To archive conversations and contacts in bulk programmatically, use the Papo REST API. With the contact update and conversation tag application endpoints, you can mark records as archived, keeping your database always clean without manual intervention — ideal for high-volume data operations or white label resellers managing multiple clients.
Papo does not require a dedicated “archive” endpoint. Instead, you use the operations already available in the API to change the state of records: update a contact (by adding an archive tag or a custom attribute) and apply a tag to a conversation. This way, scripts or automations can process thousands of items in batch and organize the database according to your business rules.
Summary of the bulk archiving process via API
| Step | Action | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Obtain the keys | Generate the secret key (sk_live_…) and copy the public key (pk_live_…) in the Papo dashboard. | The secret key appears only once; store it in a safe place. |
| 2. Identify what to archive | List contacts or conversations that should be archived (by date, status, lack of interaction, etc.). | Use the listing endpoints with filters or export a CSV to feed the script. |
| 3. Archive contacts | For each contact, send an update request including the “archived” tag or a custom attribute. | The contact update endpoint accepts the fields you want to modify. |
| 4. Archive conversations | For each conversation, apply a tag such as “archived” using the tag endpoint. | The tag is automatically created in the account if it does not exist. |
| 5. Verify the result | Check if the records appear with the archive marking and if the platform filters reflect the new organization. | Adjust the filters in the Contacts or Conversations module to hide archived items. |
How it works – step by step
1. Authentication and keys
Every call that modifies data requires the account's secret key. It must be sent as a Bearer token in the Authorization header (or in the X-Papo-Secret-Key header). The public key (fixed per account) can accompany the request in the X-Papo-Public-Key header — its use is optional, but if sent it must correspond to the same account as the secret key.
Generate the keys in the Papo dashboard, in the developer area. The API base URL is https://app.papo.global/api/v1. Consult the official documentation to see the exact endpoints, parameters, and payload examples.
2. Identifying the records to archive
Before triggering the updates, you need to know which contacts or conversations should be archived. The API offers listing endpoints that return the necessary data. For example, you can:
- List contacts (search by name, email, phone, or date filters) to select those without interaction for X days.
- List conversations and cross-reference with criteria such as status or last message date.
With the list in hand, a script in Python, Node.js, or an automation in n8n can iterate through each record and execute the archiving action.
3. Archiving contacts in bulk
The Papo API allows you to update an existing contact. To archive it, you can:
- Add a tag (e.g., “archived”) to the contact. The update endpoint accepts the inclusion of tags.
- Or update a custom attribute (if you have created a field such as “status” or “archived”) with the desired value.
The important thing is that, after the update, the contact carries a marking that differentiates it from active ones. Since the API processes one contact per request, the bulk operation is done by executing multiple calls in sequence. Code examples in JavaScript and Python are available in the API documentation and can be adapted for the update endpoint.
4. Archiving conversations in bulk
For conversations, the API offers an endpoint that creates a tag in the account (if it does not exist) and applies it to the contact and the open conversation. Thus, you can create the “archived” tag and apply it to all conversations you want to remove from the main view.
The flow is similar to that of contacts: list the conversations, filter those that should be archived, and for each one, send the tag application request. The tag will be automatically created on the first call, if it does not already exist.
5. Checking the archiving
After the script finishes, access the Contacts and Conversations modules in the Papo dashboard. Use the tag filters to view only the items marked as “archived” — or, conversely, to hide them and keep focus on active records. If the operation does not have the expected effect, review the payloads and authentication headers.
Who this automation is for
- Operations with a large volume of contacts that need to clean the database periodically, removing cold leads or closed conversations from the main view.
- White label resellers managing dozens of client accounts and wishing to offer an automated organization service via API.
- IT teams and developers building custom integrations to keep the CRM always lean, without relying on manual actions.
- Companies that migrated data from other systems and now want to archive old records that will no longer be used daily.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Papo API have a specific endpoint for archiving?
No dedicated endpoint is required. You use the contact update and conversation tag application endpoints to mark records as archived. The official documentation details the accepted parameters.
Can I delete contacts or conversations instead of archiving?
The current API does not offer deletion endpoints. The recommendation is to use archiving via tags or custom attributes, which keeps the data preserved but out of the main view.
How do I authenticate requests?
Include the Authorization: Bearer {your_secret_key} header in all write calls. The secret key is generated in the Papo dashboard, in the developer section.
Is it possible to archive thousands of records at once?
Yes. Just create a script that loops through the list of contacts or conversations and sends a request for each one. Tools like n8n can also orchestrate this process.
Do archived conversations disappear from the inbox?
They continue to exist, but by applying a tag such as “archived”, you can filter them out of the default view. The display depends on the filters configured in the Conversations module.
Where do I find the API keys?
In the Papo dashboard, access the developer area or API settings. The secret key is displayed only at the time of creation; if lost, you will need to generate a new one.
Read also
- How to use the Papo API to list conversations and send programmatic messages
- How to use the Papo API to manage custom contact attributes
Start for free and organize your database with the API → With Papo's free plan, you can already test the integration and archive contacts and conversations in bulk at no initial cost.