WhatsApp has long been one of the most popular messaging apps globally, and its desktop version is a great complement for those who like to chat from their computers.
While many users are familiar with basic features like text messaging and voice/video calls, there are a variety of hidden tricks on WhatsApp Desktop that can enhance your experience.
Whether you’re using WhatsApp on Windows or macOS, these tips will allow you to unlock hidden features and optimize your usage.
1. Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Navigation
WhatsApp Desktop offers a variety of keyboard shortcuts that make navigating the app quicker and more efficient. These shortcuts allow you to perform certain actions without needing to reach for your mouse, speeding up your messaging flow.
- Ctrl + N (Windows) / Command + N (Mac): Start a new chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + ] (Windows) / Command + Shift + ] (Mac): Go to the next chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + [ (Windows) / Command + Shift + [ (Mac): Go to the previous chat.
- Ctrl + E (Windows) / Command + E (Mac): Archive current chat.
- Ctrl + Shift + M (Windows) / Command + Shift + M (Mac): Mute current chat.
- Ctrl + P (Windows) / Command + P (Mac): Open your profile info.
- Ctrl + Shift + U (Windows) / Command + Shift + U (Mac): Mark messages as unread.
These shortcuts not only help you navigate your chats more quickly but also enable you to handle multiple chats without losing time.
2. Send Messages to Yourself
Sometimes, you might want a place to jot down notes, save links, or keep a to-do list without cluttering your phone’s notes app. WhatsApp Desktop lets you send messages to yourself, a feature that is quite underutilized.
To use this feature:
- Open WhatsApp Desktop.
- Click on the new chat icon and search for your own name in the contact list (if you’ve saved your number to WhatsApp).
- Send messages to your own chat as a personal storage space.
This trick is very useful for keeping reminders, saving articles, or organizing your thoughts.
3. Pin Important Chats
If you manage multiple conversations, finding important chats among a long list can be challenging. Thankfully, WhatsApp Desktop allows you to pin chats to the top of your chat list.
To pin a chat:
- Hover over the chat you want to pin.
- Click on the three dots menu (More Options) next to the contact.
- Select Pin Chat.
Pinned chats will always remain at the top, regardless of how active other chats are. This feature is great for quickly accessing your most important or ongoing conversations.
4. Customizable Notifications
While WhatsApp Desktop is great for seamless communication, you may not always want to be disturbed by every single notification. You can customize notification settings to mute notifications from specific chats or adjust how notifications are shown.
To adjust notifications:
- Open a chat.
- Click on the contact’s name at the top to open chat settings.
- Click on Custom Notifications.
- Enable or disable specific notification types, including message alerts, sounds, and pop-up previews.
For a more global change, go to Settings > Notifications, where you can tweak how the app behaves in terms of alerting you for incoming messages. This trick helps you focus and reduce distractions without missing important updates.
5. Use WhatsApp Web Without Your Phone
Typically, to use WhatsApp on your desktop or web browser, your phone needs to remain connected to the internet. However, there is a workaround that lets you access WhatsApp Web even if your phone is offline.
Here’s how:
- Download and install WhatsApp Desktop on your PC.
- Set up WhatsApp Web as you normally would by scanning the QR code from your phone.
- Once connected, you can continue chatting on your desktop, and your phone does not need to be online.
This feature is particularly useful if you find yourself in situations where your phone is running low on battery, but you still need to continue your conversations on your computer.
6. Use Multiple Accounts on WhatsApp Desktop
Managing multiple WhatsApp accounts on a desktop is easier than you think. By leveraging web browsers or even using WhatsApp Desktop’s multi-instance support, you can keep different accounts open simultaneously.
Here’s how:
- WhatsApp Web in Different Browsers: Open WhatsApp Web in separate browsers or use a browser’s Incognito/Private mode to log into a second account. This allows you to manage both personal and work accounts seamlessly on the same desktop.
- WhatsApp Desktop in Multiple Windows: Some desktop versions of WhatsApp allow opening multiple windows of the app, letting you use more than one account at once.
For users juggling personal and work accounts, this feature makes things a lot easier without needing to constantly log out and back in.
7. Format Text Messages (Bold, Italic, Strikethrough)
WhatsApp allows for rich-text formatting even on the desktop app. This helps you emphasize or stylize certain words to make your messages clearer or more visually interesting.
To format text:
- Bold: Add asterisks around the text (like this).
- Italic: Add underscores around the text (like this).
- Strikethrough: Add tildes around the text ().
- Monospace: Add three backticks before and after the text (
like this).
These simple tricks add depth and clarity to your communication, allowing for better organization and expression.
8. Send Files and Documents Easily
Sending files, documents, and media over WhatsApp Desktop is seamless, but many people don’t know all the options available. You can send files by clicking on the paperclip icon next to the message input box and selecting what you want to share, but there are some hidden tricks to make file sharing more efficient.
- Drag and Drop: Instead of clicking the paperclip to select a file, simply drag the file from your desktop and drop it directly into the WhatsApp window.
- Send Multiple Files at Once: You can select multiple files to send at once by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while selecting files.
- Send Files Up to 100MB: WhatsApp allows sending larger files (up to 100MB) via Desktop, making it much more convenient for sharing high-quality images, PDFs, and other documents.
These options make it easy to quickly share large files or multiple items in a single message.
9. Preview Media Before Sending
On WhatsApp Desktop, you can preview any media (like photos or videos) before sending them. This ensures that you don’t send the wrong file or share something unintended. Before hitting the send button, you can inspect your media by simply clicking on the thumbnail of the image or video in the chat preview area.
10. Check Status Updates from Desktop
WhatsApp’s Status feature allows users to share photos, videos, and text updates that disappear after 24 hours. On WhatsApp Desktop, you can check status updates just like you would on the mobile app.
To view statuses:
- Click on the Status tab on the left sidebar.
- View the statuses of your contacts.
While you can’t post statuses directly from the Desktop version, this trick allows you to stay updated with what your contacts are sharing without needing to open your phone.
FAQs
Can I use WhatsApp Desktop without my phone?
No, WhatsApp Desktop requires your phone to be connected to the internet in order to sync messages and notifications. However, you can keep your phone offline after initially setting up the connection, and some versions may allow you to continue using WhatsApp even when your phone is not actively online.
How do I mute a chat on WhatsApp Desktop?
To mute a chat on WhatsApp Desktop, open the chat, click on the contact’s name at the top, and toggle the mute option. You can select the duration (8 hours, 1 week, or Always) for which you want the chat to remain muted.
How do I archive all chats at once?
WhatsApp Desktop doesn’t allow for bulk archiving directly. You will need to archive chats one by one by right-clicking on each chat and selecting “Archive.” However, you can use the mobile app to bulk archive chats and then access them from the Desktop.
Can I delete messages from WhatsApp Desktop?
Yes, you can delete messages from the WhatsApp Desktop app. Right-click on the message you want to delete and select either Delete for me or Delete for everyone (if the message is within the allowed time window for deletion).
Can I send voice notes from WhatsApp Desktop?
Yes, WhatsApp Desktop supports sending voice notes. Click on the microphone icon next to the message input field to start recording your message.