Archive chats in WhatsApp are hidden dialogs that users move from the main list so as not to be distracted by notifications. However, over time, many forget about the existence of these conversations or do not know how to bring them back. On Androiddevices (including Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi Redmi, Google Pixel and others), access to the archive is not organized in an obvious way, especially after the 2026-2026 messenger updates.

In this article you will find current ways to view archived chats - from standard unarchiving to restoring from backups. We will also look at why some dialogues may disappear from the archive and how to fix it. All methods have been tested on the latest versions (2.26.x) and Where is the archive on WhatsApp on Android? By default, archived chats are hidden from the main list, but they can be quickly found. On most devices (including WhatsApp (2.26.x) and Android 13/14.

Where is the archive on WhatsApp on Android?

By default, archived chats are in WhatsApp hidden from the main list, but can be quickly found. On most devices (including Samsung, OnePlus, Realme), the path to the archive is the same:

  1. Open the application WhatsApp.
  2. Scroll through the list of chats to the very top —a gray block with the inscription will appear under the search bar Archive chats (on some firmware — Archive).
  3. Tap this block to expand the list of hidden dialogues.

If the archive is not displayed, check:

  • 🔍 Availability of archived chats (if you have never archived dialogues, the block will not appear).
  • 📱 Application version: in WhatsApp Business path may differ.
  • 🔄 Updates: after resetting the settings or reinstalling the messenger, the archive is reset.
📊 Do you often archive chats on WhatsApp?
Yes, regularly
Only important ones dialogues
Never used
Difficult to answer

On some devices (for example, Xiaomi with a shell MIUI) the archive may be hidden due to interface optimization. In this case:

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner (⋮).
  2. Select Archive chats in the drop-down menu.

How to unarchive a chat in WhatsApp

You can return a dialogue from the archive to the main list in 2 steps:

  1. Open the archive (see instructions above) and find the desired chat.
  2. Swipe it to the left or hold your finger on the dialogue → press Unzip (box icon with an up arrow).

If the option Unzip is inactive:

  • 📵 Check your internet connection - without network some functions are blocked.
  • 🔄 Update WhatsApp to the latest version in Google Play.
  • 🗑️ Make sure that the chat has not been deleted: archived dialogues take up space in the device memory, and the system can automatically clear them if there is not enough space.

Check for archived ones chats

Update WhatsApp to the latest version

Free up space in your device memory (minimum 500 MB)

Connect to a stable Internet (Wi-Fi or 4G/5G)-->

Important: unarchived chats are returned to the main list with the entire history of messages, media files and reading statuses preserved. However, if you deleted a chat from the archive (and not just unzipped it), you can only restore it through a backup.

Why archived chats disappear and how to get them back

Users often encounter a situation where archived chats suddenly disappear. Main reasons:

Cause Solution
Automatic cache clearing Disable optimization for WhatsApp in battery settings (Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Battery → No restrictions).
Deleting a backup copy Restore the copy from Google Drive (see section below).
Resetting your phone Reinstall WhatsApp and log in with the same number - the archive will be restored from clouds.
Synchronization error Restart the application or reconnect your Google account.

If chats disappeared after updating WhatsApp, try:

  1. Close the application via Recent (swipe up).
  2. Clear cache: Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Memory → Clear cache.
  3. Restart phone.
💡

Before clearing the cache, make a backup copy of chats in Google Drive: ⋮ → Settings → Chat → Backup.

On devices Samsung with function Secure Folder archived chats may be duplicated. To avoid confusion, disable synchronization WhatsApp c Secure Folder:

  1. Open Secure Folder.
  2. Delete WhatsApp from the protected space.
  3. Reinstall the messenger in the main memory.

Restoring archived chats from a backup copy

If archived dialogues have been deleted, they can be returned from a backup Google Drive or local backup. To do this:

  1. Delete WhatsApp from the phone.
  2. Install the application again from Google Play.
  3. When you first start, confirm the phone number.
  4. When the system prompts you to restore the history from Google Drive, click Restore.

If the copy in Google Drive is missing:

  • 📁 Check local backups in the folder /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases (files type msgstore.db.crypt14).
  • 🔧 Use third-party utilities (for example, WhatsApp Viewer) to extract data from encrypted files.
  • ⏳ Please note that local copies are stored only 7 days.
What to do if the backup is damaged?

