Managing messages and conversations in WhatsApp is constantly evolving to facilitate the organization and quick access to important information. One of the most useful advances is the ability to set both full chats , the individual messages at the top of the app, ensuring you never lose sight of what you consider a priority. This option is especially useful if you frequently interact with certain contacts or need to remember important information in groups or individual conversations. We'll explain this in detail below. How to pin chats and messages on WhatsApp, the differences between both functions, their limits, and all the tricks you can take advantage of on Android, iOS, the Web, and desktop.
Why pin chats and messages on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp sorts conversations and messages chronologically, showing the chats where you've received the most recent messages at the top, while the least active ones move down. However, not all chats are equally relevant, and it can be frustrating to lose sight of work groups, family members, or frequent contacts.
With the function of pin chats, you can pin up to three conversations to the top of the chats tab, regardless of their activity level. This way, you always have them available, avoiding the classic problem of having to search through dozens of chats. On the other hand, the pinning messages allows you to highlight key information—such as addresses, dates, reminders, or links—at the top of an individual or group chat, making it easier for all participants to find.
Plus, these settings sync across devices: what you set on mobile will appear on the web and desktop versions, and vice versa.
How to pin chats to the top of WhatsApp
The pinning chats feature is designed to prioritize those important conversations, preventing them from being hidden even if your daily activity pushes other chats up. You can pin both individual and group chats, and the best part is that the process is very simple on any platform.
Step by step to pin chats on Android
- Open WhatsApp on your Android mobile.
- Go to the tab "Chats" in the main window.
- makes a long press about the conversation you want to pin (either individual or group).
- The top bar will show the pushpin icon, along with the options to archive, mute, and delete. Click the pin and the chat will be pinned.
- You can repeat this process until you set a maximum of three conversations. The most recently pinned chat will appear at the top.
Step-by-step guide to pinning chats on iPhone (iOS)
- Open the WhatsApp app on your iOS device.
- Access the section of "Chats".
- Swipe the chat you want to pin to the right to reveal the options.
- Touch the button pushpin to pin the conversation. You can pin up to three chats in total.
Pin and unpin chats on WhatsApp Web and desktop
- Opens Web WhatsApp or the desktop app and log in with your account.
- In the left sidebar, locate the chat you want to pin.
- Right click on the conversation and select “Pin chat” in the context menu.
- You can repeat this until you pin three conversations.
- To unpin, repeat these steps and select “Unpin chat”The chat will return to its usual chronological order.
Advanced Limits and Tricks: Can you pin more than three chats?
By default, WhatsApp only allows pinning. three chats simultaneously on the mobile app and desktop, which helps keep the top of your chat list from cluttering up. If you try to pin a fourth chat, you'll have to unpin one of the already pinned chats first.
However, there is a trick to pin more than three chats on WhatsApp Web: using browser extensions, such as WA WebPlus For Google Chrome, you can bypass the limit and pin chats "unlimited." This feature is only valid on the web version and may be discontinued in the future. Changes you make on one platform (pinning/unpinning) are automatically synced across all other linked devices.
How to unpin a chat on WhatsApp
Unpinning a chat is as easy as pinning it. Just long press (Android), swipe right (iOS), or right click (web/desktop) on the pinned chat and select the crossed out pin. When you unpin, the chat will return to its place in the list, based on the last message received.
How to pin specific messages within a WhatsApp chat
Another very useful function is the possibility of set specific messages Within a chat or group. This option allows you to highlight relevant information—such as an important date, address, access instructions, links, attachments, or reminders—at the top of the conversation so everyone can easily reference it. The message will remain visible as a banner for the duration you choose.
Step-by-step guide to pinning messages on WhatsApp (Android, iOS, Web, and Desktop)
- Go to the chat or group where the message you want to pin was sent.
- press and hold the message you want to highlight. On the web and desktop versions, hover over the message, click the down arrow, and select the corresponding option.
- The option will appear "Pin up" in the context menu. Tap or click it.
- WhatsApp will ask you to choose how long you want to pin the message: 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days.
- Confirm your choice and the message will appear pinned to the top of the chat, visible to all members.
Important considerations about pinning messages
- Only a message can be pinned at the same time in each chat or group. If you pin another message, it will replace the previous one.
