How to Access Archived Chats on Messenger – A Step-by-Step Guide

If you are an avid user of Messenger, chances are you have a lot of chats piling up in your inbox. Sometimes, you may want to clean up your inbox and archive some of the chats that are not relevant at the moment. However, archiving a chat doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to it forever. In fact, you can easily view your archived chats whenever you want.

To view your archived chats on Messenger, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the search bar at the top of the screen.
3. Type in the name of the person or group chat you want to view.
4. Scroll down on the search results page until you see the section labeled “Archived Chats.”
5. Tap on the chat you want to view to open it.

Once you have followed these steps, you will be able to see all of your archived chats and continue the conversation right where you left off. It’s a great way to keep your inbox organized and easily access important chats whenever you need them.

So, the next time you want to view an archived chat on Messenger, remember these simple steps and you’ll have no trouble finding what you’re looking for.

Step 1: Open Messenger

To view your archived chats on Messenger, the first thing you need to do is open the Messenger app. Whether you are using it on your smartphone or computer, launch the Messenger application and log in with your account credentials. This will take you to the main interface where all your chats are displayed.

Step 2: Tap on the Chats Tab

Once you have opened the Messenger app on your device, you will see several tabs at the bottom of the screen. Look for the tab labeled “Chats” and tap on it to proceed.

If you cannot find the Chats tab, make sure you are using the latest version of Messenger. Older versions of the app may have a slightly different layout.

When you tap on the Chats tab, you will be taken to the main chat screen, where you can see all of your current conversations. The chats that are not visible here may have been archived.

Archived chats are conversations that you have hidden from your main chat screen. These could be conversations that you no longer want to see or ones that are not currently active. By archiving a chat, you can keep it hidden from your main chat screen without deleting it.

To view your archived chats, you will need to access a different section of the Messenger app. Follow the next steps to learn how to access the archived chats.

Step 3: Scroll Down

To view your archived chats on Messenger, scroll down the list of conversations. As you scroll, you will notice that the older chats will start to appear. Keep scrolling until you find the conversation you’re looking for in the archived section.

It’s important to mention that the conversations in the archived section are sorted by date, with the most recent ones displayed first. So if you’re looking for a recently archived chat, you might not have to scroll a lot. However, if you’re trying to find an older conversation, you may need to scroll further.

Step 4: Tap on the Search Bar

Once you are in the messenger app and have accessed your archived chats, you will need to tap on the search bar at the top of the screen. This search bar is where you can type in keywords or names to help you find specific archived chats.

By tapping on the search bar, a keyboard will appear on your screen, allowing you to start typing. You can enter the name or keyword associated with the chat you are looking for. As you type, the messenger app will automatically filter and display any chats that match the entered criteria.

It is important to note that the search bar is not case-sensitive, so you can type in both uppercase and lowercase letters. Additionally, you can use special characters and numbers to refine your search even further.

Tapping on the search bar also reveals a recently searched list, which can be useful if you want to quickly access a chat that you have recently searched for.

If you are having trouble finding a specific chat, try to enter different keywords and names to see if it appears in the search results. Sometimes slight variations in spelling or keywords can make a difference in locating the desired chat.

Step 5: Enter a Contact’s Name

After selecting the “Archived” tab, you can now enter the name of the contact whose archived chat you want to view. Simply type their name into the search bar located at the top of the screen.

If you’re not sure about the exact spelling of their name, don’t worry! Messenger’s search function is quite smart and will suggest potential matches as you type. This makes it easier to find the desired contact, even if you don’t remember the complete name.

Once you’ve entered the name, press enter or tap on the search icon to initiate the search. Messenger will then display a list of contacts that match your search query, including any archived chats with the contact’s name.

Pro tip:

If you’re unable to find the archived chat you’re looking for, double-check the spelling of the contact’s name. It’s also a good idea to verify if the chat has been archived in the first place. Sometimes, chats can get accidentally archived, so make sure to ver ify that the chat has been archived before proceeding.

Step 6: Tap on the Contact

Once you have opened the Messenger app and logged in with your account, you will be able to see all your contacts listed on the home screen. Scroll through the contacts until you find the person whose archived chat you want to view.

Tap on their name or profile picture to open a chat window with them. This will bring up the conversation history, including any archived chats you may have with that person.

