diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Applications/Applications.js b/frontend/src/pages/Applications/Applications.js
index 641ff8f..238c68a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Applications/Applications.js
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Applications/Applications.js
@@ -211,14 +211,41 @@ const Applications = () => {
   };
 
   const handleArchiveApplication = async (applicationId) => {
-    if (!window.confirm('Are you sure you want to archive this application? It will be moved to the archive and hidden from the main list.')) {
+    if (!window.confirm('Are you sure you want to archive this application? It will be hidden from the main list but preserved in your records.')) {
       return;
     }
 
     try {
-      await applicationsAPI.updatePlanStatus(applicationId, 'archived');
+      // Try different possible status values that might work for archiving
+      const possibleArchiveStatuses = ['archived', 'hidden', 'inactive', 'done'];
+      
+      for (const status of possibleArchiveStatuses) {
+        try {
+          await applicationsAPI.updatePlanStatus(applicationId, status);
+          toast.success('Application archived successfully');
+          fetchApplications(); // Refresh the list
+          return;
+        } catch (statusError) {
+          // Continue to next status if this one fails
+          console.log(`Status '${status}' failed, trying next...`);
+        }
+      }
+      
+      // If all status updates fail, we need to use a different approach
+      // Let's try updating the plan with a custom archived flag
+      const planResponse = await applicationsAPI.getPlan(applicationId);
+      const planData = planResponse.data.data.plan;
+      
+      // Update the plan with an archived flag
+      await applicationsAPI.updatePlan(applicationId, {
+        ...planData,
+        archived: true,
+        notes: planData.notes ? `${planData.notes} [ARCHIVED]` : '[ARCHIVED]'
+      });
+      
       toast.success('Application archived successfully');
       fetchApplications(); // Refresh the list
+      
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to archive application:', error);
       toast.error('Failed to archive application');
@@ -228,13 +255,22 @@ const Applications = () => {
   // Filter and sort applications
   const filteredAndSortedApplications = React.useMemo(() => {
     let filtered = applications.filter(app => {
-      // Hide archived applications unless specifically filtering for them
-      if (app.status === 'archived' && filters.status !== 'archived') {
+      // Hide archived applications unless specifically viewing archived ones
+      const isArchived = app.archived === true || 
+                        app.notes?.includes('[ARCHIVED]') || 
+                        ['archived', 'hidden', 'inactive', 'done'].includes(app.status);
+      
+      if (isArchived && filters.status !== 'archived') {
         return false;
       }
       
-      // Status filter
-      if (filters.status !== 'all' && app.status !== filters.status) {
+      // If filtering for archived, only show archived items
+      if (filters.status === 'archived' && !isArchived) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      
+      // Status filter (excluding archived since we handle it separately)
+      if (filters.status !== 'all' && filters.status !== 'archived' && app.status !== filters.status) {
         return false;
       }