If you’re a WhatsApp power user, you already know how good WhatsApp Web is for chatting on your laptop or desktop. The full-size keyboard makes typing a breeze, and the larger screen helps manage multiple chats. But what if I told you there’s even more to it? Here are the best tips and tricks to help you become a WhatsApp Web pro—from quickly sending messages to reading them without showing read receipts and even hiding your chats.
Tips and Tricks for WhatsApp Web
You can access WhatsApp Web on your PC by going to web.whatsapp.com. You’ll see a QR code there. On your phone, open WhatsApp, tap the three dots in the top right corner, select Linked devices, and scan the QR code to log in. You’ll then be able to use WhatsApp right in your browser.
Now that you’re all set up with WhatsApp Web, let’s dive into some awesome tips and tricks to take your messaging game to the next level.
1. Keyboard Shortcuts for WhatsApp Web
The best part about using WhatsApp on your desktop is keyboard shortcuts. With a few keystrokes, you can open a chat, search for a message, delete a chat, open settings, and more. Here are a few keyboard shortcuts that will be especially helpful:
| Action | Windows (WhatsApp Web) | macOS (WhatsApp Web) |
|---|---|---|
| New Chat | Ctrl + Alt + N | Cmd + Ctrl + N |
| Open Profile/Group Info | Ctrl + Alt + P | Cmd + Ctrl + P |
| Search in Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + F |
| Mark as Unread | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + U | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + U |
| Archive Chat | Ctrl + Alt + E | Cmd + Ctrl + E |
| Pin/Unpin Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + P | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + P |
| Mute Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + M | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + M |
| Delete Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Backspace | Cmd + Ctrl + Backspace |
| Search in Chat List | Ctrl + Alt + / (forward slash) | Cmd + Ctrl + / (forward slash) |
| Open Settings | Ctrl + Alt + , (comma) | Cmd + Ctrl + , (comma) |
| Next Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Tab | Cmd + Ctrl + Tab |
| Previous Chat | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Tab | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| New Group | Ctrl + Alt + Shift + N | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + N |
Additional Shortcuts (common to Windows and macOS):
- Enter: Send message
- Shift + Enter: New line
- Ctrl/Cmd + F: Find
Keyboard shortcuts also work on WhatsApp Desktop apps for Windows and Mac. Check the complete list here.
2. Format Text (Bold, Italic, Underline, etc.)
Want to emphasize a specific part of your message? You can easily bold, italicize, or strikethrough text with simple WhatsApp web shortcuts. Just add specific characters before and after the text, as shown below:
- Bold: Place an asterisk (*) on both sides of the text, like this: *Hello World*
- Italic: Place an underscore (_) on either side of the text, like this: _Hello World_
Strikethrough: Place a tilde (~) before and after the text, like this: ~Hello World~- Monospace: Place three backticks (“`) before and after the text, like this: “`Hello World“`
For more text customizations, like underlining words or using different font styles, you can try online tools such as Glyphy or FontsforWhatsApp. However, be aware that these fonts may not be visible to everyone, depending on their device and settings.
3. Quickly Search Emojis
We all use emojis to express ourselves when chatting with friends and family on WhatsApp. But finding the right emoji on WhatsApp Web can be a bit cumbersome since your computer’s keyboard lacks the convenient emoji strip on smartphones.
To search for emojis quickly, simply type a colon (:) in the text bar followed by the first few letters of the emotion or object you’re looking for (e.g., :party or :smile). This will bring up a list of emojis for you to choose from.
4. Replace Text With Emoji
WhatsApp has a handy feature that automatically transforms certain text combinations into emojis. For example, typing “:-D” will magically become a 😄 smiley face emoji, or “(y)” will turn into a 👍 thumbs-up emoji.
To activate this feature on WhatsApp Web, open Settings > Chats and check the box for Show Emoji suggestions. This is an even faster way to add emojis than manually searching for them.
5. Disable Link Previews (Avoid IP Tracking)
Usually, when someone sends you a link on WhatsApp, a little preview of the webpage pops up. This can be pretty handy, as you get a glimpse of the website’s title, a short description, and maybe even a picture. But this feature isn’t always great for your privacy.
When your phone creates that preview, it has to ask the website for information. This request includes your IP address, which the website can log and potentially use for targeted ads or even to figure out your rough location.
The good news is that WhatsApp lets you turn off these previews. Just head over to Settings > Privacy and check the box for Disable Link Previews.
Note: Even with link previews disabled, clicking on a link in WhatsApp could still give your IP address to the website you’re visiting. This is because your web browser makes a direct request to the site, and that request includes your IP info.
6. Use Dark Mode in WhatsApp Web
If you’re a night owl or just prefer a darker look, WhatsApp Web’s dark mode is your friend. It reduces eye strain and has a sleek, modern aesthetic.
