WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One of the key features of WhatsApp is the ability to archive chats that you don’t need cluttering up your main chat list. However, one common complaint from WhatsApp users is that archived chats still show at the top of your chats list, meaning you have to constantly scroll past them to get to your active conversations.
In this article, we’ll look at whether there is a way to move your archived WhatsApp chats to the bottom of your chat list, so they’re out of the way of your everyday messaging.
Understanding WhatsApp’s Archiving System
When you archive a chat in WhatsApp, it removes the chat from your main chats list, freeing up space and decluttering your interface. Archived chats are moved into a separate Archived Chats list, which sits above your main Chats list.
So when you open WhatsApp, your Archived Chats are displayed first, followed by your regular Chats. This means that archived conversations still take up prominent space in your app, even though you’ve actively dismissed them.
Unfortunately, there is no built-in way in WhatsApp to change the order of these lists, so your archived chats will always appear at the top rather than the bottom. The Archived Chats section acts like any other chat – new interactions cause it to bubble to the top.
Why Can’t Archived Chats Be Moved in WhatsApp?
WhatsApp designed the archived chats feature to work this way intentionally, to ensure users can still easily access their archived conversations if needed. Even if you dismiss a chat, you may still need to refer back to it occasionally.
Having archived chats at the top makes them visible and accessible. If they were buried at the bottom of your Chats list, they would be more difficult to find when you need them.
The prominent position also makes it more obvious when there is new activity in an archived chat – it will jump to the top of the list so you see it.
Pros of Archived Chats Being at the Top
- Easy access to archived conversations
- Clear visibility of new messages in archived chats
- Intuitive system – matches most messaging apps
Cons of Archived Chats Being at the Top
- Takes up prominent space
- Need to scroll past it to reach active chats
- Can’t customize order of chat lists
Overall, while not being able to move archived chats to the bottom may be annoying for some users, there are good reasons for why WhatsApp does not allow you to change the order.
Workarounds to Minimize Archived Chats
While you can’t change the order of your WhatsApp chat lists, there are some workarounds you can use to reduce the impact of archived chats taking up space:
Use Chat Pinning
WhatsApp allows you to pin up to 3 specific chats to the top of your Chats list. Pin your most important active conversations, and they will always stay above your archived chats.
Use Chat Filtering
Filter your chats to only show unread conversations or chats with groups/contacts you talk to often. This removes archived chats from view.
Frequently Clear Archived Chats
Make a habit of clearing out your archived chats entirely every so often. This will empty your Archived Chats section so there are no conversations taking up space.
Archive Chats You Really Don’t Need
Only archive conversations you might plausibly need to refer back to someday. Chats you know for sure you’ll never need again are better off being deleted.
Mute Notifications from Archived Chats
Mute notifications from archived chats so they don’t constantly bubble back to the top with alerts. Open them manually if you need to access them.
Third-Party Apps to Customize Chat Order
While WhatsApp itself doesn’t allow re-ordering your chats, some third-party apps claim to offer this ability:
- WAMR – Customize order of chat lists
- Chat Order for WhatsApp – Move archived chats to bottom
- Reorder for WhatsApp – Arrange chats manually
However, be cautious with third-party apps – they may violate WhatsApp’s terms of service and come with security/privacy risks. Only use reputable apps at your own discretion.
The Future of WhatsApp’s Archived Chats
While WhatsApp currently forces archived chats to the top, this may change in the future as they continue developing the app and adapting to user feedback. Here are some possible archived chat improvements WhatsApp could implement:
- Let users toggle archived chats to top/bottom
- Add a “hide archived chats” setting
- Set custom order for different chat types
- Place them in a side drawer/tab for easy access
WhatsApp frequently rolls out new features and tweaks based on how people are using the app. So if enough users request more options for managing archived chats, WhatsApp may eventually provide better ways to customize their placement.
Conclusion
Currently, there is no built-in way to move archived WhatsApp chats to the bottom of your chat list. The archived chats section must stay at the top due to how WhatsApp designed the feature. While this can be annoying, there are benefits to having archived chats prominently placed for easy access.
The best solutions for now are utilizing pinning, filters, and clearing out chats you don’t need. And third-party apps offer some ability to customize chat order, but come with risks. Hopefully in the future WhatsApp will provide native options for greater control over archived chat placement.
But the limitations are understandable given the nature of the feature, and workarounds exist to adapt your workflow. With WhatsApp’s continual evolution, more archived chat controls may arrive eventually based on user demand and feedback.
| Pros of Archived Chats at Top | Cons of Archived Chats at Top |
|---|---|
| Easy access to archived chats | Takes up prominent space |
| See new messages clearly | Need to scroll past to reach active chats |
| Intuitive design | Can’t customize order |
| Workaround | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Pin important chats | Pinned chats stay above archive |
| Use chat filters | Hides archive from view |
| Clear archive frequently | Removes chats taking up space |
| Archive only needed chats | Avoids clutter from unimportant chats |
| Mute archived chats | Stops them bumping to top |
| Possible Future Features | Benefit for Users |
|---|---|
| Toggle archive top/bottom | Lets users customize placement |
| “Hide archive” setting | Removes archive from view |
| Custom order for chats | More control over layout |
| Side drawer/tab for archive | Quick access but out of the way |