- In group chats, the right to pin messages may be limited to admins, depending on the group's settings.
- The pinned message banner is visible to all chat members, making critical information easy to access.
- The banner shows how many messages have been pinned and allows you to jump directly to the point in the conversation where it was posted.
How to unpin a message on WhatsApp
- Tap or click on the pinned message banner.
- Select option “Unfix” in the context menu.
- The message will no longer be visible at the top, but will still be in the conversation.
What is the difference between pinning chats and pinning starred messages?
It is important to distinguish between pin chats, pin messages y Mark messages as starred:
- Pin chats allows you to pin an entire conversation (individual or group) to the top of your chat list for quick access.
- Pin messages Highlights a specific message within a chat as a banner, visible to all participants during the selected period.
- Mark messages as starred It only saves the message as a favorite, but doesn't show it to others or pin it to the top of the page. Starred messages can always be viewed from the WhatsApp menu ("Starred Messages"), allowing you to create a kind of personal archive of important information.
How to mark messages as starred
- Open the chat and long press on the message you want to highlight.
- Playing star in the options bar that appears at the top.
- To view starred messages, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “Featured Messages”.
- To remove the star, long press the message in the starred messages section and tap the crossed out star.
Tips and tricks to optimize the use of chats and pinned messages
Making the most of pinning chats and messages can make a difference in how you organize your daily and professional life:
- Use pinned chats for work groups, family, or friends you frequently contact.
- Pin temporary messages in groups with relevant information for the week, delivery dates, or links to shared documents.
- Regularly update pinned messages to avoid cluttering the top of the chat with outdated information.
- Use the starred messages feature to save important data that only you need, such as addresses, contacts, or temporary passwords.
- Use WhatsApp search If, for some reason, you can't pin all the chats you want or need to quickly find information among many messages.
Frequently asked questions about pinning chats and messages on WhatsApp
- How many chats can I pin on WhatsApp? Up to three conversations at a time on the mobile and desktop apps. On WhatsApp Web, the limit can be extended with browser extensions.
- How many messages can I pin in a chat? Only one message can be pinned at a time per chat or group. Pinning a new message replaces the previous one.
- Can I choose the order of pinned chats? The most recently pinned chat appears at the top of the pinned conversations. If you want to reorder them, unpin and repin them in the desired order.
- What happens if I change devices? If you switch devices, pinned chats won't be retained and you'll need to repin them. However, if you link WhatsApp Web and desktop, the changes are automatically reflected in all open sessions.
- Can I pin a chat that is archived? No, you can only pin chats that are visible in the main list. To pin an archived chat, first unarchive it.
- Are others notified when I pin a chat? No. However, when you pin a message within a group, all members can see the pinned message.
- Can I set up chats with companies or channels? Yes, any individual, group, or business conversation can be pinned.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
If you can't find the option to pin chats or messages, check these points:
- WhatsApp version: Make sure you have the latest app update installed on both Android and iOS. It may take time for the latest features to roll out to all users. Check the app store and update if necessary.
- Group permissions: If you're a member of a group and don't see the option to pin messages, it's possible that only admins have this right. Check with your admin or review your group settings.
- Use in unofficial versions: If you're using a modified version of WhatsApp, pinning features may not be available or may not work properly.
Other useful features to organize your chats
If the chat pinning feature isn't enough for you, WhatsApp offers other tools to help you maintain order and efficiency:
- Chat archiving: Allows you to save conversations in the background that you don't want to see in the main list but don't want to delete either.
- Internal search engine: Use the magnifying glass at the top to quickly search for contacts, groups, messages, or files within all your conversations.
- Featured Posts: To save key messages as favorites, visible only to you and accessible from the dedicated menu.
- Custom Notification Settings: Assign different ringtones and alerts to priority chats so you don't miss any relevant messages.
The possibility of pin chats and messages on WhatsApp It brings unsurpassed organization and efficiency to your daily life, both in your personal and professional settings. Whether you want to keep a conversation always at hand or highlight a crucial message within a group, with these steps, tricks, and recommendations, you can get the most out of its functionality. Don't hesitate to experiment with the different options and adjust the settings according to your changing needs. If you have any questions, check out our comments section and share your own experiences to help other users.