Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts

Introduction

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to using WhatsApp with screen readers! Whether you're using NVDA or JAWS, this guide covers everything you need to know to navigate WhatsApp efficiently and effectively. For JAWS users, we'll also explore additional features to enhance your experience.

Navigating through WhatsApp using a screen reader can be challenging, especially when you rely on the Tab key for navigation. In this guide, we'll introduce you to a range of keyboard shortcuts that can significantly improve your speed and productivity. Instead of struggling with tabbing through various elements, these shortcuts will allow you to access different features of WhatsApp with ease.

Basic Navigation Shortcuts

• List Navigation: using up and down arrow keys

  you will use it to navigate chats list and message list of whatsapp.

• Escape key

  If your focus is on any element of the currently active chat window, then it brings you to the chats list. If the focus is on the chats list, it moves the focus to the 'search or start a new chat' edit box.

• New Chat: Control + N

  Opens a new chat window to start a conversation with a contact or group. Here you get the option to create a new group or chat with a number which is not in your contact or which is in your contact list.

• Close Chat: Control + W or Control + F4 or escape key

  Closes the currently active chat window. The escape key will only work if your focus is in the any element of currently active chat window.

• New Group: Control + Shift + N

  Can be used for creating a new group chat where you can add multiple contacts for group messaging.

• Search: Control + F or escape key once or twice

  Moves the focus to ‘search or start a new chat’ edit box. The escape key will work only when your focus is in chats list or on any element of currently active chat window.

• Next Chat: Control + Tab

  Navigates to the next chat in your chat list.

• Previous Chat: Control + Shift + Tab

  Navigates to the previous chat in your chat list.

• Profile: Control + P

  Opens your profile settings where you can view and edit your account information. Upon opening your profile settings, you will find four buttons:

  1. Profile image
  2. Name, start editing
  3. About, start editing
  4. Log out

Message Composition and Editing Shortcuts

• Type a message editbox:

  If you are in the chats list and you open any chat, your focus automatically shifts to the 'type a message' edit box. Similarly, if your focus is on any element within the currently active chat window and you start typing, your focus also automatically goes to the edit box.

• Use of enter key while typing a message:

  To move the cursor to a new line, press Control + Enter, and press Enter alone to send the message.

• Emoji Panel: Control + Shift + E

  Opens the emoji panel

• GIF Panel: Control + Shift + G

  Opens the GIF panel

• Sticker Panel: Control + Shift + S

  Opens the sticker panel

• Increase Text Size: Control + Plus Key

  Increases text size

• Decrease Text Size: Control + Minus Key

  Decreases text size

JAWS Specific WhatsApp Keys

• Read Name and Status: Alt + S

  To read the name and status(online, typing, last seen) of the selected contact if visible.

• Go to Chat Edit Field: Alt + E

  To navigate to the chat message input.

• Go to Chat List: Alt + C

  To return to the chat list view.

• Go to Chat History: Alt + H

  To open the messages list for the selected chat.

• Voice Messaging:

  To start, pause, or resume recording a voice message, press Alt+R. To send the recorded voice message, press Shift+control+S. To play or pause a voice message before sending, press Alt+control+R. To discard an unsent voice message, press Shift+Alt+R.

• Read Last Nine Messages: Alt + (1-9) (Shift + Alt for virtualization)

  To read aloud the last nine messages in the chat, use Shift + Alt along with the number keys for virtualization. Within the virtualization window of the opened message, you can navigate word by word and line by line using arrow keys and select any particular part if needed. In this sequence, pressing '1' will read the newest message, and pressing '9' will read the oldest message among the last nine messages.

• Adjust Quick Settings: Insert + V

  To open the quick settings menu for adjusting preferences and options.

• Audio Call: Alt + Control + A

  To initiate an audio call.

• Video Call: Alt + Control + V

  To initiate a video call.

Conclusion

By incorporating these shortcuts into your WhatsApp Desktop usage, you can navigate chats, send messages, and manage settings with greater speed and ease. Experiment with these shortcuts to find the ones that best suit your workflow and maximize your productivity. Happy typing!