft
+    ensures: post.content = archived_database_content(post) ?? file_body(post.file_path) ?? ""
+    ensures: SearchIndexUpdated(post)
+    ensures: EmbeddingUpdated(post)
+}
+
 rule SyncPostFromFile {
     when: SyncPostFromFileRequested(post)
     requires: post.file_path != ""