If you are using an older version of Messenger, you may need to tap on the “Chat” tab at the bottom of the screen to access your contacts. In newer versions of Messenger, your contacts will be visible on the home screen itself.

Once you have tapped on the contact, you can scroll through the conversation to view any archived messages. These messages may be older and no longer have the same timestamp as recent chats, so make sure to keep that in mind while reviewing the conversation.

With these simple steps, you can easily view your archived chats on Messenger and catch up on any important conversations you may have missed.

Step 7: View Archived Chats

To view your archived chats, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on the search bar at the top of the screen.
3. Type “Archived” and select the “Archived Chats” option from the dropdown menu that appears.
4. You will now see a list of your archived chats.
5. To view a specific archived chat, simply tap on it.
6. If you want to unarchive a chat and bring it back to your main chat list, press and hold on the chat and select “Unarchive”.
7. Verifying that you have successfully archived a chat is easy. When you view your list of chats, archived chats will have a small “archived” label next to them.

By following these steps, you can easily view, manage, and unarchive your archived chats on Messenger.

Step 8: Tap on a Chat

Once you are on the main screen of Facebook Messenger, it’s time to locate the chat you want to view from your archived chats. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your phone or tablet.
2. Sign in to your Messenger account using your credentials.
3. On the main screen, you’ll see a list of your recent chats and conversations.
4. If the chat you are looking for is not in the recent list, tap on the “Search” bar at the top of the screen.
5. Type in the name of the person or group you want to view the chat for.
6. As you type, Messenger will show you a list of suggested chats.
7. Tap on the chat you want to view from the list of suggestions.

Once you tap on the chat, you will be taken to the chat screen where you can view the entire conversation history. You can scroll through the messages, view photos and media files, and even reply to the chat right from this screen.

Remember that archived chats are still accessible and can be interacted with just like any other chat in Messenger. So tap on the chat you want to view and start exploring the conversation history!

Step 9: Read Archived Messages

After successfully finding and accessing your archived chats in Messenger, it’s time to read those messages you’ve stored away. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Archived Chats

First, open the Messenger app on your device and navigate to the main screen.

Next, tap on the Settings icon, which is usually represented by a gear or three horizontal lines, depending on your version of Messenger.

In the Settings menu, you should see an option for Archived Chats. Tap on it to view your archived messages.

2. Scroll Through the Archived Chats

Once you’re in the Archived Chats section, you’ll see a list of all your archived conversations. The chats will be displayed in chronological order, with the most recent archivals appearing at the top.

Scroll through the list to find the chat that you want to read.

3. Open the Archived Conversation

When you find the desired chat, tap on it to open the conversation.

4. Read the Archived Messages

Now that you’re in the archived conversation, you can read the messages that were previously stored away.

You can scroll through the chat history just like any other conversation in Messenger. All the old messages will be displayed, allowing you to catch up on what you’ve missed.

Note: Be aware that if the archived chat contains media files, such as photos or videos, you can also view and download them while reading the conversation.

By following these simple steps, you can easily read your archived messages in Messenger and revisit past conversations whenever you feel like it.

Step 10: Reply to Archived Messages

If you have come across an interesting old conversation in your Messenger but it’s been archived, don’t worry! You can still reply to it and continue the chat. Follow these steps to reply to archived messages:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Select the “Archived Chats” option from the main menu.
3. Scroll through the archived chats and find the conversation you want to reply to.
4. Tap on the conversation to open it.
5. At the bottom of the screen, you will see the text input field. Tap on it to start composing your reply.
6. Type your message and tap the send button to reply to the archived chat.

By following these steps, you can easily reply to any archived conversation in Messenger. Keep in mind that once you reply, the conversation will move back to your main chats list, so you can easily access it in the future.

Step 11: Forward Archived Messages

Once you have successfully viewed your archived messages on Messenger, you might want to forward some of them to a friend or a group. Fortunately, Messenger provides a straightforward way to do this.

To forward an archived message, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Messenger app on your mobile device or navigate to the Messenger website.
2. Tap on the search bar at the top of the screen or click on the search icon.
3. Type in the name of the person or group you want to forward the archived message to.
4. Select the desired recipient from the search results.
5. In the conversation thread, locate the archived message you want to forward.
6. Long-press on the archived message to bring up the options menu. On a desktop, right-click on the message instead.
7. From the options menu, choose “Forward Message”.
8. Enter any additional text or comments you want to include with the forwarded message, if desired.
9. Tap the send button to forward the archived message to the selected recipient.

