Where is Teams 1:1 chat, Group & Channel Chat Stored, and How is it handled when the user deletes the chat history?

Microsoft recently released an option to delete the chat conversion for 1:1 and group chat. In this article, we are going to discuss how the 1:1/group chat conversations is stored when a litigation hold is enabled or without litigation control.

Group Chat -

You can add up to 250 users to the group chat and use the distribution group, security group, and M365 groups to add/start the conversation.

When using Group chat or 1:1 chat, the chat conversation is stored in the respective user mailbox in a hidden folder. The user/admin cannot access this data (without using Compliance Search).

When you delete the chat history or leave a chat,

• The chat is still stored in your mailbox when you leave a chat history.
• Deleting the chat removes you from the group chat, and the data will be deleted based on the retention policy. However, if a litigation hold is applied to the mailbox, the data will be retained until the litigation hold is removed.

When you delete the chat history, you will get the below information.

When you leave/delete the chat history, it doesn't delete the chat from all other participants. The other group chat participants will continue the conversation. However, other group chat users will see a message that you left the chat.

Architecture Design -

Chat History (Hidden) Folder -

You can access the Teams chat folder on the user mailbox if it's a group or 1:1 chat by searching.

Get-EXOMailboxFolderStatistics -Identity "User Name" | Format-Table Identity,Itemsinfolder,FolderSize.

You can access this data in the group mailbox if it's a channel message.

Note - By default, when the MS Teams Group is created, the group mailbox, and SharePoint Site is created.