How to Hide WhatsApp Chat on Android and iPhone

Wondering how to hide WhatsApp chats or messages on Android and iPhone? In this 2025 guide, you’ll learn how to hide archived chats, lock individual chats with biometrics, and even hide WhatsApp chats without archiving – step by step, with screenshots.

Part 1: How to Hide WhatsApp Chats on Android

If you are an Android user, there are several ways to hide WhatsApp chats on Android. You can hide a single chat, multiple chats, or even keep archived chats hidden permanently.

Method 1: Hide a WhatsApp Chat on Android with Archive

One of the simplest ways to hide a WhatsApp chat on Android is by archiving it. Archiving a chat removes it from your main chat list, effectively hiding it from view while keeping the messages safe.

Steps to hide a WhatsApp chat on Android:

1. Open WhatsApp on your Android device and go to the Chats tab.
2. Long-press on the chat you want to hide.
3. Tap the Archive icon at the top of the screen.

The chat will now move to the Archived section. To view or unhide it later, scroll to the top of your chat list, tap Archived, open the chat and send a message, or long-press the chat and tap the Unarchive icon.

Note: If you are not sure if your WhatsApp is safe, you might also want to know if your WhatsApp status and messages are monitored. Click to read more.

Method 2: Hide Multiple WhatsApp Chats on Android

If you want to hide multiple WhatsApp chats at once on Android, follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
2. Long-press the first chat you want to hide.
3. Tap to select additional chats that you want to hide.
4. Once all chats are selected, tap the Archive icon at the top.

All selected chats will move to the Archived section, effectively hiding them from the main chat list.

Method 3: How to Hide Archived Chats on WhatsApp (Keep Chats Archived)

By default, archived chats reappear in your main chat list when you receive a new message. To truly hide archived chats on WhatsApp and keep them out of sight, you need to enable the Keep Chats Archived option.

Steps to hide archived chats on WhatsApp (Android):

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Chats.
3. Scroll down and enable Keep Chats Archived.
4. Now, archive the chats you want to hide as shown above.

Once this option is turned on, archived chats will stay hidden in the Archived folder and will not reappear in your main chat list even when new messages arrive.

Part 2: How to Hide WhatsApp Chat on iPhone

For iPhone users, the methods are similar, but the interface is slightly different. Here is how to hide WhatsApp chats on iPhone, including multiple chats and keeping archived chats hidden permanently.

Method 1: Hide a WhatsApp Chat on iPhone with Archive

Just like on Android, you can easily hide a WhatsApp chat on your iPhone by archiving it.

Steps to hide a WhatsApp chat on iPhone:

1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone and go to the Chats tab.
2. Swipe left on the chat you want to hide.
3. Tap Archive.

The chat will move to the Archived Chats section, which you can access by pulling down on the chat list and tapping Archived. To unhide, swipe left on the archived chat and tap Unarchive.

Recommended reading: Do you want to know How to Hide Status from Someone on WhatsApp? Click to know more!

Method 2: Hide Multiple WhatsApp Chats on iPhone

If you want to hide multiple WhatsApp chats on iPhone at once, follow these steps:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
2. Tap Edit in the top-left corner.
3. Select the chats you want to hide by tapping the circles next to them.
4. Tap Archive at the bottom of the screen.

All selected chats will now be moved to Archived Chats, hiding them from your main chat list.

Method 3: How to Hide WhatsApp Chats Permanently on iPhone

To keep archived chats hidden on iPhone and prevent them from returning to the main chat list when new messages come in, you can enable the Keep Chats Archived feature.

Steps to hide archived chats on WhatsApp (iPhone):

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Tap Chats.
3. Enable the option Keep Chats Archived.
4. Archive the chats that you want to hide.

After enabling this feature, your archived chats will remain hidden until you manually unarchive them. This is a great way to hide WhatsApp chat in iPhone while still keeping all messages safe.

Part 3: How to Hide WhatsApp Chats Without Archive

Archiving isn’t the only way to hide WhatsApp chats. If you don’t want to use the archive feature, you can rely on device-level locks or third-party app locks to hide WhatsApp and protect your chats.

Method 1: Hide WhatsApp Chats with Fingerprint or Face ID

WhatsApp lets you protect access to the app itself with your fingerprint, Face ID, or Touch ID. Once enabled, anyone trying to open WhatsApp will need to authenticate first, which helps you hide WhatsApp messages from others.

Steps to enable biometric lock in WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
2. Tap Account > Privacy.
3. Scroll down and select Fingerprint lock (Android) or Screen Lock (Face ID / Touch ID on iPhone).
4. Toggle the feature on, then choose the lock interval (e.g., immediately, after 1 minute).

Once this is turned on, WhatsApp will be locked, and your chats will stay hidden from anyone who doesn’t have your fingerprint or Face ID.

Method 2: How to Hide WhatsApp Chat with GBWhatsApp (Not Recommended)

GBWhatsApp is a popular modified version of WhatsApp that includes more security features, such as built-in options to hide chats with a pattern lock. However, it is not an official app, and using it may violate WhatsApp’s terms of service. Your account could be restricted or banned, and your data may not be secure.