By following these steps, you can easily forward any archived message on Messenger to keep the conversation going or share important information with others.

Step 12: Delete Archived Messages

Once you have viewed your archived messages on Messenger, you might want to delete some of them to keep your chat history organized. Deleting archived messages is a quick and easy process.

To delete archived messages, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the People tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap on the Search bar at the top of the screen.
4. Type “Archived” into the search bar and tap on the Archived Chats option that appears below.
5. Scroll through the list of archived chats and find the conversation that you want to delete.
6. Swipe left on the conversation and tap on the Delete button that appears.
7. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you want to delete the message. Tap on the Delete button to confirm.

By following these steps, you can easily delete any archived messages on Messenger. This will help you keep your chat history organized and clutter-free.

Step 13: Archive Chat Again

Once you have finished viewing your archived chat on Messenger, you have the option to archive it again if you no longer want it to be easily accessible. To archive the chat once again, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your mobile device or visit the Messenger website on your computer.
2. Log in to your account if necessary.
3. Tap on the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen or on the left side of the website.
4. Scroll through your chat list or use the search bar at the top to find the archived chat you want to re-archive.
5. Tap and hold on the chat until a menu appears.
6. On the menu, tap the Archive option.
7. The chat will be moved back to the archived section and will no longer be visible in your main chat list.

By archiving the chat again, you can keep it stored away for future reference, but it will not clutter your active conversations. This can be useful if you want to clean up your chat list or keep certain conversations private.

Step 14: Change Archived Chat Settings

If you want to customize the way archived chats are displayed on Messenger, you can change the archived chat settings. By changing these settings, you can control the organization and visibility of your messenger chats.

Here are the steps to change archived chat settings:

1. Open Messenger

Launch the Messenger app on your device.

2. Go to Settings

In the Messenger app, tap on your profile picture or icon in the top left corner to open the settings menu.

3. Tap on “Settings”

In the settings menu, scroll down until you find the “Settings” option and tap on it.

4. Select “Archived Chats”

In the settings menu, locate and tap on the “Archived Chats” option.

5. Customize Settings

In the archived chat settings, you can customize various options such as:

• Display Order: Choose how archived chats are organized, either by most recent or by name.
• Show Previews: Toggle this option to show or hide message previews for archived chats.
• Filter Chats: Choose whether to show all archived chats or only those with unread messages.

Make your desired changes to these settings.

6. Save Changes

Once you have customized the archived chat settings to your preference, tap on the “Save” or “Done” button to save your changes.

You have now successfully changed the archived chat settings on Messenger. Your archived chats will be displayed according to your chosen settings.

Step 15: Access Archived Photos

Once you have accessed your archived chat, you also have the ability to view any photos that were shared in that chat. Archived photos can sometimes be difficult to find, but with a few simple steps, you will be able to access them.

To access archived photos:

1. Open Messenger and navigate to the chat where the photos were shared.
2. Click on the “Settings” icon in the top-right corner of the chat window.
3. From the drop-down menu, select “View Archived Photos”.
4. A new window will open, showing all the photos that were shared in the archived chat.
5. You can then click on each photo to view it in a larger size, or download it to your device if desired.

It’s important to note that archived photos will still remain in the chat, even after you have accessed them. If you want to remove them completely, you will need to delete them individually from the chat.

Now that you know how to access your archived photos, you can easily revisit those meaningful memories and enjoy them once again.

Step 16: Access Archived Videos

To access archived videos in Messenger, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the chat icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll to find the chat that contains the archived videos.
4. Tap on the chat to open it.
5. Scroll through the chat to locate the archived videos. They will be marked with a “Archived” label.
6. Tap on the archived video to open and view it.

By following these steps, you will be able to access and view any archived videos in Messenger.

Step 17: Access Archived Documents

To view archived documents in a chat:

1. Open the Messenger app.

2. Tap on the “Chats” tab at the bottom of the screen.

3. Scroll through your chats and locate the chat you want to view archived documents in.

4. Tap on the chat to open it.

5. Swipe left on the chat to reveal the hidden options.

6. Tap on the “More” button represented by three dots.

7. From the list of options, tap on “Archived Documents”.

8. The chat will now display all the archived documents that were shared in that conversation.

Note: If there are no archived documents in the chat, you will see a message indicating so.

