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Codex Desktop: show archived chats in the normal chat list as greyed-out rows #20732

Description

@KachurPro

What feature would you like to see?

In Codex Desktop, please add an option to show archived chats in the regular project/sidebar chat list, rendered as muted/greyed-out rows instead of hiding them only under Settings → Archived Threads.

Problem

For users with many Codex conversations per project, archiving is not the same as deleting. Archived chats are often completed work or old context that should stay discoverable in the project history, but they should not visually compete with active chats.

Right now, once a chat is archived it effectively disappears from the normal project/chat list. To find it again, the user has to go to Settings → Archived Threads or rely on search. This makes archive feel like a separate storage area rather than a natural part of the project timeline.

Proposed UX

  • Add a setting/filter such as Show archived chats in all chats or a view toggle like Active / Archived / All.
  • When archived chats are visible in the normal sidebar list, render them as muted grey rows, ideally with a small archive icon.
  • Keep active chats visually primary; archived chats should be clearly secondary.
  • The row context menu should still allow Unarchive.
  • Search results should include archived chats and mark them as archived.
  • Project/grouped views should show archived chats under their original project when the user chooses the All view.

Why this helps

This would let users scan project history without manually unarchiving old chats, while still keeping the active working set clean. It also makes archive a safer and more useful workflow tool: “done but preserved” instead of “hidden away.”

Related but different from

There are existing issues around archived or local sessions being hidden, lost, or failing to resume. This request is not about data loss; it is a UX request for a unified list view where archived chats remain visible but visually de-emphasized.

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    appIssues related to the Codex desktop appenhancementNew feature or requestsessionIssues involving session (thread) management, resuming, forking, naming, archiving

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