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How to Archive Multiple WhatsApp Chats on an Android Smartphone: Step-by-Step Guide
KalamTimes | January 22, 2026 9:40 PM CST

WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps, and for many users, the chat list can quickly become cluttered with personal, professional, and group conversations. To help users keep their inbox organised and distraction-free, WhatsApp offers an archive chats feature. On Android smartphones, this feature comes with an added advantage—you can archive multiple chats at once, something that makes chat management faster and more efficient.

If you are looking to hide several conversations together without deleting them, here is a complete guide explaining how to archive multiple WhatsApp chats on an Android smartphone and how to access or unarchive them later.

What Does Archiving WhatsApp Chats Mean?

Archiving a chat on WhatsApp moves the selected conversation from your main chat screen into a separate Archived folder. These chats are hidden from your primary inbox, helping you keep the home screen clean and focused.

Archived chats:

  • Do not appear on the main chat list
  • Have notifications muted by default
  • Remain safely stored and can be accessed anytime
  • Are not deleted or permanently removed

This feature is ideal for users who want to temporarily hide chats without losing conversation history.

Why Archive Multiple Chats at Once?

On Android smartphones, WhatsApp allows users to archive more than one chat simultaneously, which is especially useful if you have several inactive or low-priority conversations. This feature helps you:

  • Reduce inbox clutter instantly
  • Hide old or inactive group chats
  • Organise chats without deleting them
  • Focus on important conversations
  • Maintain privacy by hiding sensitive chats

Instead of archiving chats one by one, Android users can do it in a few simple taps.

How to Archive Multiple WhatsApp Chats on an Android Smartphone

Follow these step-by-step instructions to archive multiple chats at once:

Step-by-Step Guide
  • Open the WhatsApp app on your Android smartphone.
  • On the main chat screen, long-press on any one chat that you want to archive.
  • Once selected, tap on other chats to select multiple conversations.
  • After selecting all the chats you want to hide, look at the top menu bar.
  • Tap on the Archive icon, which appears next to the mute option.
  • That’s it. All the selected chats will instantly move to the Archived folder and disappear from your main chat list.

    What Happens After You Archive Chats?

    Once chats are archived:

    • They are moved to a separate Archived section
    • Notifications from these chats are turned off by default
    • New messages will not disturb you
    • Chats stay archived unless you manually unarchive them

    However, WhatsApp allows users to change notification behaviour for archived chats through settings if they prefer to receive alerts.

    How to Access Archived WhatsApp Chats on Android

    If you want to view or manage your archived chats, follow these steps:

  • Open the WhatsApp app on your Android smartphone.
  • On the main chat screen, swipe down from the top.
  • You will see the Archived folder at the top of the chat list.
  • Tap on it to open.
  • All archived chats will be visible inside this folder.
  • You can read messages, reply, or manage these chats just like regular conversations.

    How to Unarchive WhatsApp Chats

    If you want to move a chat back to your main chat list, WhatsApp makes it easy:

  • Open the Archived folder.
  • Long-press on the chat you want to unarchive.
  • Tap on the Unarchive icon in the top menu bar.
  • The chat will return to your main chat screen.
  • You can also unarchive multiple chats together using the same selection method.

    Important Things to Keep in Mind
    • Archiving chats does not delete messages or media.
    • You can archive both individual and group chats.
    • Archived chats remain hidden even when new messages arrive (default setting).
    • Notification behaviour can be changed from WhatsApp Settings.
    • The multiple chat archive option is currently exclusive to Android smartphones.
    Final Thoughts

    The ability to archive multiple WhatsApp chats on an Android smartphone is a powerful yet underrated feature. It helps users keep their inbox organised, reduce distractions, and maintain privacy without losing access to important conversations.

    Whether you want to hide inactive chats, declutter your WhatsApp home screen, or focus only on priority conversations, using the archive feature can significantly improve your messaging experience. If your chat list feels overwhelming, take a few moments to archive multiple chats and enjoy a cleaner, more organised WhatsApp inbox.


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