Now you can easily access your archived documents within a chat whenever you need them.

Step 18: Search Within Archived Chats

Once you have successfully viewed your archived chats on Messenger, you may want to quickly find a specific conversation instead of scrolling through all of them. Messenger provides a search feature that allows you to locate a particular chat within your archived messages.

To search within your archived chats, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen to access the search bar.
3. Type in the keyword or name of the person you want to find within your archived chats.
4. As you type, Messenger will display the search results below the search bar.
5. If the chat you are looking for appears in the search results, tap on it to open the conversation.
6. If the chat does not appear in the search results, try refining your search query.
7. You can also tap on the “See All” option at the bottom of the search results to view more matches.

Keep in mind that the search feature will only search within your archived chats. If the chat you are looking for is not in your archived messages, it will not show up in the search results.

Using the search feature within archived chats can save you time and effort, especially if you have a large number of conversations stored in Messenger. It allows you to quickly find the specific chat you are looking for without having to manually scroll through all of your archived messages.

Step 19: Filter Archive by Date

Once you have successfully viewed your archived chats, you may want to filter them by date to find specific conversations more easily. This can be particularly useful if you have a large number of archived chats and need to locate a chat from a particular time period.

To filter the archive by date, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app.

If you haven’t done so already, open the Messenger app on your device to access your archived chats.

2. Tap the “Archived” tab.

On the main screen of the Messenger app, tap the “Archived” tab at the top of the screen. This will take you to the archived chats section.

3. Tap the “Filter” button.

At the top-right corner of the archived chats section, you will see a “Filter” button. Tap on it to open the filter options.

4. Select the desired date range.

From the filter options, you can select the desired date range to filter your archived chats. Choose the start and end dates to narrow down the search results.

5. Tap the “Apply” button.

After selecting the date range, tap the “Apply” button to apply the filter and display the archived chats within the specified dates.

By filtering your archived chats by date, you can quickly find the specific conversations you are looking for. This can save you time and make it easier to navigate through your archived chats.

Step 20: Sort Archived Chats

To make it easier to find a specific archived chat, you can use the sorting feature in Messenger. With this feature, you can arrange your archived chats in a specific order, such as by date or by name.

To sort your archived chats, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Ver” icon at the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. In the menu that appears, tap on “Archived Chats”.
4. Once you are in the Archived Chats section, tap on the “Chat” icon at the top right corner of the screen.
5. In the dropdown menu that appears, select the sorting option that you prefer, such as “Sort by Date” or “Sort by Name”.
6. Your archived chats will now be sorted according to your selection.

By sorting your archived chats, you can quickly find the specific chat you are looking for, without having to scroll through a long list of archived conversations.

Note: The sorting feature may vary depending on the version of the Messenger app you are using.

Step 21: Group Archived Chats

After following the previous steps to view archived chats on Messenger, you may want to organize your archived chats by grouping them. Grouping archived chats can help you better manage and find specific conversations.

To group your archived chats, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Chats” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the section labeled “Archived Chats” and tap on it.
4. You will now see a list of your archived chats.
5. Tap on the chat that you want to group with others.
6. Tap on the “Edit” button at the top of the screen.
7. Tap on the checkbox next to each chat that you want to group together.
8. Once you have selected all the chats you want to group, tap on the “Group” button at the bottom of the screen.
9. You will now see a new section at the top of the screen labeled “Grouped Chats”.
10. In this section, you can find all your grouped archived chats.
11. Tap on a grouped chat to view its contents.
12. You can also tap on the “Edit” button to manage the chats in a group, such as deleting or ungrouping them.

By grouping your archived chats, you can keep your conversations organized and easily access specific chats without having to search through all your archived messages.

Note: Grouped archived chats will still remain in the “Archived Chats” section, but they will also be displayed in the “Grouped Chats” section for your convenience.

Step 22: Unarchive Chats

To unarchive a chat in Messenger, follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Chats” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the “Archived” section.
4. Tap on the chat that you want to unarchive.
5. Once the chat is open, tap on the three-dot menu icon at the top right corner of the screen.
6. From the menu that appears, select “Unarchive” to move the chat back to your active conversations.

After following these steps, the chat will no longer be archived and will appear in your regular chat list.

