Facebook's archiving feature allows you to hide messages in your inbox. Archived messages are moved to a hidden folder that can be accessed at any time. A new message will lead to the corresponding correspondence reappearing in the mailbox, so we recommend not to hide the current correspondence.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: On a computer
Step 1. Open the message list
Log in to your Facebook account. Now go to your mailbox facebook.com/messages. Alternatively, you can click the Messages icon at the top of the page, and then select View All from the menu.
Step 2. Select the desired correspondence
Click on it in the list on the left pane.
Step 3. Click on the gear icon
It is located above the correspondence in the center panel.
Step 4. Select "Archive"
Clicking on the gear icon will open a menu. From this menu, select Archive to move messages to a hidden folder. If your friend writes to you again, all correspondence will return to your Inbox.
To find the message again, click Others at the top of the message list, and then select Archived from the menu
Step 5. Use your mouse (if you like)
You can archive correspondence with the mouse, while the correspondence itself does not need to be opened. Just scroll through the list of conversations and hover your mouse over the one you want. An X will appear in the right corner of the window. Click on it to archive the message.
Step 6. Delete the message permanently
You can delete a message from your inbox, although it will still appear in your friend's inbox. To delete a message:
- Select a conversation from the list of conversations.
- Click on the "Actions" icon at the top of the screen. It looks like a gear.
- Select Delete messages from the drop-down menu. Check the box next to each message you want to delete. Click Delete in the lower right corner and then click Delete message in the pop-up window.
- To delete the entire conversation, click Delete Conversation.
Method 2 of 2: On a mobile device
Step 1. Hide messages on your smartphone / tablet
Launch any browser on your smartphone or tablet and log into Facebook. Now follow these steps to hide the message:
- Click on the Messages icon (it looks like two speech clouds).
- Swipe left on the correspondence you want to hide.
- Click Archive.
Step 2. Hide messages on a simple cell phone
Follow these steps if you have a regular phone (not a smartphone) with a mobile browser:
- Log in to Facebook.
- Open the correspondence.
- Tap Select Action.
- Click Archive.
- Tap Apply.
Step 3. Use an Android app
If you have Facebook Messenger installed on your Android device, you can manage your messages from your smartphone or tablet. Launch the Facebook app on your Android device:
- Click the speech cloud icon.
- Press and hold the conversation you want to hide.
- Click Archive.
Step 4. Hide the conversation on your iOS device
This method can be applied on iPhone and iPad. Install the Facebook Messenger app, then:
- Launch the Facebook app.
- Click on the Messenger icon at the bottom of the screen. It looks like lightning.
- Swipe left on the correspondence you want to hide.
- Click More.
- Tap Archive.
Advice
- If you want to keep the conversation but don't want anyone to find it, take a screenshot of the message and then delete it. Now copy the screenshot to your personal device.
- The actions described here will only affect messages that are in your mailbox. These messages will remain in the mailboxes of the users with whom you corresponded.
- To view posts from the page you manage (for example, a company page or fan page), sign in to Facebook on your computer, or install the Pages Manager app on your mobile device.
- In most cases, the option to delete messages is in the same menu as the Archive or Archive option.