WhatsApp has become an indispensable communication tool, connecting billions of people worldwide. From casual chats with friends to professional collaborations, this messaging app has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. While sending a simple text message might seem straightforward, WhatsApp offers a variety of features and functionalities that can enhance your communication experience. This comprehensive guide will delve into the intricacies of sending WhatsApp messages, covering everything from basic text messaging to advanced formatting techniques and multimedia sharing. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, you’ll find valuable tips and tricks to elevate your WhatsApp game.
Getting Started: The Basics of Sending a WhatsApp Message
Before we dive into advanced features, let’s cover the foundational steps for sending a basic text message on WhatsApp. These steps are universal across both Android and iOS devices, ensuring a consistent experience for all users.
- Open WhatsApp: Locate the WhatsApp icon on your phone’s home screen or app drawer and tap to launch the application.
- Select a Contact: Once the app is open, you’ll see a list of your contacts. You can also tap the ‘Chat’ icon usually located in the bottom right corner (Android) or top right corner (iOS) to view all contacts and initiate a chat. Tap on the name of the person you wish to message. If you can’t find the contact, try searching for their name using the search bar at the top of the screen. Alternatively, you can create a new contact by clicking the + icon and adding their number.
- Type Your Message: At the bottom of the chat screen, you’ll see a text input field labeled ‘Type a message’. Tap this field to bring up your device’s keyboard. Now, type the message you want to send. You can also use your voice by tapping the microphone icon next to the text field (if enabled), speaking your message, and sending it automatically.
- Send Your Message: Once you’ve finished typing (or speaking) your message, tap the paper airplane icon (Send button) located to the right of the text field. Your message will be sent instantly to the selected contact.
That’s it! You’ve successfully sent your first WhatsApp message. But there’s so much more to explore.
Enhancing Your Messages with Formatting
Basic text can sometimes feel bland. WhatsApp provides several formatting options to add emphasis and structure to your messages. Here’s how to use them:
- Bold Text: To make text appear bold, enclose it between asterisks (*). For example, *this text is bold* will appear as this text is bold.
- Italic Text: To make text appear italic, enclose it between underscores (_). For example, _this text is italic_ will appear as this text is italic.
- Strikethrough Text: To strikethrough text, enclose it between tildes (~). For example, ~this text is strikethrough~ will appear as
this text is strikethrough. - Monospace Text: To make text appear in monospace font, enclose it between backticks (`). For example, `this text is monospace` will appear as
this text is monospace. This is useful for displaying code snippets or technical information. - Combining Formats: You can combine these formatting options for a more nuanced effect. For example, *_this is bold and italic_* will appear as this is bold and italic.
These simple formatting tricks can make your messages more engaging and easier to read. Use them strategically to highlight key points or add flair to your conversations.
Sharing Multimedia: Photos, Videos, and More
WhatsApp is not just about text. Sharing multimedia content is a crucial part of the app’s appeal. Here’s how to share various types of media:
Sending Photos and Videos
- Tap the Attachment Icon: Within the chat window, locate the paperclip or plus icon near the text input field. Tapping this will reveal a menu of options for attaching different media types.
- Select the ‘Gallery’ Option: In the attachment menu, choose the ‘Gallery’ option. This will open your device’s photo gallery.
- Select Photos and Videos: Browse your gallery and select the photos and videos you want to share. You can select multiple items. Tap the images or videos to select them and then click send.
- Preview and Edit: Before sending, WhatsApp allows you to preview your selected photos and videos. You can crop, rotate, add text, stickers or drawings to the images before sending. You can also add captions or comments to your media.
- Send Your Media: Once you’ve finished editing (if needed) and adding captions, tap the send button (paper airplane icon). Your chosen photos and videos will be sent to the recipient.
Sharing Documents
Need to send a PDF or a Word document? WhatsApp makes it easy:
- Tap the Attachment Icon: Similar to sharing photos and videos, tap the paperclip icon.
- Select the ‘Document’ Option: From the menu, choose the ‘Document’ option. This opens your phone’s file manager or document selector.
- Browse and Select: Navigate through your folders and find the document you want to share. Select it and tap ‘Open’ or ‘Send’.
- Send Your Document: The selected document will be sent to the recipient.
Sending Audio Messages
Sometimes, a voice message is more expressive than text:
- Long Press the Microphone Icon: Next to the text input field, there’s a microphone icon. Instead of tapping, long-press it to start recording a voice message.
- Record Your Message: Speak your message clearly. While recording, you’ll see a timer indicating the duration of your message.
- Slide to Cancel or Release to Send: While recording, you can cancel by sliding your finger to the left toward the trash can icon. To send the voice message, remove your finger from the microphone icon.
Sending GIFs and Stickers
Spice up your conversations with animated GIFs and expressive stickers:
- Tap the Emoji Icon: Next to the text input field, tap the smiley face (emoji icon).
- Choose GIFs or Stickers: At the bottom of the emoji picker, you’ll see tabs for ‘GIF’ and ‘Stickers’. Select the one you want.
- Search or Browse: You can search for specific GIFs or stickers using the search bar, or browse through the available categories.
- Tap to Send: Once you’ve found the GIF or sticker you like, tap it to send it.
Sharing Locations
Need to let someone know where you are? Share your location:
- Tap the Attachment Icon: Tap the paperclip icon.
- Select ‘Location’: Choose the ‘Location’ option. You may need to grant WhatsApp permission to access your location.
- Share Live Location or Current Location: You can choose to share your current location (a static pinpoint) or share your live location (which updates in real-time for a specified period).
- Send Location: Tap send and it will send to the chosen contact.
Replying to and Forwarding Messages
Managing the flow of conversations involves responding to individual messages and sharing them with others:
Replying to a Specific Message
- Long-Press a Message: In your chat window, long-press the message you want to reply to.
- Tap the Reply Arrow: In the menu that appears, tap the reply arrow (usually pointing to the left).
- Type and Send: The message will appear above your text field, and you can now type your reply. Your reply will be clearly linked to the original message, providing context.
Forwarding Messages
- Long-Press a Message: Similar to replying, long-press the message you want to forward.
- Tap the Forward Arrow: In the menu, tap the forward arrow (usually pointing to the right).
- Select Contacts: Choose the contacts or groups you want to forward the message to.
- Send Forwarded Message: Tap the send button and the message will be forwarded to your chosen recipients.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Here are a few additional features and tips to make your WhatsApp messaging even more effective:
- Starred Messages: Star important messages for easy access later. Long-press a message and tap the star icon. You can access all your starred messages by tapping the three dots in the chat screen, and clicking on “Starred messages”.
- