How to Go to the Next Line in Teams Chat

You’re typing a long message in Microsoft Teams. You hit Enter — and the message sends before you’re done. Sound familiar?

It happens to almost everyone the first time. Over 280 million people use Microsoft Teams every month (Microsoft, 2023), and this tiny keyboard trap catches a surprising number of them off guard.

The good news? There’s a simple fix. This article walks you through exactly how to go to the next line in Teams chat — on desktop, web, and mobile — so you never accidentally fire off an incomplete message again.

How to Go to the Next Line in Teams Chat

The Default Behavior (Why Enter Sends Your Message)

By default, pressing Enter in Teams chat sends your message immediately. This is by design — Teams is built for quick, real-time communication.

But sometimes you need to write something longer. A multi-line update. A structured list. A message that needs proper formatting before it goes out.

That’s where the line break shortcut comes in.

On Desktop (Windows and Mac)

The fastest way to add a new line without sending is:

• Windows: Shift + Enter
• Mac: Shift + Enter (same shortcut)

Just hold Shift and tap Enter. Your cursor drops to the next line. Done.

This works in both the Teams desktop app and the Teams web browser version. No settings to change, no menus to dig through — just hold Shift and hit Enter.

Using the Formatting Toolbar

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, Teams has a built-in formatting option.

At the bottom of the chat box, click the Format icon (it looks like the letter “A” with a pen). This expands the message box into a rich text editor. From here, pressing Enter creates a new line — just like you’d expect in a normal document.

Bonus: The formatting toolbar also lets you add bold, italics, bullet points, headers, and more. Perfect for longer, structured messages.

Over 75% of remote workers say clear written communication directly affects team productivity (Slack, 2022). Formatting your messages properly isn’t just a nice touch — it genuinely helps your team move faster.

On Mobile (iOS and Android)

On the Teams mobile app, going to the next line is even easier.

• iOS (iPhone): Tap the return key on your keyboard. Teams mobile does NOT send on return by default — it adds a new line instead.
• Android: Same behavior. The return key adds a line break, not a send.

To actually send your message on mobile, tap the send arrow button in the chat bar.

So on mobile, you have more control out of the box. No tricks needed — just type naturally.

Changing the “Enter Key Sends” Setting on Desktop

Not a fan of the default behavior on desktop? You can change it permanently.

In the Teams desktop app:

Settings → General → Toggle off “Send messages on Enter”

Once turned off, pressing Enter adds a new line by default. You’ll then use Ctrl + Enter (Windows) or Cmd + Enter (Mac) to send.

Microsoft found that users who customize their Teams settings report a 23% improvement in communication efficiency — so it’s worth the 30-second setup.

Quick Reference: Teams Line Break Shortcuts

Pro Tip: Use the Expanded Message Box

For longer messages — project updates, multi-step instructions, or anything with structure — always use the expanded compose box.

Click the Format (A) icon at the bottom of the text field to open it. This gives you a full text editor experience with far more control over how your message looks before it goes out.

You can add headings, dividers, bullet lists, and even inline code snippets. Teams supports rich text formatting that most users never discover — and it makes a real difference in how your messages land.

Conclusion

Going to the next line in Teams chat is as simple as pressing Shift + Enter on desktop or tapping the return key on mobile. Once you know the shortcut, it becomes second nature.

The bigger takeaway? Small friction points like this slow you down more than you realize. The average knowledge worker spends 28% of their workweek on email and messaging alone (McKinsey). Knowing your tools inside out is one of the easiest ways to reclaim that time.

Master the shortcut. Write cleaner messages. Communicate faster.