Millions of us use WhatsApp Web to stay connected from a distance: Our laptops, tablets, phones every day because it’s the only way to get all our social and business messages across in one place. But most of us don’t get the full picture when we have to say how great the functionality is. We send out messages and maybe a file or two, not knowing there are so many powerful features just a couple of clicks away. Create more time for productivity by exploring these seven features of WhatsApp Web.
1. Keyboard Shortcuts for Lightning-Fast Navigation
The keyboard is definitely a more efficient way to find the stuff you want, right? So why don’t you just plug in your mouse, and get this thing going? WhatsApp Web comes packed with some really cool keyboard shortcuts that will show you exactly what it is that you need. Ctrl + / (or Cmd + / on Mac) will open all of those quick fixes, but here are some things that you’ll notice straight away: Navigate chats using Ctrl + [ and Ctrl + *, search for a conversation using Ctrl + Shift + F, or archive a chat using Ctrl + E. If there’s one, the coolest shortcut would be to mark a message as unread and then remind yourself to email someone later.
2. Pin Important Conversations to the Top
If you’re a member of a key project group, or you’re plagued with messages from a contact that you have direct access to that make getting through them all too tedious, you might enjoy the pin functionality. To pin the chat you want, hover over the chat you want on your list, then click the three-dot menu (or right-click) and select Pin chat. Pin up to three conversations, and you’ll see them permanently at the top of the chat list, right above all other threads. The added benefit is that you’ll know where to find them at all times which saves you a lot of mental energy along the way.
3. Send Files Directly from Your Desktop
Yet everybody is familiar that you can send files, but the really clever part is to make it even more productive. And instead of just clicking the attachment clip and stumbling through your folders, just find the file on your computer whether it’s a PDF, Word document, image, or video and drag it right into the WhatsApp Web chat window, and everything will automatically upload and ready for sending. It’s so quick compared with the old way and it feels so totally intuitive, that sharing documents and media really has never been easier.
4. Read Messages Without the Sender Knowing
We’ve all been in a situation where we see a message pop up but don’t have the capacity to craft a thoughtful reply. Opening WhatsApp Web typically sends those dreaded blue checkmarks. However, there’s a clever workaround. You can read messages in the notification preview pane without officially opening the chat. Simply click on a different chat or use the keyboard shortcuts to navigate away. The message will still be marked as unread on your phone, but you’ve seen the content. For a more permanent solution, you can disable read receipts in your WhatsApp settings, though this will also prevent you from seeing when others have read your messages
5. Use Bold, Italics, and Monospace Formatting
Text formatting isn’t limited to emails and documents, though. You can also give emphasis and clarity to your messages on the WhatsApp Web. To make text italic, insert underscores (like this). If you want text bold, insert asterisks (like this). If you want to generate a block of fixed-width or monospace text (which would be useful for code snippets), just insert three backticks (like this).
6. Mute Noisy Group Chats Indefinitely
Group chats are fantastic for collaboration and can easily get overwhelming as some are loud enough to drive you mad. You can of course mute them on your phone, but what about on the big screen? Right click the roaring group chat and select “Mute notifications”. At this point you will notice that this is the sweet spot. You can just set it to “Always”. This keeps you in the group for messages and important announcements, but also blocks out the pinging of notifications, so you can get back to your work. I guarantee it’s one of the best features on the platform.
7. Quickly Search Within a Specific Conversation
The general search bar does a great job, but what if you’re looking for an old message or quote or something else in the middle of a chat? And there’s a way to find them on WhatsApp Web! Open the chat you’re looking for (click the three-dot menu button on your keyboard and select “Search”). A magnifying glass icon will pop up. Enter your keyword and you’ll be able to go through all the instances of that word within that conversation. It’s super easy to find an old promise you made, or that file someone shared without scouring through the rest of the chat. Unlocking these features will transform your experience from basic messaging to advanced, productivity-focused communication. The team behind Zap Web has packed these tools into the interface to make your life easier; all you have to do is start using them. So, the next time you log into WhatsApp Web, take a moment to explore—you might be surprised at how much more you can do.