Often receive annoying WhatsApp chats but are reluctant to block the contact? Don't worry because WhatsApp has a feature that can hide chats without blocking contacts.

WhatsApp recently released a new archive feature that allows users to hide chats and silence notifications for good. So this feature will be very useful for those of you who, for example, often receive annoying messages from your ex-girlfriend.

Before this feature existed, archived WhatsApp chats would return to the main inbox if they received a new message. With this new feature, archived chats will still be stored in the Archived folder even if they receive new messages.

You also won't receive notifications if a message arrives in an archived chat, unless you're mentioned or your message is replied to in the group.

Without further ado, here's how to hide annoying WhatsApp chats without blocking contacts:

• Open the WhatsApp application and select the contact or group you want to hide.
• On Android, tap and hold and then tap the Archive icon which shows a box with an arrow at the top right of the app.
• On iOS, just swipe left or tap and hold on the contact you want to hide and select the Archive option.
• Chats will be directly stored in the Archived folder permanently and will not display notifications if there are messages that come in.

To access chats that have been hidden, you just need to open the Archived folder at the top of the WhatsApp home page for Android or iOS. There you can see a list of archived contacts and groups.

WhatsApp also provides an option to restore chats from the Archived folder to the main inbox. To do this, open the Archives folder, tap and hold the contact or group you want to restore, then tap the Archive icon in the upper right corner.

You can also still use the old-fashioned archive feature where archived chats can return to your main inbox when you receive a new message. The trick is to open the settings menu in the WhatsApp application, select the Chat option, then turn off the 'Keep chats archived' toggle.