Archiving a chat on WhatsApp is a useful way to organize your conversations without deleting them. When you archive a chat, it removes the conversation from your main Chats tab and saves it in your Archived chats. So archiving a chat does not delete the conversation or prevent you from receiving new messages.
What happens when you archive a chat?
Here is what happens when you archive a chat on WhatsApp:
- The chat is removed from your main Chats tab and is stored in your Archived chats. It helps declutter your Chats list.
- You will still receive new messages from that contact in your main Chats tab. Archiving does not mute or block a contact.
- If the archived contact sends you additional messages, the chat will automatically unarchive and move back to your Chats tab. This helps prevent missing important messages.
- You can still find and open archived chats in your Archived chats folder. Your messages are not deleted.
- Archived chats do not send notifications. So you won’t get notified of new messages until you unarchive the chat.
So in summary, archiving a chat simply organizes your conversations and does not affect receiving messages. New messages will continue coming through as usual.
Should you keep archiving inactive chats?
Archiving your inactive chats that you rarely talk to can be a good way to clean up your Chats list. Here are some benefits of archiving old chats:
- Removes clutter from your Chats tab and makes it easier to find recent conversations.
- Lets you focus on your most important and active conversations.
- Makes your Chats tab feel less overwhelming if you have many contacts.
- Keeps old chats neatly organized if you ever need to find them.
However, archiving chats takes some manual maintenance. If the contacts message you again, the chats will unarchive. Here are some tips for managing your archived chats:
- Archive chats you have not messaged in over a month or two.
- Sort your archived chats from newest to oldest. Archive old chats again as needed.
- Name your archived chats by contact if you have long conversations.
- Search your archived chats if you need to find old messages.
Does the other person know if you archive their chat?
No, archiving a chat is only visible on your side. When you archive a conversation:
- The other person will not get any notification that you archived the chat.
- They can still message you normally and see the full chat history.
- Archiving only affects your view of the conversation. It’s private on your end.
So if you archive an inactive chat to clean up your Chats tab, the other person will not know. Archiving is a client-side action that only you can see.
How are archived chats different from muted chats?
Archived chats and muted chats help you manage conversations, but work differently:
| Archived Chats | Muted Chats |
|---|---|
| Removes chat from Chats tab | Chat stays in Chats tab |
| You can still read messages | Mutes notifications but can read messages |
| Unarchives if new messages received | Stays muted until you unmute |
| No notifications | No notifications |
| Other person does not know | Other person does not know |
So muting is for silencing busy group conversations. Archiving removes old chats you rarely open. Both help control which chats you engage with.
Can you recover a chat if you accidentally archive it?
If you accidentally archive an important ongoing conversation, it’s easy to recover:
- Open your Archived chats folder
- Find the chat you want to unarchive
- Tap and hold the chat
- Select Unarchive from the menu
This will instantly unarchive the chat and move it back to your Chats tab. You can also unarchive a chat from your chat settings screen.
If you cannot find a chat you accidentally archived:
- Search your Archived chats using the search bar
- Sort your Archived chats from Newest to Oldest if needed
- Check if you muted the chat instead of archiving it
- Restore your chat history from a recent backup if available
With a bit of searching, you should be able to recover any accidentally archived messages.
Can you delete archived chats?
Yes, the archive gives you easy access to delete old chats you no longer need. Here is how to delete archived WhatsApp chats:
- Open Archived chats
- Tap and hold the chat you want to delete
- Select Delete chat
- Confirm deleting the chat
This will permanently delete the chat and its messages. The chat will disappear from your Archived chats.
Important things to note about deleting archived WhatsApp chats:
- Deleting chats permanently erases the messages.
- The other person’s chat history is unaffected.
- You get the option to delete chat or delete chat history.
- Deleted chats cannot be recovered. Backup chats before deleting.
So archive old chats you want to declutter but delete those you’re sure you no longer need.
Does the other person know if you delete the chat?
No, when you delete a chat:
- The other person does not receive any notification.
- They can still see the full chat history on their end.
- Only the chat history on your device gets deleted.
So deleting a chat only affects your local messages. The other person will not know you deleted the chat or messages on your side.
Conclusion
Archiving chats on WhatsApp provides a useful way to organize conversations and reduce clutter without losing your message history. Key things to remember:
- Archiving removes chats from your Chats tab but you can still read messages.
- You will continue receiving new messages from archived chats.
- Archive older, inactive chats to declutter your inbox.
- Other users do not know when you archive or delete a chat.
- You can recover chats from your Archive, but deleted chats are erased forever.
So feel free to archive conversations to clear your chat list and keep things unread for later. Your messages will keep coming through as normal.