# Archive functionality and licensing

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/archive-functionality-and-licensing/384340>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [January 2, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/archive-functionality-and-licensing/384340 "2026-01-02T16:29:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![javierE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@javierE](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/javierE)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/archive-functionality-and-licensing/384340/1 "2026-01-02T16:29:36Z")

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Hi,

I’m trying to clarify my understanding of the following paragraph from the documentation:

> **[Reading indices from older Elasticsearch versions | Elastic Docs](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/upgrade/deployment-or-cluster/reading-indices-from-older-elasticsearch-versions)**
>
> Elasticsearch has full query and write support for indices created in the previous major version. If you have indices created in Elasticsearch versions...

> _The archive functionality provides slower read-only access to older Elasticsearch data, for compliance or regulatory reasons, the occasional lookback or investigation, or to rehydrate parts of it. Access to the data is expected to be infrequent, and can therefore happen with limited performance and query capabilities._
> 
> _For this, Elasticsearch can access older snapshot repositories going back to version 5. The legacy indices in the snapshot repository can either be restored or directly accessed through searchable snapshots so that the archived data won’t need to fully reside on local disks for access._

I understand that **searchable snapshots** are a licensed feature. However, I’d like to confirm whether a _restore_ of those legacy indices from the snapshot repository also requires a license, or if the license requirement applies only to searchable snapshots.

Any clarification would be appreciated.  
Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![leandrojmp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/leandrojmp/32/107231_2.png) [@leandrojmp](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/leandrojmp)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/archive-functionality-and-licensing/384340/2 "2026-01-02T16:34:27Z")

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> [@javierE](#):
>
> However, I’d like to confirm whether a _restore_ of those legacy indices from the snapshot repository also requires a license, or if the license requirement applies only to searchable snapshots.

To restore any snapshots created on a version lower than the previous version, you need an Enterprise license.

For example, to restore a snapshot created on version 7 on a version 9 cluster, you need an enterprise license.

This is the _Snapshot as simple archives_ feature on the [subscription page](https://www.elastic.co/subscriptions).

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**Author:** ![javierE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@javierE](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/javierE)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/archive-functionality-and-licensing/384340/3 "2026-01-05T12:36:07Z")

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Thanks Leandro for the clarification.  
Best regards.  
Javier.