diff --git a/packages/backend/src/db/schema/recordings.ts b/packages/backend/src/db/schema/recordings.ts
index e5d7139..6e89e31 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/db/schema/recordings.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/schema/recordings.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import {
 import { users } from "./users";
 import { videos } from "./videos";
 
-export const recordingStatusEnum = pgEnum("recording_status", ["draft", "published", "archived"]);
+export const recordingStatusEnum = pgEnum("recording_status", ["draft", "published"]);
 
 export const recordings = pgTable(
   "recordings",
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
index d51c09e..3de9d06 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { GraphQLError } from "graphql";
 import { builder } from "../builder";
 import { RecordingType, AdminRecordingListType } from "../types/index";
 import { recordings, recording_plays, users } from "../../db/schema/index";
-import { eq, and, desc, ne, ilike, count } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { eq, and, desc, ilike, count } from "drizzle-orm";
 import { slugify } from "../../lib/slugify";
 import { awardPoints, checkAchievements } from "../../lib/gamification";
 import { requireAdmin } from "../../lib/acl";
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ builder.queryField("recordings", (t) =>
 
       const conditions = [eq(recordings.user_id, ctx.currentUser.id)];
       if (args.status) conditions.push(eq(recordings.status, args.status as any));
-      else conditions.push(ne(recordings.status, "archived" as any));
       if (args.linkedVideoId) conditions.push(eq(recordings.linked_video, args.linkedVideoId));
 
       const limit = args.limit || 50;
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/migrations/0002_remove_archived_recording_status.sql b/packages/backend/src/migrations/0002_remove_archived_recording_status.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6c8c74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend/src/migrations/0002_remove_archived_recording_status.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+-- Update any archived recordings to draft before removing the status
+UPDATE "recordings" SET "status" = 'draft' WHERE "status" = 'archived';--> statement-breakpoint
+
+-- Recreate enum without 'archived'
+ALTER TYPE "public"."recording_status" RENAME TO "recording_status_old";--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE TYPE "public"."recording_status" AS ENUM('draft', 'published');--> statement-breakpoint
+ALTER TABLE "recordings" ALTER COLUMN "status" TYPE "public"."recording_status" USING "status"::text::"public"."recording_status";--> statement-breakpoint
+DROP TYPE "public"."recording_status_old";
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/migrations/meta/_journal.json b/packages/backend/src/migrations/meta/_journal.json
index 0522221..c45056d 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/migrations/meta/_journal.json
+++ b/packages/backend/src/migrations/meta/_journal.json
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@
       "when": 1772645674514,
       "tag": "0001_is_admin",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 2,
+      "version": "7",
+      "when": 1741337600000,
+      "tag": "0002_remove_archived_recording_status",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/frontend/src/routes/admin/recordings/+page.svelte b/packages/frontend/src/routes/admin/recordings/+page.svelte
index d24ccb4..a7f1af3 100644
--- a/packages/frontend/src/routes/admin/recordings/+page.svelte
+++ b/packages/frontend/src/routes/admin/recordings/+page.svelte
@@ -132,11 +132,7 @@
               <div class="flex gap-1">
                 <Badge
                   variant={recording.status === "published" ? "default" : "outline"}
-                  class={recording.status === "draft"
-                    ? "text-muted-foreground"
-                    : recording.status === "archived"
-                      ? "text-yellow-600 border-yellow-500/40 bg-yellow-500/10"
-                      : ""}
+                  class={recording.status === "draft" ? "text-muted-foreground" : ""}
                 >
                   {recording.status}
                 </Badge>