To activate dark mode, go to WhatsApp Web Settings, select Chats > Theme, and choose Dark. Alternatively, you can set it to System Default and simply switch your Mac or Windows PC’s system theme to dark mode.
7. Hide or Blur WhatsApp Web Chats (Chrome Extension)
Using WhatsApp on your phone is often more private because of its small screen and your ability to control who sees what. However, on a computer’s larger screen, it’s easier for others to sneak a peek at your WhatsApp Web chats.
This is where WhatsApp Blur extension comes into play. Once installed and set up, it blurs contact names, photos, and message previews, including the main chat area. You can still see details by hovering over each chat, but the rest of the screen remains blurred.
You can easily manage these settings using the extension’s toolbar at the top of the WhatsApp Web screen. The extension will work in Google Chrome as well as other Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Brave.
Download: WA Blur for Chrome
Note: Third-party extensions can potentially expose your WhatsApp chats. Review their privacy policies carefully and avoid using them if you have sensitive information.
8. Read WhatsApp Web Messages Without Being Seen (Chrome Extension)
WhatsApp lets you disable read receipts to prevent others from knowing if you’ve seen their messages. However, this also hides their read receipts from you.
The WAIncognito Chrome extension offers a solution: you can prevent others from seeing if you’ve read their messages, and even hide your “online” and “typing” indicators. All of this without officially disabling read receipts in your WhatsApp settings, so you can still see theirs, but they can’t see yours.
Once you’ve read a message and are ready to respond, simply tap Mark as read to indicate that you’ve seen it. This allows you to read messages at your own pace, without the pressure of immediately acknowledging them with a read receipt.
Download: WAIncognito for Chrome
9. View Once Photos Bypass (Chrome Extension)
WhatsApp has a View Once feature that allows others to send photos or videos that can only be viewed once before they are automatically deleted. However, with this Chrome extension, you can easily bypass this limitation and view or save these disappearing media files as many times as you like. Simply install the extension, and you’re all set.
Here’s the best part – you can view these photos even after you’ve already opened them on your phone. So, if you missed saving them earlier, you still have the chance.
Download: View Once Photos Bypass for Chrome
10. Share to WhatsApp (Chrome Extension)
The Share to WhatsApp extension allows you to quickly share the webpage you’re viewing with your WhatsApp contacts, eliminating the need to copy and paste the link.
For example, if you’re browsing hotels for a weekend getaway and find a good option, simply tap the extension icon while on that page. It will automatically open the WhatsApp Web app with a window to select your contact. Choose who you want to share it with, and done. This saves you the time and effort of copying and pasting each link individually.
Download: Share to WhatsApp for Chrome
11. Lock WhatsApp Web Chats
If you’re using WhatsApp Web on a shared computer or have sensitive messages in your chats, it’s wise to lock WhatsApp for added security. WhatsApp’s App Lock feature is available for WhatsApp Web too.
To enable App Lock in WhatsApp Web:
- Open WhatsApp Web on your computer and make sure you’re logged in.
- Click on the three dots menu in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Go to the Privacy section and click on App lock.
- Set a strong password and confirm it.
Now, whenever you leave WhatsApp Web idle for a while, it will automatically lock, requiring your password to unlock it. This adds an extra layer of protection for your conversations.
12. Turn on Background Sync
Do you experience delayed messages or notifications when using WhatsApp Web, especially when switching to other tabs? Your background sync might be turned off.
The Background Sync feature allows WhatsApp Web to continuously sync your messages, even when the browser tab isn’t active or minimized. Here are some reasons why you might want to enable it:
- Open WhatsApp Web and head to the Settings.
- Go to Notifications.
- Here, check the box for Background sync.
13. Search Chats by Date
WhatsApp Web now allows you to search for messages within a chat by date. This is useful for finding old conversations or specific messages or files shared on a particular day. Here’s how:
- Open a chat on WhatsApp Web.
- Click the Search icon in the top right corner.
- Next, click the Calendar icon and choose the date you want to search.
- WhatsApp will instantly display the messages from that date.
14. Log Out of WhatsApp Web Remotely
If you forgot to log out of WhatsApp Web on a friend’s computer or a public device, don’t worry. You can easily log out remotely from your phone:
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Tap the three dots menu in the top right corner (or Settings on iOS) and select Linked Devices.
- Locate the session you want to log out from and tap on it.
- Tap Log out.
Use WhatsApp Web Like a Pro
So there you have it—a bunch of awesome tricks to make WhatsApp Web work even harder for you. It’s more than just typing on a bigger screen; you can chat like a pro with keyboard shortcuts, privacy tweaks, and a few handy extensions. Now go out there and make those chats your own! And by the way, if you have access to Meta AI, you can use it on WhatsApp Web, too. Here’s my experience with Meta AI on WhatsApp.
