How to Hide a WhatsApp Chat: Archive or Chat Lock

Sometimes you just want a conversation out of sight. A surprise party group, a client chat you don't want popping up when you share your screen, or a thread with a family member that's best kept private. WhatsApp gives you two official ways to do it: archiving, which tucks a chat away from your main list, and Chat lock, which hides it behind your fingerprint, face or a secret code. They do different jobs, so here's how each one works according to WhatsApp's help centre.

Two ways to hide a WhatsApp chat compared

	Archive	Chat lock
Where the chat goes	An Archived folder at the top of your Chats tab	A Locked chats folder you reach by swiping down
Protected by	Nothing extra	Your phone passcode, Face ID, fingerprint or a secret code
Notifications	None unless you're mentioned or replied to	Shown, but without the name or message content
Can be hidden completely	No, the Archived row stays visible	Yes, if you set a secret code and hide the folder
Works on WhatsApp Web	Yes	Not covered in the help pages I read

Archive a WhatsApp chat on iPhone

1. In the Chats tab, swipe left on the chat or group.
2. Tap Archive.

To see it again, tap Archived at the top of the Chats screen. To bring it back, swipe left on it there and tap Unarchive. WhatsApp also lets you archive everything at once from Settings, then Chats, then Archive all chats.

Archive a WhatsApp chat on Android

1. In the Chats tab, tap and hold the chat you want to hide.
2. Tap the archive icon at the top of the screen.

Your archived chats live under Archived at the top of the Chats tab. To unarchive one, tap and hold it there and tap the unarchive icon.

Archive a chat on WhatsApp Web or desktop

1. Hover over the chat and click the small menu arrow.
2. Click Archive chat.

Click Archived at the top of your chats to find it again. If WhatsApp Web is misbehaving while you try this, my guide on why WhatsApp Web stops working covers the common fixes.

What archiving a WhatsApp conversation does and doesn't do

• It doesn't delete the chat. WhatsApp says archiving doesn't delete or back up anything.
• By default, the chat stays archived when a new message arrives. You can change that by turning off Keep chats archived in Settings, then Chats.
• You won't get notifications for archived chats unless someone mentions you or replies to you.
• A number next to Archived shows how many archived chats have unread messages, so anyone glancing at your phone can see there's something there.

That last point is why archiving is about tidiness, not secrecy. If you want real privacy, Chat lock is the better tool.

Lock a WhatsApp chat with Chat lock

WhatsApp's help article says you can lock any chat, including groups and muted chats. If you haven't set up a passcode, Face ID or fingerprint on your phone, you'll be asked to create one first.

1. Tap and hold the chat.
2. Tap Lock chat (on Android, you may need to open the three dots first).
3. Confirm with your phone's authentication.

Locked chats move into a Locked chats folder. To open it, swipe down on your chat list and tap Locked chats, then open it with your face, fingerprint or passcode. WhatsApp says the other people in the chat aren't told that you've locked it, and locked chats close again when you lock your phone. Depending on your language settings, the feature may be labelled Chat lock or Chat block.

Hide the WhatsApp locked chats folder with a secret code

For the most discreet option, you can hide the Locked chats folder itself so it only appears when you type a code into the search bar.

1. Swipe down on your chat list and tap Locked chats.
2. Open the menu (on iPhone, tap Settings) and go to Secret code.
3. Enter a code, tap Next, enter it again and tap Done.
4. Back in the chat lock settings, turn on Hide locked chats.

To find them again, tap the search bar in WhatsApp and type your secret code.

The catch with WhatsApp Chat lock you need to know

Read this before you set a secret code. If you hide your locked chats and forget the code, WhatsApp's only route back is the option to clear your locked chats, under Settings, Privacy and Chat lock. That returns the chats to your list but clears all the messages, photos and videos in them. WhatsApp says you can restore cleared chats only if your last backup happened before you cleared them, and only up to that backup. If something does go missing, my guide to restoring old WhatsApp chats explains what's realistic.

• Calls from contacts in locked chats aren't blocked, so a call can still give the game away.
• Notifications for locked chats show WhatsApp or WhatsApp: 1 new message instead of the name and text.
• If you back up and restore on a new phone, your locked chats stay locked.

Hiding WhatsApp chats on a business phone

If you share a phone or a screen with staff, archiving keeps supplier or personal chats out of the way during the working day, and Chat lock keeps sensitive conversations, such as a staff matter, away from curious eyes. One more privacy tip: if you also don't want people to see when you've read their messages, you can turn off read receipts in your privacy settings.

Frequently asked questions

Does archiving a WhatsApp chat delete it?

No. WhatsApp says archiving a chat doesn't delete it or back it up. It just moves it out of your main list.

Will the other person know I've hidden or locked our chat?

WhatsApp says the other people in a chat aren't notified when you lock it. Its help pages don't describe any alert for archiving either.

Can I hide a WhatsApp group chat?

Yes. WhatsApp says you can archive groups, and you can lock any chat, including group chats.

What happens if I forget my WhatsApp secret code?

You can use the clear locked chats option in Settings, Privacy, Chat lock, but WhatsApp says this clears all the messages, photos and videos in those chats.

Why do my WhatsApp notifications just say WhatsApp?

WhatsApp says this means the chat is locked. Chat lock hides contact names and message content from notifications.