Steps to hide chats on GBWhatsApp (for reference only):

1. Download and install the GBWhatsApp app on your device.
2. Open GBWhatsApp and go to the chat you wish to hide.
3. Long-press the chat you want to hide.
4. Tap the three-dot menu and select Hide.
5. Set up a pattern lock when prompted.
6. After you draw the pattern, the selected chats will be hidden.

Important: For better security and to avoid any risk of account penalties, we recommend using official WhatsApp features (archive, biometric lock) or system-level app locks instead of mods like GBWhatsApp.

Method 3: How to Hide Chats in WhatsApp with Password (App Lock)

If you prefer not to archive chats but still want to protect all your conversations, you can lock the entire WhatsApp app using a third-party app locker on Android. This is another way to hide WhatsApp from others.

Steps to lock WhatsApp with a third-party App Lock (Android):

1. Download a trusted App Lock application from the Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and grant the necessary permissions.
3. Set a password, PIN, or pattern as your main lock.
4. From the list of apps, select WhatsApp to protect.

From now on, anyone trying to open WhatsApp on your device will need to enter the password or pattern you have set, helping you hide all WhatsApp chats without deleting or archiving them.

Part 4: How to Hide WhatsApp Messages and Notification Preview

Sometimes, you don’t just want to hide chats inside WhatsApp — you also want to prevent message content from appearing on your lock screen or in notifications. Here’s how to hide WhatsApp messages and notification previews.

Hide WhatsApp Message Preview on Android

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Go to Apps > WhatsApp > Notifications.
3. Disable Show notifications content or turn off pop-up / lock screen previews.
4. You can also go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications and disable high-priority notifications.

Hide WhatsApp Message Preview on iPhone

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and go to Notifications.
2. Scroll down and tap WhatsApp.
3. Tap Show Previews and choose Never or When Unlocked.
4. You can also turn off Lock Screen alerts if you don’t want WhatsApp messages to appear there.

By hiding message previews, you can still receive WhatsApp notifications without revealing the content to anyone looking at your screen.

Part 5: [BONUS] How to Track Your Friend's Online Status and Activities

While hiding your own WhatsApp chats is essential for privacy, you might also want to keep track of your friends’ or family members’ online status and activity patterns. Apps like WeLastseen for Android can help you monitor when certain contacts are online.

With an online status tracker app, you can:

• View the last seen and online status of your WhatsApp contacts.
• Monitor when your contacts were last online.
• See if your contacts are currently online.
• Get instant online and offline notifications.
• Analyze daily WhatsApp usage patterns for selected contacts.
• Compare the online activity of two contacts to see when they are likely chatting.

Note: Always respect privacy laws and local regulations. Use such tools responsibly, especially when monitoring children or family members.

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Part 6: Back Up and Hide WhatsApp Chats and Other Data on PC

If you're looking for a more comprehensive solution to back up and hide your WhatsApp chats, along with photos, videos, and documents, consider using MobileTrans - Backup & Restore. This powerful tool allows you to transfer, back up, and manage your WhatsApp data across Android, iPhone, and your PC.

MobileTrans

Backup WhatsApp data seamlessly

Backup chats, contacts, group details, shared attachments, voice notes, and more in 1-click.

Merge WhatsApp data without erasing old data.

Compatible with thousands of device types across Android and iOS.

Supports maintaining different versions of your WhatsApp backup instead of overwriting your data.

MobileTrans

Backup WhatsApp data seamlessly

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Available on:

Here are the simple steps to use MobileTrans to transfer your WhatsApp chats to your PC:

Step 1: From the official website, download and install MobileTrans on your computer. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone or Android device to your computer. Within the MobileTrans app, navigate to "Backup & Restore > App Backup & Restore".

Step 2: Select "WhatsApp" from the list of available apps.

Step 3: Once your device is connected, click the "Start" button to initiate the backup process. For iPhone users, no further action is required during the backup. However, for Android users, the software will provide detailed prompts on how to proceed with the backup process. Follow the on-screen instructions and any pop-up windows that appear.

Step 3: Keep your device connected to the computer throughout the entire backup process. MobileTrans will notify you once the backup is complete. Enter your WhatsApp account phone number when prompted, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 4: To restore your WhatsApp messages, locate the WhatsApp backup record within the MobileTrans app and click on it to initiate the restoration process. The app will convert the data and restore it to your device. Once the restoration is complete, you will see a confirmation window indicating the successful transfer of your WhatsApp data.

By backing up your WhatsApp chats with MobileTrans, you can hide important conversations on your phone while still keeping a secure copy on your computer.

Part 7: Conclusion

Hiding WhatsApp chats is a simple yet powerful way to protect your privacy and keep sensitive conversations discreet. Whether you use an Android phone or an iPhone, WhatsApp offers built-in tools like archiving and biometric locks to help you hide chats and messages safely.

With the methods outlined in this guide, you can hide individual chats, multiple chats, archived chats, or even lock the entire WhatsApp app. For extra security, you can also back up your chats to a PC using MobileTrans. Remember to use these privacy tools responsibly and respect the privacy of others at the same time.

WeLastseen

Track WhatsApp Last seen data

Available on:

Scan Now

secure download

Try It Free Try It Free

Track WhatsApp Last seen data

Try It Free