messaging apps like Viber have become essential for staying connected with friends, family, and colleagues. However, over time, accumulated chats, photos, videos, and other media can consume significant storage space on your smartphone. If your device is running low on storage, you might wonder how to manage Viber chats effectively without losing important conversations. While Viber doesn’t have a traditional “archive” feature like some other apps, it offers powerful tools such as hidden chats for decluttering your main chat list and built-in storage management to free up space by clearing media and cache.
This comprehensive guide explains how to “archive” chats in Viber (by hiding them), combined with strategies to truly save storage space. We’ll cover step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS, benefits, practical applications, common issues, and the latest trends in 2025.
Understanding Viber’s Chat Management: Hide vs. True Archiving
Viber’s “hidden chats” feature is often referred to as archiving because it removes conversations from your main chat list, making your interface cleaner and more organized. Hidden chats are protected by a PIN (or biometric authentication on supported devices), ensuring privacy while keeping messages accessible.
However, hiding a chat alone does not save storage space—the messages and media remain on your device. To actually free up space, you need to use Viber’s Storage Management tool to clear cache, delete unnecessary media, or export chats for offline storage.
According to Rakuten Viber’s official help resources, effective storage management can reclaim gigabytes of space, especially from media-heavy group chats.
Step-by-Step: How to Hide (Archive) Chats in Viber
Hiding chats is simple and reversible. Here’s how to do it on mobile devices (the primary way most users manage Viber).
On Android:
- Open the Viber app and go to the Chats tab.
- Long-press on the chat you want to hide.
- Tap Hide chat from the menu.
- If it’s your first time, set a 4-digit PIN (or use fingerprint if enabled).
- Confirm, and the chat disappears from your main list.
On iOS (iPhone/iPad):
- Open Viber and navigate to Chats.
- Swipe left on the desired chat.
- Tap Hide.
- Set or enter your PIN to confirm.
To access hidden chats later:
- Tap the search bar at the top of the Chats screen.
- Enter your PIN—the hidden chats will appear.
For extra security, you can enable Face ID or Touch ID for hidden chats in Settings > Privacy.
Hiding chats is ideal for decluttering without deleting—perfect for old group conversations or infrequent contacts.
How to Actually Save Storage Space in Viber
Hiding chats organizes your app but doesn’t reduce storage usage. Here’s how to free up real space using Viber’s built-in tools (updated in recent versions as of 2025).
Using Storage Management
Viber’s Storage Management feature (introduced and enhanced in recent updates) lets you visualize and delete space-hogging files.
- Open Viber > Tap More (bottom right) > Settings > Data and Storage > Storage Usage.
- Viber scans your device and shows:
- Total space used by Viber.
- Breakdown by chat (e.g., which group has the most media).
- Media types (videos often take the most space).
- Tap Clear Cache to remove temporary files (reloadable later without permanent loss).
- Select specific chats or media categories and delete unnecessary files.
This can free up several GBs, especially if you have years of accumulated photos and videos.
Exporting Chats for Offline Archiving
To truly “archive” and remove chats from your device while preserving them:
- Open a chat > Tap the chat name/info at the top.
- Select Chat Info & Settings > Export Chat.
- Choose to include media or not.
- Share the exported file (text as .txt or .zip with media) via email or cloud storage.
Exported chats can be stored on your computer or external drive, freeing device space. For bulk exports, consider third-party tools, but always prioritize official methods for security.
A reliable external resource for detailed Viber data management is the official Rakuten Viber Help Center: Viber Storage Management.
Advantages of Hiding Chats and Managing Storage in Viber
- Decluttered Interface: Hidden chats keep your main list focused on active conversations.
- Enhanced Privacy: PIN-protected hidden chats prevent unauthorized access—great for sensitive discussions.
- Space Savings: Clearing media and cache can recover significant storage, improving device performance.
- Data Preservation: Exporting allows long-term archiving without losing memories.
In practical applications, users often hide work-related groups during weekends or export family chats before switching phones.
Integrating Viber’s Other Features for Better Experience
While managing chats, explore related features for a smoother experience:
- For secure group calls, learn enable end-to-end encryption for groups in Viber.
- Customize your calls by learning adjust Viber call ringtone settings.
- Enhance meetings with use Viber’s screen sharing during calls.
These features complement chat management, especially in group scenarios.
Common Problems and Troubleshooting
- Forgot PIN? Unfortunately, Viber doesn’t allow PIN recovery for security reasons. You’ll need to unhiding won’t work without it—consider resetting if necessary (may lose access temporarily).
- Hidden Chats Not Appearing? Ensure you’re entering the correct PIN in the search bar. Update Viber to the latest version.
- Storage Not Freeing Up? After clearing, restart the app or device. Media saved to your gallery separately won’t be affected.
- No Notifications from Hidden Chats? By design, hidden chats suppress notifications for privacy, but you’ll see a generic alert.
In 2025 trends, Viber continues emphasizing privacy with features like enhanced hidden chats and AI-powered summaries, aligning with growing demands for data control.
Latest Trends in Messaging Storage Management (2025)
As smartphones handle higher-resolution media, apps like Viber are prioritizing on-device storage tools. Features like selective media deletion and cache clearing are becoming standard. Users are also shifting toward cloud backups for texts while keeping media local only when needed.
Take Control of Your Viber Storage Today
Managing chats in Viber—through hiding for organization and storage tools for space savings—helps maintain a fast, private, and efficient messaging experience. Whether you’re hiding old conversations to declutter or exporting them to free up GBs, these steps ensure your important memories stay safe without overwhelming your device.
Start by checking your Storage Usage today. With Viber’s user-friendly tools, saving space is easier than ever. Stay connected without the clutter!