WhatsApp has recently rolled out a new update that changes the way archived chats are displayed. Instead of archived chats being moved to the bottom of the chat list, they are now pinned to the top. This unexpected change has caused confusion among many WhatsApp users.
What Does Archiving a Chat Do?
Archiving a chat in WhatsApp simply removes the chat from your main chat list. It helps to organize your chats by getting inactive or old chats out of the way. Archived chats are not deleted, they are just hidden from the main view. You can still find them by searching or tapping on ‘Archived chats’.
Up until now, when you archived a chat thread it would move down to the bottom of your chat list. The most recent and active chats would stay at the top while archived ones sank to the bottom. This let you focus on current conversations at the top while old chats were archived away.
Why Did WhatsApp Change Where Archived Chats Appear?
WhatsApp has not officially stated why they decided to pin archived chats to the top. But there are a few potential reasons behind the change:
- Make archived chats more easily accessible. Having them pinned to the top makes them quicker to find and unarchive.
- Give more visibility to archived conversations. WhatsApp may want to encourage users to clean up old chats.
- Prevent accidentally archiving chats. Adding friction to the archive process forces you to be more deliberate.
- New feature announcement. Pinning chats draws attention to the archive function for those unaware of it.
The change makes archived chats stand out more compared to when they were moved lower down the list. It turns archiving from an out of sight, out of mind action into something more obvious.
How to Archive Chats in WhatsApp
Archiving chats works the same way despite where they now appear after being archived. Here is how to archive conversations:
- Open the WhatsApp chat you want to archive
- Tap and hold the chat
- Tap ‘Archive’ in the popup menu
- The chat will be removed from your main view and pinned at the top of your chats
You can archive both individual and group chats. Voice calls can also be archived.
How to Unarchive an Archived Chat
If you want to access an archived chat again, unarchiving it will move it back to your main chat list. Here is how to unarchive a chat:
- Open your Archived chats
- Tap and hold the chat you want to unarchive
- Tap ‘Unarchive’ on the popup menu
- The chat will be moved back into your main chat list
Can You Move Archived Chats Back to Bottom?
Currently there is no way to revert archived chats back to the bottom of the list. The pinned to the top behavior seems here to stay. The only options are to either archive chats to remove them from the main view, or unarchive them to move them back into the regular chat list.
WhatsApp has not provided any settings to change where archived chats appear. The pinned to the top placement is hardcoded into the app with the latest updates. Attempting to alter this would likely require modding the app, which violates WhatsApp’s terms of service.
Workarounds for Archived Chat Placement
While you can’t directly change where archived chats surface, there are some workarounds to better organize your chats:
- Use muting – Mute noisy chats instead of archiving them
- Create chat shortcuts – Pin your favorite chats as shortcuts within WhatsApp
- Use chat filters – Filter chats by unread or groups to focus on what’s important
- Rely on search – Search for contacts and chats when needed instead of scanning your list
- Try folders – Use chat folders to categorize conversations within WhatsApp
These features give you more ways to filter and find chats beyond just archiving. While not a perfect solution, they help mitigate the new placement of archived threads.
Will WhatsApp Change Archived Chat Placement Again?
It’s hard to say if WhatsApp will ever revert archived chats back to the bottom or make their placement configurable. For now, the pinned to the top behavior seems to be their intended design.
WhatsApp frequently rolls out new features and changes prioritization based on internal testing. It’s possible they may tweak the archive experience again based on user feedback to this latest update.
Some potential changes WhatsApp could implement include:
- Add a user setting to customize archived chat placement
- Let users pin favorite archived chats to the top
- Automatically archive older chats after a certain time period
- Display a notification when archiving chats as a confirmation
For the time being, pinned archives are here to stay. But future iterations of WhatsApp may rethink this prioritization again. Monitoring app updates and providing feedback can help influence future changes.
Why You May Want to Keep Archiving Chats
While this updated archive behavior may be disruptive, archiving chats can still be useful:
- Removes clutter – Cleans up your workspace and focuses your view
- Stops notifications – Archives prevent sounds or popups from inactive chats
- Frees up space – Media from archived chats doesn’t count against your storage quota
- Organizes contacts – Groups conversations by importance based on activity
- Easy access – Archived chats remain a tap away if you need them again
Don’t let the new placement discourage you from archiving. A tidy, organized chat list can help you communicate more efficiently and reduce digital distractions.
Conclusion
WhatsApp archiving chats to the top instead of the bottom is an unexpected change. But while you can’t directly reverse it, there are workarounds to manage your chats. Focus on muting, filtering, pinning, and searching to find what you need.
Keep providing feedback to WhatsApp on how you use archiving. And stay on the lookout for any updates that may add settings to customize your experience. With some minor adjustments to your workflow, you can adapt to this revised archival system.