How to archive whatsapp chat

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Last updated: April 4, 2026

Quick Answer: You can archive WhatsApp chats to hide them from your main chat list without deleting them. To archive a chat, on Android, long-press the chat, tap the archive icon. On iPhone, swipe left on the chat and tap 'Archive'. Archived chats are moved to a separate folder, and you can access them by scrolling to the top of your chat list and tapping 'Archived'.

Key Facts

Archiving hides chats without deleting them.
Archived chats are accessible through a dedicated 'Archived' folder.
New messages in archived chats will not trigger notifications by default.
You can unarchive individual chats or all chats at once.
Archiving is available on both Android and iOS devices.

What is WhatsApp Chat Archiving?

WhatsApp chat archiving is a feature that allows you to move individual or group chats out of your main chat list. Instead of deleting a conversation, which permanently removes it (unless you have a backup), archiving simply hides it. This is incredibly useful for decluttering your chat screen, especially if you have many conversations you don't want to delete but also don't need immediate access to. Archived chats are stored in a separate section, ensuring your active conversations remain prominent.

Why Archive Your WhatsApp Chats?

There are several compelling reasons to use the archive feature:

Declutter Your Chat List: Over time, your main chat screen can become overwhelmed with numerous conversations, making it difficult to find the ones you interact with most frequently. Archiving allows you to tidy up this list by moving less active or irrelevant chats out of sight.
Keep Conversations Without Deleting: Sometimes, you might want to keep a record of a conversation for future reference but don't want it cluttering your active chats. Archiving provides the perfect solution, preserving the chat history without deletion.
Reduce Distractions: By default, when you receive a new message in an archived chat, it will not appear in your main chat list and will not send a notification. This helps you focus on more important conversations and reduces interruptions from less urgent chats.
Organize for Specific Purposes: You might archive chats related to past events, projects that have concluded, or conversations with contacts you rarely speak to anymore. This helps in organizing your communication flow.

How to Archive a WhatsApp Chat

The process for archiving chats varies slightly between Android and iOS devices.

On Android:

Open WhatsApp and go to the main 'Chats' tab.
Long-press on the chat you wish to archive. You can select multiple chats by continuing to long-press and tap on others.
Once selected, tap the archive icon (a box with a downward-pointing arrow) located at the top of the screen.

On iPhone (iOS):

Open WhatsApp and go to the main 'Chats' tab.
Swipe left on the chat you wish to archive.
Tap on 'Archive' from the options that appear. You can archive multiple chats by tapping 'Edit' on the Chats screen, selecting the chats, and then tapping 'Archive'.

How to Access Archived Chats

Archived chats are not lost; they are simply moved to a dedicated section.

On Android:

Open WhatsApp and go to the main 'Chats' tab.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your chat list.
You will see a section labeled 'Archived'. Tap on it to view all your archived conversations.

On iPhone (iOS):

Open WhatsApp and go to the main 'Chats' tab.
Scroll all the way up to the top of your chat list.
You will see a section labeled 'Archived' appear above your recent chats. Tap on it to view your archived conversations.

How to Unarchive a WhatsApp Chat

If you need to bring a chat back to your main chat list, you can unarchive it.

On Android:

Go to the 'Archived' section (scroll to the bottom of the main Chats tab).
Long-press on the chat you want to unarchive.
Tap the unarchive icon (a box with an upward-pointing arrow) at the top of the screen.

On iPhone (iOS):

Go to the 'Archived' section (scroll to the top of the main Chats tab).
Swipe left on the chat you wish to unarchive.
Tap on 'Unarchive'.

How to Unarchive All Chats (Android Only)

WhatsApp on Android offers a convenient way to unarchive all your chats at once:

Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
Tap on 'Chats'.
Select 'Chat history'.
Tap on 'Unarchive all chats'.

Note: This feature is not available on iOS. You must unarchive chats individually on iPhone.

Important Considerations About Archiving

Notifications: By default, new messages in archived chats do not trigger notifications and do not show up in your main chat list. However, if you have disabled the 'Keep chats archived' setting (in WhatsApp settings > Chats), new messages *will* bring the chat back to your main list and notify you.
Archiving vs. Deleting: Archiving is a temporary hiding mechanism. Deleting a chat removes it entirely. If you delete a chat, it's gone unless you restore it from a backup. Archiving preserves the chat history.
Group Chats: If you archive a group chat, new messages will bring it back to your main chat list and notify you (unless you have muted the group). If you want to permanently remove yourself from a group or stop receiving notifications, you should leave the group.
Backup: Archiving does not affect your WhatsApp backup. Your archived chats are not included in cloud backups (like Google Drive or iCloud) unless they are unarchived before the backup occurs.

Utilizing the archive feature is a straightforward yet powerful way to manage your WhatsApp communications effectively, keeping your conversations organized and your chat screen tidy.