Whether your circle of friends have migrated over to a new messaging service or you're simply done with using it, there may come a time when you'll want to delete your WhatsApp account. When that time arrives, you'll want to make sure you've backed up your account and saved any important or memorable chats before you do. Because otherwise once you tap delete, it's gone for good.

While iCloud will easily back up all your WhatsApp account data, you've got a secondary option to archive chats if you want to declutter your chat screens or store a copy of your chats beyond iCloud. For starters, we'll stick entirely within the app and go over how to archive chat conversations.

4. Tap on Archive. It's the file box in the blue square to the right of the conversation.

How to find and restore archived chats in WhatsApp for iPhone

1. Tap on the Chats tab.
2. Swipe down to reveal "Archived Chats" above the search bar.
3. Tap on "Archive Chats".

5. Tap on Unarchive. It's the file box with the up arrow to the right of the conversation.
6. Tap on Chats to go back to your active chats.