WhatsApp is a popular messaging app with end-to-end encryption that allows users to send and receive various messages. However, users may desire to hide certain chats from view, which is not a straightforward process. While WhatsApp doesn’t have a built-in feature to hide chats, it has an Archiving function that moves chats to a separate folder. However, archiving doesn’t make chats invisible or inaccessible, they can still be viewed and unarchived. In this article, we’ll explore how to hide WhatsApp chat on Android and iPhone using the Archive feature and other methods and answering frequently asked questions.

Why Would You Need to Hide WhatsApp Chat?

There can be several reasons why someone may want to hide WhatsApp chats. Here are some possible reasons:

• Privacy concerns: Aside from hiding your phone number on WhatsApp, you might also consider hiding specific chats to safeguard your privacy and prevent unauthorized access to your personal conversations or sensitive information. For example, if you share a device with family members or coworkers, you may not want them to access your WhatsApp chats without your permission.
• Security reasons: You may want to hide chats to prevent WhatsApp hack and unauthorized access. By hiding your chats, you can add an extra layer of security to your account and keep your messages safe from prying eyes.
• Organizational purposes: You may want to hide chats to declutter your WhatsApp inbox and keep it organized. By hiding less important chats or chats that you don’t need to access frequently, you can focus on the chats that matter and avoid distractions.
• Aesthetic reasons: You may want to hide chats to improve the visual appeal of your WhatsApp interface. By hiding chats, you can create a cleaner and more streamlined look and reduce clutter on your screen.

Note that hiding WhatsApp chats does not delete them or prevent them from being accessed through other means, such as backups or notification previews. To truly protect your privacy and security, you may need to use additional measures, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, or encrypting your messages.

1. How to Hide WhatsApp Chat on Android and iPhone Using Archive

The Archive feature is available on both Android and iPhone versions of WhatsApp. It allows you to hide one or more chats from your main chat screen without deleting them. Here are the steps to hide WhatsApp chat on Android and iPhone using Archive:

How to Hide a Single Chat on WhatsApp

• Open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone device.
• Find the chat you want to hide and long-press on it until a menu appears at the top of the screen.

• Tap the down arrow icon (Android) or the Archive icon (iPhone) to archive the chat.

How to Hide Multiple Chats on WhatsApp

• Open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone device.
• Find the chats you want to hide and long-press on one of them until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
• Tap on the other chats you want to archive until they are selected.
• Tap the down arrow icon (Android) or the Archive icon (iPhone) to archive the chats.

How to Hide All Chats on WhatsApp

• Open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone device.
• Tap on the three-dot icon (Android) or the Settings icon (iPhone) at the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Tap on Settings > Chats > Chat History > Archive All Chats.

2. How to Hide WhatsApp Chat on Android and iPhone Without Archive

As you can see, the Archive feature is not a reliable way to hide your chats on WhatsApp. Anyone with access to your phone can easily view and unhide your archived chats. Also, archiving a chat does not hide it from your contact list or notifications or your online status. Therefore, you may want to look for other ways to hide your chats on WhatsApp without using Archive. Here are some of them:

How to Hide WhatsApp Chat Using Fingerprint or Face ID

One way to hide your chats on WhatsApp is to lock your WhatsApp app with a fingerprint or face ID. This way, only you can access your WhatsApp app, and no one else can see your chats without your permission. Here are the steps to lock your WhatsApp app with a fingerprint or face ID:

• Open WhatsApp on your Android or iPhone device.
• Tap on the three-dot icon (Android) or the Settings icon (iPhone) at the bottom right corner of the screen.
• Tap on Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint Lock (Android) or Screen Lock (iPhone).
• Turn on the toggle switch next to Unlock with Fingerprint (Android) or Require Face ID / Touch ID (iPhone).
• Choose how long you want WhatsApp to lock automatically after closing it.

How to Hide WhatsApp Chat Using GB WhatsApp

Another way to hide your chats on WhatsApp is to use a modified version of WhatsApp called GB WhatsApp. This unofficial app offers some extra features not available in the original WhatsApp app, such as hiding chats, changing themes, sending larger files, and more. However, using GB WhatsApp is not recommended as it may violate WhatsApp’s terms of service and put your account at risk of being banned. Also, GB WhatsApp may not be safe or secure as Google Play Store or App Store does not verify it. Therefore, use GB WhatsApp at your own risk and discretion. Here are the steps to hide your chats on WhatsApp using GB WhatsApp:

• Download and install GB WhatsApp from its official website or a trusted source.
• Open GB WhatsApp and verify your phone number as you would do with the original WhatsApp app.
• Find the chat you want to hide and long-press on it until a menu appears at the top of the screen.
• Tap on the three-dot icon and choose Hide.
• Enter a four-digit PIN and confirm it.
• To view your hidden chats, tap on the GB Settings icon at the top left corner of the screen and enter your PIN.

How to Hide WhatsApp Chat Using a Third-party App

A third way to hide your chats on WhatsApp is to use a third-party app that can lock or hide specific apps or folders on your device. Many such apps are available for Android and iPhone devices, such as AppLock, Vault, Lockdown Pro, Folder Lock, etc. These apps can help you protect your privacy and security by hiding your sensitive data from others. However, before using any third-party app, ensure it is safe, reliable, and compatible with your device. Here are the steps to hide your chats on WhatsApp using a third-party app:

• Download and install a third-party app that locks or hides apps or folders from Google Play Store or App Store.
• Open the app and set up a password or pattern to lock it.
• Choose which apps or folders you want to lock or hide using the app.
• To access your locked or hidden apps or folders, open the third-party app and enter your password or pattern.

Conclusion

In conclusion, though WhatsApp does not have a direct feature to hide chats, archiving a chat is an alternative way to remove it from your main chat screen. However, archiving is not a foolproof way to hide chats; they can still be accessed and unarchived. The article provided methods to hide WhatsApp chats on Android and iPhone using the Archive feature and answered common questions about the process. Ultimately, hiding chats can help protect privacy and security while chatting on the app.

FAQ