Microsoft Teams Update: Customize Enter Key for Chat Messages
Microsoft Teams Update: Change What the Enter Key Does in Chat
If you write long messages in Teams, you have probably experienced the classic mistake: you press Enter to start a new line and your message sends immediately. In fast-moving chats, that leads to half-finished thoughts, broken formatting, and unnecessary follow-ups.
Microsoft is rolling out a new Teams setting that lets users choose what the Enter key does while composing chat messages. The goal is simple: reduce accidental sends and make writing cleaner, especially for multi-line messages.
What’s New
Teams will introduce a user setting that controls the Enter key behavior in the chat compose box. Users can choose between two options:
- Send the message
Pressing Enter sends the message immediately. This matches the traditional Teams experience. - Start a new line
Pressing Enter inserts a line break instead of sending. This is ideal for longer messages, structured notes, or step-by-step instructions.
This change is meant to help users who rely on multi-line formatting and want more control while typing.
Where to Find the Setting in Teams
Once available, users will find it here:
Teams Settings → Chats and channels
Look for an option similar to:
“When writing a message, press Enter to…”
Then choose either:
- Send the message
- Start a new line
What Still Works the Same: Shift + Enter
No matter which option a user selects, Shift + Enter will continue to insert a new line.
So even if a user keeps Enter = Send, they can still format multi-line messages using Shift + Enter.
Built-In Visual Indicator While Typing
To avoid confusion, Teams will display an on-screen indicator in the compose area showing what Enter will do. This helps users confirm their current setting before they send something unintentionally.
Rollout Timeline
Microsoft expects this feature to roll out mid to late February 2026.
For admins tracking the change in Microsoft 365 communications, these identifiers may appear in your tenant messages:
- Message Center: MC1217643
- Roadmap: 537279
Why This Matters for IT and End Users
Even though this is a user-level preference, it impacts day-to-day productivity and communication quality.
For end users
- Fewer accidental sends
- Cleaner multi-line messages
- Better formatting for instructions, troubleshooting steps, and summaries
For organizations
- Fewer “correction” follow-ups cluttering chats
- Cleaner documentation-style messaging during incidents
- Better communication standards in cross-team channels
Quick Tips You Can Share Internally
- If you often write multi-line messages, switch to Enter = Start a new line
- If you prefer speed, keep Enter = Send the message
- Remember: Shift + Enter always creates a new line
