The Enter key turning into a send button in WhatsApp is a new feature that was rolled out in a recent update to the messaging platform. This change was made to streamline the sending of messages and improve the overall user experience on WhatsApp.
Background on the Enter Key
The Enter key has been a staple key on keyboards for decades. Also known as the Return key or ↵ Enter key, it has some core functions:
- Starting a new line of text
- Executing a command
- Sending or submitting a form
When typing text, hitting the Enter key moves the cursor to the next line, allowing you to type continuously without needing to click your mouse to change lines. When filling out online forms, pressing Enter will submit the form once all required fields are complete.
In messaging apps and email clients, the Enter key usually starts a new line within the message composition box. This allows you to type out longer messages over multiple lines. Typically, you need to manually click Send or a similar button to deliver the message.
Enter Key in WhatsApp Web and Desktop
In WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Desktop, the Enter key retained its classic function. When composing a message, pressing Enter will move the cursor to a new line within the message box. Users still need to click the Send arrow icon to deliver their message.
This behavior mirrors what you would expect from the Enter key in a standard word processor or other productivity application. The manual Send click gives users control over when a message is actually sent after typing out the contents.
The Change to a Send Button
In the latest WhatsApp updates released in 2022, the Enter button was changed to a Send button when composing messages. Now, pressing the Enter key in mobile apps will immediately send the message instead of creating a new line.
This change brings WhatsApp in line with other major messaging platforms. Apps like iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and Signal all treat the Enter key as a Send command for delivering messages. This creates a more consistent experience between different chat apps.
WhatsApp likely made this change to speed up conversations and messaging workflows. Sending a message now takes fewer taps and reduces the number of steps needed to carry out simple messaging tasks.
Impacts on Users
This change to treating Enter as a Send button has some notable impacts on WhatsApp users:
- Messages can be sent faster with fewer taps
- No longer need to switch between keyboard and Send button frequently
- Multi-line messages require manual line breaks by tapping Return on a new line
- May result in some messages sending unintentionally
The increased speed and convenience is countered slightly by the need for users to adjust their muscle memory and messaging workflows. Some people are used to hammering away at the Enter key to quickly type out long messages. This muscle memory could lead to unintentionally sending messages before they are ready.
Overall, the benefits likely outweigh the drawbacks for most users. But it requires some retraining of long-established habits around the Enter key in messaging apps.
When Was This Update Rolled Out?
WhatsApp began rolling out this update in late 2022, with the changes reaching all users at the beginning of 2023. Some key timeline points for the update include:
- October 2022 – Enter as Send rolled out to some beta testers
- November 2022 – Broader beta release on Android and iOS
- December 2022 – Enter as Send rolled out to general WhatsApp users
- January 2023 – Update reaches 100% of WhatsApp mobile users
The update was gradually rolled out over a few months. This allowed time for bugs and issues to be caught during the beta testing period before the worldwide launch. Staggering the release also gave users time to prepare for the change coming to their Enter key.
Can I Change it Back?
Currently, there is no official setting in WhatsApp to revert the Enter key back to its original behavior. The change to making it function as a Send button appears to be permanent.
However, there are a few unofficial workarounds that technically inclined users can attempt to return the Enter key to inserting new lines instead of sending messages:
- Using a modified version of WhatsApp with custom settings
- Using accessibility settings or tools to override the Enter key
- Using third-party apps to remap the Enter key
These methods involve a bit of technical modification to your device or WhatsApp installation. The average user likely won’t want to bother with these workarounds. There is also the chance they stop working whenever WhatsApp pushes new updates.
Conclusion
The Enter key turning into a Send button was a purposeful change by WhatsApp to streamline messaging and align with other major chat apps. While requiring a bit of user adjustment, it makes conversing faster with less tapping and context switching. This change is likely here to stay unless large amounts of user feedback compel WhatsApp to revert it back.