How to Unarchive a WhatsApp Chat (Android and iPhone)

A chat that's gone missing from your list usually hasn't been deleted. More often it's been archived, either by a stray swipe or on purpose months ago and then forgotten. The reassuring news from WhatsApp's help centre is that archiving doesn't delete anything, and bringing a chat back takes a few seconds.

This guide covers Android and iPhone, how to unarchive several chats at once, and the setting that decides whether an archived chat pops back up when someone messages you. That last one is a common reason people think they're missing messages.

Finding your archived WhatsApp chats first

Archived chats live in their own spot at the top of your chat list. WhatsApp says you can view them like this:

• On Android, scroll to the top of the Chats tab and tap Archived.
• On an iPhone, go to the top of the Chats screen and tap Archived.

If you've archived every chat, WhatsApp shows a message saying all of your chats are archived. Tap Archived below that message to see them. There's also a handy number next to Archived. WhatsApp says it shows how many archived chats have unread messages, and an @ symbol appears when someone has replied to or mentioned you in an archived group.

How to unarchive a WhatsApp chat on Android

1. Open WhatsApp and scroll to the top of the Chats tab.
2. Tap Archived.
3. Tap and hold the individual or group chat you want back.
4. Tap the unarchive icon at the top of the screen.

WhatsApp says you can decide to unarchive a chat at any time, so there's no deadline.

How to unarchive a WhatsApp chat on an iPhone

1. At the top of the Chats tab, tap Archived.
2. Swipe left on the chat you want to restore.
3. Tap Unarchive.

Swiping left is the same gesture that archived it in the first place, so if you did it by accident, it's the same movement in the other direction.

Unarchiving several WhatsApp chats at once on an iPhone

If you've got a pile to bring back, WhatsApp has a quicker route on iPhone:

1. Tap Archived at the top of the Chats tab.
2. Tap Edit, then Select chats.
3. Tick the chats you'd like to bring back.
4. Tap Unarchive.

WhatsApp's Android steps cover one chat at a time, so if you've got a long list on Android, repeat the steps for each chat. Menus vary by app version, so go with whatever your screen offers.

Finding a WhatsApp chat to unarchive by searching

WhatsApp's iPhone steps include a neat shortcut for when you can't remember which chat you tucked away. Tap the search bar on the Chats tab, type the chat or contact name, swipe left on the result, and tap Unarchive. It works even when the chat is archived, so you don't have to scroll through the list.

Why an archived WhatsApp chat keeps coming back, or never does

This is the setting that causes the most confusion. According to WhatsApp, by default a chat stays archived when a new message arrives. That's the Keep chats archived option, found under Settings and then Chats.

Keep chats archived	What happens when a new message arrives
On (the default)	The chat stays in the archive, so you may not notice the message
Off	The chat unarchives itself, and on Android archived chats move to the bottom of the Chats tab

If you'd rather chats came back by themselves when someone writes, turn Keep chats archived off. If you want archived chats to stay put, leave it on. Either way, it's worth knowing which way your phone is set before you decide something has been lost.

Does archiving a WhatsApp chat stop notifications?

Mostly, yes. WhatsApp says you won't receive notifications for archived chats unless you're mentioned or replied to, and you can't adjust notifications for archived chats. That explains a common worry. If you archived a busy client or group chat and then missed the pings, the setting did exactly what it was meant to.

It also matters for small business owners. A customer message sent into an archived chat can sit quietly in the archive with no alert. If you ever archive customer conversations to tidy up, check the Archived list as part of your daily routine, or unarchive anything that's still live.

Archive versus hide versus delete in WhatsApp

These three get mixed up all the time:

• Archive tucks a chat out of the main list. WhatsApp says it doesn't delete the chat.
• Hiding a chat is a different job, and I've explained it in my guide to hiding a WhatsApp chat.
• Delete removes the conversation, and getting it back depends on having a backup. My post on whether WhatsApp has a recently deleted folder goes into that.

If you're not sure which one happened to your missing chat, check Archived first. It's the quickest and safest place to look.

If you can't find a WhatsApp chat to unarchive

• Look at the very top of the Chats tab. WhatsApp says you can access your archive at the top of the Chats tab.
• Update WhatsApp. Menu wording can change between versions.
• Try the search bar, as described above.
• Remember the computer apps have their own menus. WhatsApp's article has separate steps for Web and desktop, so check those if you're not on a phone.
• If the chat isn't in Archived at all, it may have been deleted rather than archived.

For more on managing chats day to day, my round-up of WhatsApp help guides has shortcuts for backups, privacy and business use.

Frequently asked questions

How do I unarchive a WhatsApp chat on Android?

Scroll to the top of the Chats tab, tap Archived, tap and hold the chat, then tap the unarchive icon at the top of the screen.

How do I unarchive a WhatsApp chat on iPhone?

Tap Archived at the top of the Chats tab, swipe left on the chat and tap Unarchive. To restore several, tap Edit, select the chats and tap Unarchive.

Does archiving a WhatsApp chat delete it?

No. WhatsApp says archiving a chat doesn't delete it. It only hides the chat from your main Chats list.

Why do archived WhatsApp chats stay archived when someone messages me?

By default WhatsApp keeps archived chats archived when new messages arrive. Turn off Keep chats archived in Settings and then Chats if you want them to come back by themselves.

Will I get notifications for archived WhatsApp chats?

Not usually. WhatsApp says you won't be notified for archived chats unless you're mentioned or replied to.