---
title: "Deprecating obsolete articles from your Documentation"
slug: "marking-articles-as-deprecated"
description: "An article can be marked as deprecated for various reasons like the core subject of the article has been removed, is not in use, modified to a different concept, or any other reason."
tags: ["Article settings"]
updated: 2026-09-07T11:05:30Z
published: 2026-09-07T11:05:30Z
canonical: "docs.document360.com/marking-articles-as-deprecated"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.document360.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mark as deprecated

A deprecated article is one that has been flagged as obsolete and may no longer be relevant or accurate for readers. Deprecating an article signals that the content has been replaced, removed, or significantly changed, without deleting it from your knowledge base entirely.

On the knowledge base site, deprecated articles display a **Deprecated** status tag and a highlighted message at the top of the page. You can customize this message to explain the reason for deprecation and include links to updated or replacement articles.

:::(Info) (<p class="fa-regular fa-circle-exclamation"></p> NOTE)
The Mark as deprecated feature is available at the individual article and page category level. Deprecated articles retain their URL and remain accessible to readers unless separately restricted.
:::

---

## When to use Mark as deprecated

- A product feature has been removed or significantly changed and the related article is no longer accurate.
- Content has been replaced by a newer article and you want to keep the old version accessible for reference while steering readers to the updated one.
- You are unsure whether the content may still be needed and want to flag it before deleting it.

---

## Mark an article as deprecated

There are two ways to mark articles as deprecated: individually from the article editor, or in bulk from the **All articles** page.

### Single article

1. Navigate to **Documentation** (<span class="fa-regular fa-book-open"></span>) in the left navigation bar.
2. Open the article.
3. Click the **More** (<span class="fa-solid fa-ellipsis"></span>) icon in the article header and select **More article options**.
4. In the **Article settings** panel, go to the **Mark as deprecated** tab.
5. Turn on the **Deprecated** toggle.
6. Enter a deprecation message in the text field. This is optional and will be displayed on the knowledge base site.
7. Use the formatting options to add **Bold**, *Italic*, or Underline text, or add hyperlinks to updated articles if applicable.
8. Click **Save**.

<div align="center">
<img src="https://cdn.document360.io/860f9f88-412e-4570-8222-d5bf2f4b7dd1/Images/Documentation/deprecated-more-article-settings.png" class="article_image" alt="Mark as deprecated tab in the Article settings panel with the Deprecated toggle enabled">
</div>

### Multiple articles

1. Navigate to **Documentation** (<span class="fa-regular fa-book-open"></span>) in the left navigation bar.
2. Click **All articles** (<span class="fa-light fa-list-check"></span>) in the left navigation pane.
3. Select the checkboxes next to the articles you want to deprecate.
4. Click the **More** (<span class="fa-solid fa-ellipsis"></span>) icon and select **Deprecate**. The **Deprecated** toggle is enabled by default.
5. Enter a **Deprecation message** in the text field.
6. Click **Apply**.

<div align="center">
<img src="https://cdn.document360.io/860f9f88-412e-4570-8222-d5bf2f4b7dd1/Images/Documentation/depracate.png" class="article_image" alt="All articles page showing multiple articles selected with the Deprecate option in the More menu">
</div>

---

## How deprecated articles appear on the knowledge base site

Deprecated articles display a **Deprecated** tag and a highlighted banner at the top of the page. If a custom deprecation message was added, it appears in the banner. Readers can still access and read the article in full.

<div align="center">
<img src="https://cdn.document360.io/860f9f88-412e-4570-8222-d5bf2f4b7dd1/Images/Documentation/depracate%20kb.png" class="article_image" alt="Knowledge base site view of a deprecated article showing the Deprecated tag and banner message">
</div>

---

## Best practices

- Always include a deprecation message with a link to the replacement article so readers are not left without a clear next step.
- Deprecate articles before deleting them. This gives readers and search engines time to transition away from the old URL before it disappears entirely.
- Review deprecated articles periodically and delete those that are no longer needed to keep your knowledge base clean.
- Use deprecation for version-specific content that is outdated for current users but still relevant to users on older versions.

---

## FAQ

<div class="faq-wrapper" data-type="details-wrapper">
<details open>
<summary>
<p>Can readers still access a deprecated article?</p>
</summary>
<div data-type="details-content">
<p>Yes. Deprecated articles remain accessible via their URL and knowledge base navigation. Deprecating an article flags it as outdated but does not restrict access. To restrict access, use article visibility or access control settings.</p>
</div>
</details>
<button class="details-arrow" type="button"></button>
</div>

<div class="faq-wrapper" data-type="details-wrapper">
<details>
<summary>
<p>Does deprecating an article remove it from search results?</p>
</summary>
<div data-type="details-content">
<p>No. Deprecating an article does not automatically exclude it from external search engines or the knowledge base search bar. To remove it from search results, use the Search visibility settings to exclude it separately.</p>
</div>
</details>
<button class="details-arrow" type="button"></button>
</div>

<div class="faq-wrapper" data-type="details-wrapper">
<details>
<summary>
<p>Can I undo a deprecation?</p>
</summary>
<div data-type="details-content">
<p>Yes. Open the article, go to <strong>More article options</strong> > <strong>Mark as deprecated</strong>, and turn off the <strong>Deprecated</strong> toggle. Click <strong>Save</strong>. The deprecated tag and message will be removed from the knowledge base site.</p>
</div>
</details>
<button class="details-arrow" type="button"></button>
</div>

<div class="faq-wrapper" data-type="details-wrapper">
<details>
<summary>
<p>Can I deprecate a page category?</p>
</summary>
<div data-type="details-content">
<p>Yes. The Mark as deprecated feature is available at both the article and page category level. The process is the same as deprecating an individual article.</p>
</div>
</details>
<button class="details-arrow" type="button"></button>
</div>

<div class="faq-wrapper" data-type="details-wrapper">
<details>
<summary>
<p>Is the deprecation message visible in the knowledge base portal?</p>
</summary>
<div data-type="details-content">
<p>No. The deprecation message is displayed only on the knowledge base site. In the knowledge base portal, the article shows a Deprecated status indicator in the article list and editor header.</p>
</div>
</details>
<button class="details-arrow" type="button"></button>
</div>

## Related

- [Attachments](/attachments.md)
- [Related articles](/related-articles.md)