WhatsApp has an auto-archiving feature that archives old chats to clear up space and make your chats list more manageable. When chats are archived, they are removed from your main chats list and stored in a separate Archived Chats section.
While archiving can be useful, you may not want certain important chats to be archived automatically. The good news is you can disable auto-archiving in WhatsApp’s settings.
Why are my WhatsApp chats being archived?
WhatsApp’s auto-archive setting is enabled by default. With this setting turned on, WhatsApp will automatically archive chats that have not been used for over 6 months.
Archived chats are not deleted, but simply removed from your main chats list and placed in a separate Archived Chats section. You can still find and access archived chats when needed.
Auto-archiving helps declutter your chats list over time by clearing out old, inactive chats. This makes it easier to find recent chats that you often need access to.
How to stop WhatsApp from auto-archiving chats
If you don’t want WhatsApp to archive your chats automatically, you can disable the auto-archive feature entirely:
- Open WhatsApp and tap the 3-dot menu icon in the top right corner.
- Go to Settings > Chats > Chat History.
- Tap Keep Chats.
That’s it! With auto-archiving disabled, your chats will no longer be archived after 6 months of inactivity.
How to exclude chats from auto-archiving
If you still want to use auto-archiving but don’t want certain important chats to be archived, you can exclude them from archiving:
- Open the individual chat you want to exclude from archiving.
- Tap the contact’s name at the top to open their contact info.
- Tap Archive Chat.
- Toggle off the switch next to Archive Chat to exclude the chat from auto-archiving.
Repeat this for any chat you want to remain permanently unarchived. These chats will stay in your main chats list even after 6 months of inactivity.
How to restore archived chats
If some of your chats have already been archived, you can easily restore them to your main chats list:
- Open the Archived Chats section in WhatsApp.
- Tap and hold on a chat you want to restore.
- Tap Unarchive from the popup menu.
The chat will be removed from your Archived Chats and placed back into your main chats list. Repeat for any archived chats you want to restore access to.
Clearing out old, unwanted chats
In addition to disabling auto-archiving, you may want to manually clear out old chats you no longer need clogging up your chats list. Here are a couple options for removing unwanted chats:
Delete chats
To permanently delete an old chat:
- Open the chat you want to delete
- Tap and hold the chat
- Tap Delete Chat
- Tap Delete Chat again to confirm
This will completely erase the chat and its messages from WhatsApp.
Archive chats
To simply archive unwanted chats:
- Open the chat you want to archive
- Tap and hold the chat
- Tap Archive Chat
This will remove the chat from your main chats list and place it in your Archived Chats. The chat will still be accessible if you need to view it again.
Conclusion
WhatsApp’s auto-archive feature can be inconvenient if it ends up archiving chats you need regular access to. Thankfully, you can disable auto-archiving completely or exclude specific important chats from being archived automatically.
Manually archive or delete old, inactive chats you no longer need to tidy up your chats list. With these tips, you can take control of archiving and prevent WhatsApp from hiding the chats that matter most to you.
| Method | Result |
|---|---|
| Disable auto-archive | Stops all chats from being archived automatically |
| Exclude chats | Prevents specific chats from auto-archiving |
| Archive chats manually | Removes inactive chats to Archives |
| Delete chats | Permanently erases unwanted chats |
With over 1 billion users worldwide, WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app today. Here are some more key stats about WhatsApp:
| Stat | Fact |
|---|---|
| Total users | Over 1 billion |
| Daily active users | Over 500 million |
| Photos shared daily | 4.5 billion |
| Videos shared daily | 1 billion |
| Voice messages sent daily | 7 billion |
| Group chats | Over 10 million |
| Monthly active users in India (WhatsApp’s biggest market) | Over 400 million |
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, both former employees of Yahoo. Here is a timeline of key events in WhatsApp’s history:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2009 | WhatsApp founded |
| 2010 | WhatsApp launches for iOS |
| 2011 | Launches for Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone |
| 2012 | Processes 1 billion messages per day |
| 2013 | Processes 11 billion messages per day |
| 2014 | Acquired by Facebook for $19 billion |
| 2016 | Launches video calling |
| 2018 | Launches group video and audio calling |
| 2020 | Launches WhatsApp Pay in India |
WhatsApp is available on the following mobile platforms:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- Nokia S40
- Nokia S60
- Blackberry
WhatsApp is also accessible on the web by visiting web.whatsapp.com or through desktop apps for Windows and Mac.
Here are some tips to improve your WhatsApp experience:
Organize groups into topics
Create separate groups for family, friends, work, hobbies, etc to easily find relevant conversations.
Use broadcast lists
Broadcast lists let you easily send messages to predefined groups of contacts.
Mark key messages with bookmarks
Bookmark important messages like addresses, flight details, etc for quick access later.
Mute busy groups
Temporarily mute groups with constant notifications to control distractions.
Manage media storage
Go to Settings > Data and Storage Usage to delete old media eating up storage space.
With over 1 billion users, WhatsApp has grown into the world’s most popular messaging app. While auto-archiving helps keep your chats organized, you may want to disable this feature to prevent important conversations from being archived automatically. With the ability to exclude chats from archiving and restore archived messages, you can take control over which conversations stay readily available in your main chats list.