> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.faaaster.io/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# How do I reactivate a paused or archived Faaaster site?

Three situations take a site offline, and they aren't reactivated the same way: a **pause** due to inactivity, an **archive**, or a **suspension for non-payment**.

## Identify your situation

The site's screen, in your dashboard, tells you right away where you stand:

| Message shown | Situation |
| --- | --- |
| **Site paused** — "This site has been automatically paused." | Site paused (inactivity, non-payment…) |
| **Site archived** — "Subscribe to a hosting plan to restore it." | Site archived or subscription canceled, as seen by the owner |
| **Site archived** — "This site has been stopped. Please contact the owner to restart it." | Same situation, as seen by another collaborator |

The cause is shown in the site's **Events** tab, on the **Site stopped** event.

## Site paused due to inactivity

This is the most common case for development environments, which are paused after **5 days without activity**.

**Opening the site through its preview and collaboration link is enough**: the restart triggers on its own, a loading screen appears, and then the site is accessible.

From the dashboard, the site's screen offers a **Restart** button to start it again.

> **The site's public address, however, doesn't wake anything up.** It shows the pause message. Only the preview link and the dashboard trigger the restart.

## Archived site

An archived site is reactivated by **subscribing**, from the **Reactivate** button on the site's screen (reserved for the owner), from the **Subscription** tab, or from the **Trash** of the **Projects** list, **Restore** button.

> **The archive is kept for at least 30 days.** Beyond that, its retention isn't guaranteed: only an export downloaded to your own computer guarantees that you can recover your site.

For an archived **development environment**, it's simpler: the **Trash** tab of the **Environments** section, then **Reactivate**.

## Site suspended for non-payment

The **Events** tab then shows the reason **Unpaid invoice**. On the site's screen, the **Reactivate** button lets you pay the amount due directly. You can also go through billing:

1. Open **Account** → **Billing**.
2. First check your **payment method**: an expired card is the most common cause.
3. Pay the pending invoice.

> **Once the payment is received, the site is restarted.** If nothing happens after a few minutes, the **Restart** button on the site's screen gets the environment going again (the **Actions** menu stays grayed out while the site is paused).

👉 [What do site statuses mean?](https://help.faaaster.io/en-us/article/understand-site-statuses-110l09n/) · [How do I manage my payment methods?](https://help.faaaster.io/en-us/article/payment-methods-6mrihq/) · [How do I archive or delete a site?](https://help.faaaster.io/en-us/article/archive-or-delete-a-site-16xrc3h/)