If the error "Could not restore history" appears during recovery, try:

1. Delete the file msgstore.db.crypt14 and repeat the recovery (the system will create a new copy).

2. WhatsApp (for example, 2.23.x), since encryption algorithms may have changed.

3. Contact WhatsApp support with error logs (menu ⋮ → Settings → Help → Contact us).

On devices Huawei and Honor without services Google backups are created in Huawei Cloud. To restore the archive:

  1. Login in Huawei ID.
  2. When reinstalling WhatsApp select the option Recover from Huawei Cloud.

How to archive chats automatically

In WhatsApp there is a function autoarchivethat hides inactive chats after a specified period of time. To set it up:

  1. Open ⋮ → Settings → Chat.
  2. Select Chat archiving.
  3. Activate the option Archive chats automatically.
  4. Specify the period of inactivity: 6 months, 1 year or 2 years.

Autoarchiving only works for individual chats. Group dialogues and chats with unread messages are not hidden automatically.

To exclude important chats from auto-archiving:

  • 📌 Pin them to the top of the list (hold chat → Pin).
  • ⭐ Add to Favorites (hold chat → Add to favorites).
  • 🔔 Turn on notifications for a specific dialogue.
💡

Autoarchiving does not delete chats - they remain in the archive and can be unarchived at any time.

Problems with the archive on different versions of Android

On devices with Android 10 and older (including Android 14) access to the archive may be blocked due to storage permission restrictions. If you see the error No access to chats:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → WhatsApp → Permissions.
  2. Activate Storage and Contact.
  3. Restart the application.

On Samsung One UI 5.0+ and Xiaomi HyperOS the archive may not be displayed due to optimization of energy consumption. To fix:

  • 🔋 Disable battery optimization for WhatsApp.
  • 📶 Enable background data transfer.
  • 🔄 Update the phone firmware to the latest version.

If after the update WhatsApp before version 2.26.x the archive stopped working:

⚠️ Attention: In new versions of the messenger, the algorithm for storing archived chats has been changed. If the archive is empty after the update, check if there is a backup copy for the last 30 days. If it is missing, it will be impossible to restore chats. Google Drive for the last 30 days. If it is missing, it will be impossible to restore chats.

Alternative ways to view the archive

If standard methods do not help, try these options:

  1. Search in the archive: In the search bar WhatsApp enter the key word - the system will show the results, including archived chats.
  2. Export chat: Open the archived dialog → ⋮ → Export chat (will be saved in .txt or .zip).
  3. Web version of WhatsApp: Archive chats are also displayed in the desktop version (web.whatsapp.com).
  4. Third-party file managers: Use Solid Explorer or FX File Managerto manually find archive files in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases.

For advanced users:

  • 🛠️ Use ADB to extract the database data WhatsApp:
    • adb pull /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14
  • 🔍 Scan the file using SQLite Browser (database skills required).
⚠️ Attention: Manual intervention in files WhatsApp can lead to account blocking for suspicious activity. Use this method only if other methods fail. worked.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the archive in WhatsApp

Is it possible to archive chats to a memory card?

No, WhatsApp stores archived chats only in the internal memory of the device. However, backups can be saved to SD card manually through the menu Settings → Chat → Backup → Save to card memory (not available on all devices).

Why do archived chats take up space in memory?

Archived conversations are not deleted from the device - they are simply hidden from the main list. Media files (photos, videos, voice messages) are still stored in the folder /WhatsApp/Media. To free up space, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files manually.

How to archive chats on another phone?

If you change the device, archived chats are restored from Google Drive when you first log in WhatsApp with the same number. Make sure that:

  • The backup was created within the last 30 days.
  • You are using the same account Google.
  • The new phone has enough free space.
Is it possible to archive chats without the Internet?

Yes, archiving works offline. However, to restore chats from a backup (for example, after reinstallation), you will need an Internet connection (to download data from Google Drive).

What to do if the archived chat cannot be unzipped?

Try:

  1. Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
  2. Clear the application cache.
  3. Reboot the phone.
  4. If the chat is important, export it to .txt via the menu ⋮ → Export chat.