5 Ways to Hide WhatsApp Chats

Quick Tips

• Use WhatsApp’s Chat Lock feature to hide specific chats, accessible via fingerprint or Face ID.
• Temporarily hide chats using the archive feature, which moves them to an Archived folder.
• Secure all chats by locking the WhatsApp app with a fingerprint or Face ID.
• Use the Archive all chats feature to hide all conversations without deleting them.

Method 1: Hide WhatsApp Chat of One Person

WhatsApp has a native feature known as Chat Lock that lets you hide individual chats by locking them using a fingerprint, Face ID, or phone passcode. When you lock a chat, it will be hidden from the main chat list on WhatsApp and taken to a separate folder known as the Locked folder, which must be unlocked to access the hidden chats.

Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on your phone and open the chat that you want to hide.

Step 2: Tap on the contact or the group name at the top.

Step 3: Scroll down and toggle on the Chat lock.

Step 5: You will be asked to scan your fingerprint. Do so, and the chat will be locked and taken to the Locked chats.

To access Locked chats, go to the home screen of WhatsApp > swipe down from the top of the app > tap on Locked chats. Scan your fingerprint to view the locked chats.

Note: Locked chats will not be hidden on the linked devices.

Tip: Know how to edit a WhatsApp message.

Method 2: Hide WhatsApp Chat Temporarily by Archiving It

Another way to hide WhatsApp chats without deleting them is by simply archiving them. The archive feature removes chats from the main chat list and takes them to a separate folder known as the Archived folder. The chats will remain hidden in the Archived folder until you receive a new message.

Note: Unlike locked chats, archived chats can be easily accessed by someone by opening the Archived folder, as they aren’t secured by fingerprint or passcode.

On Android

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android phone.

Step 2: Long-press on the chat that you want to archive. Tap on the Archive icon at the top.

Note: If you don’t see it, tap on the three-dot icon followed by Archive.

That’s it. The chat will be taken to the Archived folder present on the home screen of WhatsApp.

On iPhone

Step 1: Launch WhatsApp on your iPhone.

Step 2: Slightly swipe left on the chat you want to archive and tap on the Archive button.

To access the archived chats, tap on the Archive folder on the WhatsApp home screen.

Also Read: How to delete a WhatsApp message without opening it

Method 3: Hide Chat Permanently

Typically, an archived chat will become visible only if you receive a new message in it. If you want archived chats to remain hidden and archived, you will need to enable a setting. However, do note that this will apply to all archived chats. So, once enabled, all archived chats will continue to remain hidden even if you get a new message in them.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone.

Step 2: Go to WhatsApp Settings.

Note: To open WhatsApp Settings, tap the three-dot icon followed by Settings on Android, and on iPhone, tap on the Settings tab at the bottom.

Step 3: Tap on Chats and enable the toggle next to Keep Chats Archived.

Step 4: Now, archive the chats, and they will stay hidden if you receive a new message.

Tip: Know what happens when you clear a WhatsApp chat.

Method 4: Hide WhatsApp Chat Without Archive

If you don’t want anyone to access your WhatsApp, WhatsApp offers a native feature to lock the app using fingerprint or Face ID. By doing so, all chats will be hidden automatically without archiving them. You must unlock the app first to see WhatsApp messages.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your phone and go to its Settings.

Step 2: Tap on Privacy.

Step 3: Tap on the App lock (Android) or Screen Lock (iOS).

Step 4: Toggle on Require Touch ID or Require Face ID (depending on your iPhone model) or Unlock with biometric on Android.

Also Read: How to hide your profile picture

Method 5: Hide All WhatsApp Conversations

In case you want to hide all the chats from the main screen of WhatsApp without deleting or locking them, you can do it using the Archive all chats feature.

Step 1: Open WhatsApp and go to its Settings.

Step 2: On iOS, tap on Chats > Keep Chats Archived. On Android, you will need to tap on Chat History > Archive all chats.

FAQs on Hiding WhatsApp Chats

Just like hiding WhatsApp chats, there are other ways to make your WhatsApp private. Learn how to hide last seen or online status in WhatsApp.