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WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps used by millions of people around the world. While it offers a range of features to communicate and share content, there might be situations where you want to keep certain chats hidden for privacy reasons. In this article, we will explore different methods to permanently hide chats in WhatsApp in 2023, including using the built-in archive chat feature and third-party apps.
Table of Contents
Why Hide Chats in WhatsApp?
There could be various reasons why someone might want to hide chats in WhatsApp. It could be to maintain privacy, protect sensitive information, or keep personal conversations away from prying eyes. Additionally, hiding chats can help in decluttering the WhatsApp interface and organizing chats based on priority or relevance.
Methods to Permanently Hide Chats in WhatsApp
There are two primary methods to permanently hide chats in WhatsApp: using the built-in archive chat feature or using third-party apps.
Using Archive Chat Feature
WhatsApp has a built-in archive chat feature that allows you to hide chats without deleting them. When you archive a chat, it gets moved to the “Archived Chats” folder, which is not visible on the main chats screen, but you can access it anytime later.
Read More: Easy Ways to Get Rid of WhatsApp Spam on Android (2023)
Archiving Individual Chats
To archive an individual chat in WhatsApp, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chats screen.
- Long press on the chat that you want to hide. This will select the chat.
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the screen to open the options menu.
- From the options menu, select “Archive chat.”
- The selected chat will now be archived and moved to the “Archived Chats” folder.
Archiving Group Chats
To archive a group chat in WhatsApp, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chats screen.
- Long press on the group chat that you want to hide. This will select the group chat.
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the screen to open the options menu.
- From the options menu, select “Archive chat.”
- The selected group chat will now be archived and moved to the “Archived Chats” folder.
Using Third-party Apps
Apart from the built-in archive chat feature, there are also third-party apps available on the app stores that can help you hide chats in WhatsApp. These apps provide additional features and customization options to manage and hide chats according to your preferences.
Installing and Setting Up Third-party Apps
To use third-party apps to hide chats in WhatsApp, follow these steps:
- Go to the app store on your device and search for “WhatsApp chat hide apps.”
- Choose a suitable app from the search results and install it on your device.
- Once the app is installed, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app with your WhatsApp account. This may involve granting necessary permissions and providing necessary access.
Hiding Chats in WhatsApp using Third-party Apps
After setting up the third-party app, you can use it to hide chats in WhatsApp. The process may vary depending on the app you have installed, but generally, you can follow these steps:
- Open the third-party app and navigate to the chat or chats that you want to hide.
- Select the chat or chats and choose the “Hide” or “Lock” option from the app’s menu.
- The selected chats will now be hidden or locked within the third-party app, making them inaccessible from the main chats screen in WhatsApp.
It’s important to note that third-party apps may have different features, settings, and options, so it’s essential to understand the specific app’s functionality and use it cautiously to ensure your privacy and data security.
Step-by-Step Guide to Hide Chats in WhatsApp
Now, let’s take a closer look at the step-by-step process to hide chats in WhatsApp using the built-in archive chat feature and third-party apps.
Using Archive Chat Feature
Archiving Individual Chats
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chats screen.
- Long press on the chat that you want to hide. This will select the chat.
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the screen to open the options menu.
- From the options menu, select “Archive chat.”
- The selected chat will now be archived and moved to the “Archived Chats” folder.
Archiving Group Chats
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chats screen.
- Long press on the group chat that you want to hide. This will select the group chat.
- Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of the screen to open the options menu.
- From the options menu, select “Archive chat.”
- The selected group chat will now be archived and moved to the “Archived Chats” folder.
Using Third-party Apps
Installing and Setting Up Third-party Apps
- Go to the app store on your device and search for “WhatsApp chat hide apps.”
- Choose a suitable app from the search results and install it on your device.
- Once the app is installed, open it and follow the on-screen instructions to set up the app with your WhatsApp account. This may involve granting necessary permissions and providing necessary access.
Hiding Chats in WhatsApp using Third-party Apps
- Open the third-party app and navigate to the chat or chats that you want to hide.
- Select the chat or chats and choose the “Hide” or “Lock” option from the app’s menu.
- The selected chats will now be hidden or locked within the third-party app, making them inaccessible from the main chats screen in WhatsApp.
Read More: 5 Ways to Leave WhatsApp Groups Silently
Tips and Best Practices
While hiding chats in WhatsApp can be useful for maintaining privacy, it’s essential to follow some tips and best practices to ensure smooth functionality and security.
- Backing Up Chats before Hiding: Before hiding chats using the archive chat feature or third-party apps, it’s advisable to back up your chats to prevent data loss. You can do this by going to WhatsApp settings, selecting “Chats,” and then choosing “Chat backup” to create a backup of your chats.
- Keeping Apps and WhatsApp Updated: It’s crucial to keep both your third-party apps and WhatsApp updated to ensure they function properly. Regularly check for updates in the app store and install them to avoid any compatibility issues or bugs.
- Being Cautious with Third-party Apps: When using third-party apps to hide chats in WhatsApp, make sure to choose reputable apps from trusted sources and read reviews to ensure their reliability and security. Be cautious of granting unnecessary permissions or accessing sensitive information.
- Remembering Hidden Chats: Once you hide chats using the archive chat feature or third-party apps, it’s important to remember which chats you have hidden. Keep track of them or make a note to avoid confusion or accidental disclosure of hidden chats.
- Testing Functionality: After hiding chats, test the functionality of the archive chat feature or third-party apps to ensure that the chats are indeed hidden and cannot be accessed from the main chats screen in WhatsApp. This will help you verify the effectiveness of the hiding process.
Conclusion
Privacy is an important aspect of using messaging apps like WhatsApp, and hiding chats can be a useful way to keep sensitive conversations private. In this article, we have discussed two methods to permanently hide chats in WhatsApp: using the built-in archive chat feature and utilizing third-party apps. Both methods have their pros and cons, and it’s essential to choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences. Remember to follow the tips and best practices mentioned to ensure smooth functionality and security.
FAQs
- Can hidden chats be accessed again in WhatsApp? No, hidden chats cannot be accessed directly from the main chats screen in WhatsApp. They are archived or locked within the app, making them inaccessible unless you unarchive or unlock them.
- Are third-party apps safe to use for hiding chats in WhatsApp? Not all third-party apps are safe to use, as some may compromise your privacy and security. It’s important to choose reputable apps from trusted sources and read reviews before installing them. Also, be cautious of granting unnecessary permissions or accessing sensitive information.
- Can hidden chats be backed up in WhatsApp? Yes, hidden chats can be backed up in WhatsApp using the chat backup feature. However, it’s important to note that the backup may also include hidden chats, and they will be visible if you restore the chat backup.
- Can hidden chats be seen by other WhatsApp contacts or groups? No, hidden chats cannot be seen by other WhatsApp contacts or groups. They are archived or locked within the app, and only you can unarchive or unlock them.
- Can I hide chats on WhatsApp without using third-party apps? Yes, you can hide chats on WhatsApp using the built-in archive chat feature without using third-party apps. This feature allows you to archive individual chats or group chats, making them hidden from the main chats screen.