WhatsApp Web guide
Keyboard shortcuts

WhatsApp Web keyboard shortcuts

In a browser, WhatsApp Web shortcuts are Ctrl + Alt + a key on Windows and Cmd + Ctrl + a key on a Mac: N for a new chat, E for emoji, L to lock. Adding Shift usually acts on the open chat.

WhatsApp Web, in a browser

Action	Windows, Linux, Chromebook	Mac
New chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `N`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `N`
New group	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `N`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`
Search chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `F`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `/`
Extended search	`Alt` + `K`	`Cmd` + `K`
Close chat	`Esc`	`Esc`
Mark as unread	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `U`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`
Mute	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `M`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`
Archive chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `E`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `E`
Pin chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `P`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `P`
Profile and About	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `P`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `P`
Settings	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `,`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `,`
Emoji panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `E`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `E`
GIF panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `G`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `G`
Sticker panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `S`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `S`
Lock screen (app lock)	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `L`	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `L`

From WhatsApp's own Help Center table for WhatsApp Web. Two honest notes: that table cuts off the Windows shortcut for Settings, so the comma here is taken from the Mac version, and it lists no shortcut for next or previous chat. WhatsApp Web shows the list for your version under Settings, Keyboard shortcuts.

WhatsApp for Windows (the app)

The installed Windows app has its own, longer list, without the extra Alt in most places.

Action	Shortcut
New chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `N`
New group	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `N`
Search	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `/`
Search chat	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `F`
Extended search	`Alt` + `K`
Next chat	`Ctrl` + `]`
Previous chat	`Ctrl` + `[`
Open chat 1 to 9	`Ctrl` + `1` … `9`
Close chat	`Esc`
Mark as unread	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `U`
Mute	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `M`
Archive chat	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `A`
Pin chat	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `P`
Block chat	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `B`
Open chat info	`Alt` + `I`
Reply	`Alt` + `R`
Reply privately	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `R`
Forward	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `D`
Star message	`Alt` + `8`
Edit last message	`Ctrl` + `Arrow up`
Open attachment menu	`Alt` + `A`
Start a voice message	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Shift` + `R`
Pause a voice message	`Ctrl` + `Enter`
Speed up the selected voice message	`Shift` + `.`
Emoji panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `E`
GIF panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `G`
Sticker panel	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `S`
Profile and About	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `P`
Settings	`Alt` + `S`
Lock app	`Alt` + `L`
Zoom in / out / reset	`Ctrl` + `+` / `Ctrl` + `-` / `Ctrl` + `0`

If a voice call comes in while the Windows app is minimised, Win + Shift + V moves the focus to the notification.

WhatsApp for Mac (the app)

Action	Shortcut
New chat	`Cmd` + `N`
New group chat	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `N`
Search chats, calls and status	`Cmd` + `Option` + `F`
Search messages in the open chat	`Cmd` + `F`
Next chat	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `]`
Previous chat	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `[`
Archived chats	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `E`
Hide chat	`Cmd` + `Shift` + `W`
Settings	`Cmd` + `,`
Mute or unmute during a call	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `M`
Camera on or off during a video call	`Cmd` + `Ctrl` + `V`
Text larger / default / smaller	`Cmd` + `+` / `Cmd` + `0` / `Cmd` + `-`

Text formatting codes

Formatting works the same on the phone, on WhatsApp Web and in the desktop apps: type the characters below around or in front of the text and WhatsApp styles it.

Effect	Type this
Bold	`text`
Italic	`_text_`
Strikethrough	`~text~`
Monospace	```text```
Inline code	`text`
Quote	`> text`
Bulleted list	`- text or * text`
Numbered list	`1. text`

Three worth learning first

New chat, then start typing a name: faster than scrolling the chat list.
Mark as unread as a reminder to come back to a chat you cannot answer now.
Lock screen when you walk away from a computer other people can reach. It needs app lock to be set up first.

Answering customers all day? In the WhatsApp Business app, typing / in the message box inserts a saved quick reply, on WhatsApp Web too. See WhatsApp Business on the web.

Questions people ask

Where is the list of shortcuts inside WhatsApp Web?

Open Settings in WhatsApp Web and look for Keyboard shortcuts. That panel shows the list for the version you are running, which is the one to trust when it differs from any table on the web, including this one.

Why does WhatsApp Web use Ctrl + Alt instead of just Ctrl?

WhatsApp does not say, but the pattern is clear: the browser already owns the simple combinations. Ctrl + N opens a new browser window, so WhatsApp Web uses Ctrl + Alt + N on Windows and Cmd + Ctrl + N on a Mac.

Is there a shortcut for next and previous chat in WhatsApp Web?

WhatsApp's own table for the browser version does not list one. The desktop apps have it: Ctrl + ] and Ctrl + [ in the Windows app, Cmd + Shift + ] and Cmd + Shift + [ in the Mac app.

Can I change or add WhatsApp Web shortcuts?

Not in WhatsApp. The shortcuts are fixed. Browser extensions that add shortcuts need access to everything in your WhatsApp Web tab, which is a privacy risk we do not recommend.

Why does a shortcut not work for me?

Another program or a browser extension may have claimed the same combination, your keyboard layout may place the character elsewhere (the slash and comma shortcuts are the usual victims), or the focus is outside WhatsApp. Click inside the chat list and try again.

Related guides

Sources

WhatsApp Help Center: About keyboard shortcuts (checked 18 September 2026)
WhatsApp Help Center: How to format your messages (checked 18 September 2026)
WhatsApp Help Center: How to use app lock (checked 18 September 2026)

Checked against WhatsApp's own help pages on 18 September 2026. WhatsApp changes its apps often; if a menu has moved, the official Help Center has the last word.