Verifying the chat is unarchived:

• Go back to the “Chats” tab.
• Scroll through your chat list and locate the chat that you just unarchived.
• If you see the chat in your regular chat list, it means the unarchive process was successful.

Step 23: Remove Chats from Archive

If you no longer need a conversation that is archived, you have the option to remove it from the archived folder. Follow these simple steps to remove chats from the archive on Messenger:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the “Chats” tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll through the list of chats and find the archived chat that you want to remove.
4. Long press on the archived chat to select it.
5. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with options.
6. Tap on the “Unarchive” option to unarchive the chat.
7. The chat will be moved back to your regular chat list.

By following these steps, you can easily remove an archived chat from Messenger and have it available in your main chat list again. This is useful if you need quick access to a conversation that you previously archived.

Step 24: Export Archived Chats

In order to further secure your conversations, you can also export your archived chats from Messenger. This will allow you to have a local copy of your conversations, which can be useful for reference or backup purposes.

To export your archived chats, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top left corner to open the settings menu.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Archived Chats”.
4. Select the chat you want to export by tapping on it.
5. Tap on the three dots icon in the top right corner of the chat screen.
6. In the menu that appears, tap on “Export Chat”.
7. You will be prompted to choose whether you want to export the chat with media or without media. Select your preferred option.
8. Choose the method of export, such as email or file sharing app.
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the export process.

Once you have exported your archived chats, you will be able to access them in the exported format. This can be particularly useful if you want to review old conversations or if you need to provide evidence of a conversation.

Remember to keep your exported chats secure, as they may contain sensitive information. Consider encrypting the exported file or storing it in a secure location.

By following these steps, you can easily export your archived chats from Messenger and have a backup of your conversations.

Step 25: Print Archived Chats

If you want to keep a physical copy of your archived chats, you can easily print them out using your browser’s print function. This can be useful if you need a hard copy for reference or documentation purposes.

Here’s how you can print your archived chats:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device and log in to your account.
2. Navigate to the Archived Chats folder by tapping on the Chat tab and then selecting “Archived Chats”.
3. Scroll through your archived chats and locate the specific chat you want to print.
4. Tap on the desired chat to open it.
5. Once the chat is open, tap on the settings icon (represented by three horizontal dots) located at the top-right corner of the screen.
6. In the settings menu, select the option to “Print” or “Print Chat”. This will open a print preview of the chat.
7. Adjust the print settings as needed, such as selecting the printer and choosing the number of copies.
8. Click “Print” to start the printing process.

By following these steps, you can easily print out any of your archived chats and have a physical copy of the conversation.

It’s important to note that the process may vary slightly depending on the device and browser you’re using. However, the general steps should remain the same for most platforms.

Device	Browser	Print Settings
Windows PC	Google Chrome	Set paper size, orientation, and margins
Mac	Safari	Scale content, adjust headers and footers
Android	Firefox	Choose printing method (USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth)
iOS	Chrome	Select specific pages or ranges

Make sure to review the print settings and make any necessary adjustments before proceeding with the print job. Once the printing is complete, you will have a hard copy of your archived chat at your disposal.

Step 26: Backup Archived Chats

Backing up your archived chats in Messenger is a great way to ensure that you don’t lose any important conversations. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device
2. Tap on the Settings icon in the bottom right corner of the screen
3. Scroll down and tap on Archived Chats
4. Find the chat that you want to backup
5. Long press on the chat until a menu appears
6. Tap on Backup Chat
7. The chat will now be backed up to your device
8. You can repeat this process for each chat that you want to backup

By backing up your archived chats, you can have peace of mind knowing that your important conversations are safely stored on your device.

Step 27: Restore Archived Chats

If you want to restore a previously archived chat on Messenger, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Messenger app on your device.
2. Tap on the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the chat list and tap on Archived Chats.
4. Here, you will find a list of all the archived chats.
5. Tap on the archived chat that you want to restore.
6. Once you enter the chat, you can read all the messages and interact with the other person just like before.
7. To unarchive the chat and move it back to the regular chat list, tap on the Actions button (represented by three dots) in the top right corner of the screen.
8. In the menu that appears, tap on Unarchive.
9. The chat will now be restored and will appear in your regular chat list.

Tips:

• You can also swipe left on an archived chat in the Archived Chats section to reveal the Unarchive option.
• If you want to search for a specific archived chat, you can use the search bar at the top of the Archived Chats section.

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