How to Permanently Hide Chats in WhatsApp

WhatsApp will now allow users to permanently hide chats, with new Archived Chat settings.

WhatsApp now allows you to permanently hide chats by archiving them, even if new messages come in that conversation. This feature from the Facebook-owned messaging company is a great way of shutting off unwanted conversations, and keeping them from showing up in your main list of chats. The Archive folder essentially allows users to ignore a group or person without having to block them.

Up until very recently, WhatsApp allowed users to Archive chats that kept them hidden until a new message comes on the group, which then automatically unarchived it. In July, WhatsApp announced the rollout of its new Archived Chats settings that will allow users to keep their archived chats muted even when they receive a new message in an archived message thread. This means that all your archived chats will stay tucked away permanently unless you choose to manually unarchive them.

How to permanently hide chats on WhatsApp

The new Archived settings allow users to archive less important conversations keeping them hidden on the main chat list. Users will not receive notifications for archived chats unless you are mentioned or replied to. Both individual and group chats can be archived, and this can be accesses any time in the Archived section. To hide chats, follow the simple steps below:

1. Open WhatsApp, select the chat that you want to archive. It can be a group or an individual chat.
2. Three options will appear on top. Pin, Mute, and Archive (downward arrow facing icon). Click on the Archive button.
3. The Archived section will show up on the top of your chat feed. You can go into the section and see your hidden chats at any time. Users can easily unarchive the chat by selecting the chat and clicking on the Unarchive option (upward arrow facing icon) on top.
4. If you want to archive all chats, go to the chats tab and tap on More > Settings. Tap on Chats > Chat History > Archive all chats.

(source: https://gadgets.ndtv.com/how-to/features/how-to-permanently-hide-chats-whatsapp-archive-step-by-step-guide-2560600)