Can I hide message threads on iPhone without deleting them?

[mollyjane]

I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to hide text or iMessage threads on iPhone without actually deleting them. I don’t want to lose the chats just want them out of sight for privacy. I looked around in settings but couldn’t find a clear option.


Has anyone tried this before or found a good trick or workaround? Please share how you do it!

 

[ammy]

No, you can’t fully hide message threads on an iPhone without deleting them. However, you can mute conversations (swipe left → tap “Hide Alerts”) or move them to a hidden folder if using Messages with iCloud and iOS 17’s Filtered View, which organizes messages by category.

 

[isabel]

You can’t fully hide message threads on iPhone, but you can mute or hide alerts and move them to “Unknown Senders” or use Notes lock as a workaround.

 

[Gsusangrey]

No, the iMessage app lacks a built-in "Archive" feature that would allow you to conceal entire threads without erasing them.

Using a Focus Filter in Settings ->Focus to conceal threads from particular users in the Messages app while that Focus is active is the most effective workaround.

 

[royjasika]

You can’t fully hide message threads on an iPhone without deleting them, but there are workarounds. You can mute or hide alerts by swiping left and tapping “Hide Alerts.” Alternatively, move the conversation to the Unknown Senders tab by enabling Filter Unknown Senders in Settings → Messages for added privacy.

 

[lucas]

Yes. You can’t fully “hide” iPhone message threads, but you can hide notifications so the conversation stays out of sight:

• Swipe left → Hide Alerts on the thread (or tap the contact → “Hide Alerts”).
• The chat stays muted and won’t pop up on your lock screen.

For true hiding, you’d need to use a third-party app; iMessage itself doesn’t support secret or locked chats.