How to insert new line on return key press in iMessage on Mac OSX

Question

Does anyone know if it is possible in iMessage on Mac OSX to set the return key to go to the next line instead of sending the message?

Have you tried Shift+Enter? Are you looking for the key combo to do it, or to replace the return key functionality altogether — smoooosher, Jul 29 '15 at 21:18
My apologies, I was thinking on the fly. Either Option+Return OR Control+Return will do the trick. — smoooosher, Jul 29 '15 at 21:53
This question didn't yet received a correct answer but a workaround. I found a partial answer which looks like a better ergonomic design: http://apple.stackexchange.com/a/236255/22003 . — dan, Apr 27 '16 at 08:39

user3439894 · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-30T01:16:32.067

54

Press option+return or control+return to enter a new line.

Edit: Added additional key combo re: smoooosher's comment to the OP

edited Jul 30 '15 at 01:16

answered Jul 29 '15 at 21:20

user3439894

58,676

3

I found one more funny workaround: [ctrl]+[Q], [return]. •••• This is a good way to remind the function of [ctrl]+[Q]. – dan Apr 27 '16 at 08:40
3

@danielAzuelos What does control-Q do? – Tuesday Nov 07 '16 at 20:24
@larsmoa, The comment made by daniel Azuelos does indeed work and it's ⌘Q not ^Q that quits an application! – user3439894 Mar 14 '17 at 19:35
1

Sorry, my bad. I will delete previous comment – larsmoa Mar 15 '17 at 07:53
I always forget this because Slack is the opposite. – brandonscript Aug 13 '19 at 18:31

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 01 '16 at 21:40

2

Just tried CTRL+Enter and it worked

answered Apr 01 '16 at 21:40

Paul

53

3

This is the same as the solution that was posted a year ago July. – tubedogg Nov 08 '16 at 00:48

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 29 '15 at 23:18

There is no preference available to control that, but I wonder if you could override the event associated with the Enter key? The following command maps the Enter key to a menu item command. You'd just need to replace the command with "insert new line"... somehow.

defaults write com.apple.iChat NSUserKeyEquivalents "{ 'New Message' = '\\U000a'; }"

To undo your change later:

defaults delete com.apple.iChat NSUserKeyEquivalents

References:

http://osxnotes.net/keybindings.html
/System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/Resources/StandardKeyBinding.dict

New Message isn't the function activated by the [return]. •••• The code sent to the application by the [return] is \U000d and not \U000a •••• I didn't find any finished answer along these hints. — dan, May 02 '16 at 16:15

score -1 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 14 '16 at 08:52

-1

Holding down "Shift" + "Option" (Left side - not right, it doesn't work on that side for me) will create spacing between paragraphs without sending the msg

Hope this helps

answered Jun 14 '16 at 08:52

John john

1

score -2 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 17 '16 at 12:04

-2

For me the solution in iMessage: alt+Enter

edited Mar 17 '16 at 12:04

IconDaemon

19,234

answered Mar 17 '16 at 09:10

user175727

23

1

This is the same as the solution that was posted a year ago July. – tubedogg Nov 08 '16 at 00:48

How to insert new line on return key press in iMessage on Mac OSX

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