The habit of keeping order in their applications is common, and whatsapp offers a very useful function for this purpose: the storage of chats. this tool allows you to remove less urgent conversations from the main screen, leaving space to the most active and relevant ones. however, it may happen to store a chat and then realize you have to consult or restore it. if you’re in this situation and you don’t know how to proceed, don’t worry. this detailed guide will accompany you step by step to view and restore stored chats on each platform, from android to iphone, to desktop clients and whatsapp web. it’s a simpler operation than it might seem.
Understand the storage of chats: it is not deletion #
Before we dive into practical procedures, it is essential to clarify a key concept: scapping a chat is not equivalent to deleting it. this is a common mistake that generates confusion and anxiety. when a conversation is stored on whatsapp, it is not deleted at all; it is simply moved to a separate and ‘hidden’ section of the application, from which it can be easily consulted or, if necessary, restored to the main screen.
- archive:* move the chat to a dedicated area, keeping it intact and recoverable at any time. the conversation remains in your account.
- delete:* removes the chat from your device and, if a previous backup has not been made, makes it unrecoverable. it will no longer be in your account.
It is important to note that both archived and deleted chats are not included in automatic backups after the action. this means that if you delete a chat by mistake and do not have a recent backup, you may lose it forever. with the storage, instead, the chat is always there, ready to be reported in the foreground.
View and restore stored chats on android #
If you use an android smartphone, the steps to access and manage your stored chats are intuitive.
How to view the chats stored on android: #
- Open the whatsapp application on your device.
- Make sure you are on the chat card (usually located at the bottom or top, depending on the app version).
- Completely scroll the screen up. you will see the voice archive* appear at the top of the chat list. if you don’t see it right away, scroll again from top to bottom to ensure you have reached the end (or beginning) of the list.
- Tap on archive* to access the screen containing all your hidden conversations.
- Locate the desired chat and tap it to view the content.
How to restore one or more chats stored on android: #
- for a single chat:* hold on to the stored conversation you want to restore for a few seconds until it is highlighted. upstairs, an icon depicting a box with an arrow facing upward. tap to return the chat to the main screen.
- for more chats at the same time: after highlighting the first chat (with prolonged pressure), simply tap the other chats you want to restore to select them. then tap the icon of the box with the arrow upward* at the top of the screen.
- for all chats at once (fast method): from the main screen of whatsapp, tap the icon of the three vertical dots (.) at the top right. select settingschat* chat history**. here you will find the option can you store all chat. confirm your intention by touching ok.
How to store chat on android again: #
If you want to store one or more chats again, from the main chat screen, hold on the conversation or select multiple chats, then tap the icon of the box with the arrow facing down** at the top of the screen. to store all chats, go to settingschat********store all chat and confirm.
View and restore stored chats on iphone #
Even for iphone users, the management of archived chats is a slender and well integrated process in the ios interface.
How to view stored chats on iphone: #
- Open the whatsapp application on your iphone.
- Make sure you are in the chat section, touching the corresponding item in the menu below.
- Scroll the screen up. at the top of the chat list, you will see the voice archive. if it doesn’t appear immediately, scroll from top to bottom to ensure you see the start of the list.
- Tap archive* to access the list of your hidden conversations.
- Tap the chat that interests you to read its content.
How to restore one or more chats stored on iphone: #
- for a single chat (swipe method): in the chat screen stored, make a swipe from right to left on the conversation you want to restore. it will buy the annulla file* button. tap to return the chat to the main screen.
- for more chat (modify method): tap edit** on the top right in the archived chat screen. select select chat from the menu that opens. quit the chats to restore and then tap the word annulla archiving* on the bottom left.
- for all chats at once: from the main screen of whatsapp, tap settings in the menu below. then go to chat** and tap the annulla archiving of all chat.
How to store chat again on iphone: #
To store one or more chats, from the chat section, swipe from right to left on the conversation and tap the archive** button that appears. to store all chats, go to settings > chat > archive all chats and confirm the action.
Automatic management chat archived (specific iphone): #
On iphone, whatsapp offers an additional option to decide the behavior of chats stored in case of new messages. to access this setting:
- Go to **settings****chat.
- You will find a switch next to the voice ** keep chats stored**.
- Move the switch to on* if you want the chats to be stored even when you receive new messages. move it to off* if you prefer the archived chats to return automatically to the main screen in case of new notifications.
Manage chats stored on computer (client windows and macos) #
If you use whatsapp desktop application on your windows or mac pc, the procedure to manage archived chats is almost identical for both operating systems.
How to view chats stored on pc: #
- Start the application whatsapp from the start menu (windows) or launchpad (macos).
- Once the interface is loaded, look at the left side menu. here you will find a*** icon of the archive*** (often a box with an arrow). click on it.
- It will open a screen showing all your stored chats.
- Click on the conversation of interest to view the content.
How to restore one or more chats stored on pc: #
- for a single chat:* on the archived chat screen, click ** right click** on the conversation you want to restore and select the annulla storage* option from the context menu.
- for all chats at the same time:******* (settings) in the left side menu. from the settings screen, select chat. then click on the can you store all chat* and confirm the action.
How to store chat on pc again: #
From the main chat screen, right click*** on the desired conversation and choose the archive* option from the context menu. to store all chats, go to settings > chat* > archive all chats and confirm.
Whatsapp web: access hidden conversations #
Also using whatsapp directly from the browser via whatsapp web, you can easily access and manage your stored chats.
How to view chats stored on whatsapp web: #
- Open your favorite browser (e.g. chrome, firefox) and connect to the *whatsapp web website.
- Once you upload the page and, if necessary, log in (by qr scan), on the main screen of the chat list, scroll up or down. you will find the entry****** at the top of the list.
- Click archive to view all hidden conversations.
- Click on the chat that interests you to open it and read its content.
How to restore one or more chats stored on whatsapp web: #
- for a single chat:* on the archived chat screen, click ** right click** on the conversation you want to restore and select the annulla storage chat* option from the context menu.
- for more chat:* repeat the right click and unsubscribe for each desired chat. there is no option to restore all chats simultaneously via whatsapp web.
How to store chat again on whatsapp web: #
From the main chat screen, click ** right click** on the conversation and choose the archive chat* option from the context menu.
Whatsapp business: same procedures for professionals #
If you use whatsapp business for your professional activities, you will be happy to know that procedures to view and restore archived chats are identical to those of the standard application. whether you operate from smartphones (android or iphone) or via whatsapp web, the steps described above apply entirely. currently, there is no desktop client specifically dedicated to whatsapp business for windows or macos, so computer management will mainly happen via whatsapp web.
Conclusions #
Whatsapp storage function is a powerful tool to keep order and focus on the most important conversations. as you can see, recovering a stored chat is an extremely simple operation, regardless of the device or platform you are using. there is no reason to fear losing important conversations; just know where to search and how to act. with this guide, you now have all the information you need to better manage your archived chats, ensuring that nothing goes lost and that you can always have your conversations at hand when you really need it.