Where to Find Archived Messages in Facebook

You can archive messages on Facebook to put messages in a different folder, away from the main list of conversations. This organizes your conversations without deleting them, which is helpful if you don't need to message someone, but you want to save the texts.

If you can't find archived Facebook messages, use the appropriate set of instructions below. Facebook messages can be accessed on Facebook and Messenger.com.

Archived Messages on Facebook or Messenger

The quickest way to get to the archived messages is to open this link for Facebook.com messages, or this one for Messenger.com. Both links take you to the archived messages.

Or, follow these steps to manually open your archived messages (if you use Messenger.com, skip to Step 3):

1. For Facebook.com, open Messages. It's at the top of Facebook on the same menu bar as your profile name.

2. Select See All in Messenger at the bottom of the message window.

   

3. Select the Settings gear icon in the upper-left corner of the Messenger window.

   

4. Select Hidden Chats. All archived messages appear in the left pane.

   

   To unarchive Facebook messages, send another message to that recipient. It shows up again in the main list of messages along with other messages that aren't archived.

Archived Messages on a Mobile Device

You can get to your archived messages from the mobile version of Facebook too.

1. Open Messenger.

2. Tap the search bar at the top of the screen and type the name of the person you want to view messages for.

3. Select the friend listed in the search results to see all the messages from that person.

   

How to Search Through Archived Facebook Messages

Once you have an archived message open in Facebook.com or Messenger.com, it's easy to search for a specific keyword with that thread.

1. Look for the Options panel on the right side of the page, under the recipient's profile picture.

   If the Options panel is closed, select the (i) button to open it.

2. Select Search in Conversation.

   

3. Use the search box at the top of the message to enter specific words in that conversation. Use the arrow keys (on the left side of the search box) to see the previous or next instance of the word.