How to Archive and Unarchive Messages on Messenger

Messenger allows users to archive and unarchive conversations/messages with ease. The feature lets you hide and unhide a conversation. It was not that easy before doing so. But now in the official latest app version, it’s easy and fast. In this guide, I will show the step-by-step procedure to do it. So stay and keep on reading…

There could be tons of reasons you may need to archive a thread. The feature does nothing but hide that conversation from the main chat list. It is also an easy way to make your most personal chat hidden.

You might be thinking that there is a secret conversation then why do we need this feature? I will explain, look it doesn’t matter if the conversation you have just started is encrypted or a regular one. But it will be always visible on the main chat screen of the Messenger application.

It is the main reason you may want a conversation not to be visible. That is why your archive feature comes in handy. You can easily hide and unhide the most personal messages by doing so. Other than this it is quite the same feature ignore and unignoring messages on Messenger. Hopefully, you have got my point. Please find the Update section below to unarchive chats in 2 seconds with the Messenger application. Now let’s get to the procedure.

Update: Archive Messages in Messenger

Facebook has updated its messenger application. This is to give a better user experience and a much cleaner look. However, they have changed some of its features. You can still archive conversations in the new Messenger update. Here is how to do it:

Open Messenger, go to Chats, tap, and hold a conversation you want to archive. Then tap the first option Archive. Messenger will immediately archive the conversation, it remains hidden until you want to unarchive or unhide it manually.

How to Archive Messages on Messenger

First thing first, you must have the latest Messenger app version installed on your device. If not there is nothing to worry about but it is good with the latest one. Anyways to archive a conversation:

1. Open the Messenger app.
2. Tap and hold any conversation you wanna archive.
3. Now tap the Archive option from the list.
4. That is it you have successfully archived a conversation.

Bonus Tip: Write down the name of the person you have just archived in the notepad. You can use apps e.g Notepad, Google Keep, etc. That way you will never forget who you have archived. Then it is easy to unarchive that person (messages) with ease.

The conversation you have just archived will not be visible on the main chat list. However, it disappears/is hidden until you bring it back. You can use this feature for ignoring, getting rid of unwanted notifications, hiding messages, etc. Most people use it for privacy concerns. Furthermore, the choice is yours.

Updated: Unarchive Messages in Messenger 2023

Lots of people are asking that they cannot undo archive chats. First, you can try to search for the person’s name, select his conversation, and send a message. However, to find all the archived chats list and unarchive one, follow this method:

In the latest Messenger app, tap Menu in the top left corner. Tap Archive. Now tap and hold any chat or conversation you wanna unhide or unarchive. Tap Unarhive and done. The conversation will be now visible in the main Chats list in Messenger. This works for both single and group chats.

Open a web browser on your phone and go to messenger.com. Enable the desktop mode, and you will see login options. Then log in to your account, tap the three dots at the top right, then Hidden Chats. The archived chats will be listed there, select one, and send a message to that person to unarchive the conversation. Now go to Messenger and you will the recently unarchived chat at the top of the conversations.

How to Unarchive Messages on Messenger

OLD: The archived chats, messages, or conversations are always there. Unfortunately, Messenger doesn’t allow anymore to view them and unarchive chats. However, you don’t need to worry about that, there are two methods you can follow in order to do so.

Messenger’s latest version is a must. I will show you both of them, 1st method to unarchive conversations:

1. Open your Messenger app.
2. In the Search type in a person’s name whose messages you have archived.
3. Tap the profile once it appears in the list.
4. Send a message to that person, it will unarchive that chat automatically.

That is pretty it, you are good to go. You have successfully unarchived an archived thread on Facebook Messenger. There is an alternative you can follow if you have almost forgotten the person’s name you have archived on Messenger. That is why I gave you a Bonus Tip above.

Alternative Method to Unarchive Messages on Messenger

It is your choice to use Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or any other web browser. But I will suggest you use the Chrome browser to do so. Before proceeding with the following steps, open the Chrome browser, tap the three dots menu icon, and then the desktop site. PC users can follow the end paragraph. Now follow these steps to unarchive messages:

1. Type web.facebook.com in the Chrome browser.
2. Login to FB then tap the Messenger icon at the top right.
3. Now tap the See All in Messenger option at the bottom of the chat screen.
4. Tap Settings (Gear icon) then Hidden Chats.
5. Tap on an archived conversation and send that person a message.
6. Sending a message to that person will automatically unarchive messages.

This is the only available solution right now. Other than that you are searching for nothing but wasting your time. Yes, you can do the same on your Windows or MAC PC too. Instead of web.facebook.com type in messenger.com on your web browser then follow the above steps 2 to 6.

How to View Archived Chats on Messenger

I will tell you the truth, there is no such option on the Messenger app so that we can get there and view the archived conversation. That is why you will need to get into any browser you have on your smartphone and do so. First, open the Chrome browser then tap the Menu icon three dots at the top right then the desktop site. After that to view archived messages:

1. Go to web.facebook.com and log in to your account.
2. Now tap the Messenger icon at the top.
3. Tap the See All in Messenger option on the Chats windows at the bottom.
4. After that tap the Gear Settings icon then Hidden Messages.

You can follow the above screenshots for more reference. Now when the page reloads you will all the archived or hidden messages there. You can unhide the conversations from the list by just tapping on it and then sending that person a nice message. So that is exactly how you can archive, unarchive, hide, unhide, and view archived messages on Messenger.

How do you find archived messages on Messenger?

You can visit messenger.com on your smartphone or PC to view the archived messages. On your PC you won’t have any problems while doing so on mobile, you will need to enable the desktop mode in a browser to log in to your Messenger account. However, to view archived chats on Messenger, log in to your Messenger account and then click on the Settings icon next to the Chats option. Click Hidden Chats and there are all the hidden chats or archived messages on your messenger account.

Unarchive Messages on Messenger without Sending a Message

In short, there is no way to unarchive any without sending a message. It’s impossible. If some are telling you that, they will do it for you. They have no idea what is telling them, you are just wasting time. Trust if there is an update to unarchive messages or convos without sending a message. I will definitely post it here.

Retrieve Archived Messages on Facebook Messenger

You can follow the above in order to do so. Anyway, let me repeat the steps here as well. In your Messenger app, tap once in the Search and type in the person’s name. Tap on his profile, and now send him a message. This will retrieve the archived messages on your Facebook Messenger application.

However, on PC, visit messenger.com and log into your account. Then click on the Settings icon which is available next to the Chats option. Then from the list click Hidden Chats. You will find all the archived chats there. Now to retrieve messages, open a conversation. Then send a message to that person. This will retrieve those messages on your FB Messenger account.