How to see hidden chats in WhatsApp on Android?

How to see hidden chats in WhatsApp on Android - briefly?

To view hidden chats in WhatsApp on Android, follow these steps:

Open WhatsApp and tap on the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner to access the menu.
Select "Settings," then go to "Chats" and enable the "Show Archived Chats" option. This will make your archived chats visible again.

How to see hidden chats in WhatsApp on Android - in detail?

To view hidden chats in WhatsApp on an Android device, you need to follow a specific process as the app does not provide a direct option to unhide conversations. Here's a detailed guide on how to accomplish this:

Backup and Restore Method: This is one of the most effective methods to view hidden chats.
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings > Chats.
- Tap on Chat Backup and follow the prompts to create a backup of your chats. This will include all messages, including those in hidden chats.
- Once the backup is complete, uninstall WhatsApp from your device.
- Reinstall WhatsApp from the Google Play Store.
- During the setup process, you will be prompted to restore your chat history from the backup created earlier. Follow the prompts to restore your chats.
- After restoration, all previously hidden chats should now be visible in your chat list.
Using File Manager: If you prefer not to uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp, you can use a file manager to access the database files where chat history is stored.
- Ensure that WhatsApp is backed up regularly so you don't lose any important data.
- Download and install a reliable file manager app from the Google Play Store if you haven’t already.
- Open the file manager and navigate to the following directory: Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Databases.
- Here, you will find files named msgstore-YYYY-MM-DD.1.db.crypt12 (where YYYY-MM-DD represents the date of the last backup). These files contain all your chat history, including hidden chats.
- Copy these files to a safe location on your device or external storage for future reference.
Third-Party Apps: There are third-party apps available that claim to help you view hidden chats. However, be cautious when using such apps as they may compromise your data privacy and security. Always download apps from trusted sources and ensure they have positive reviews.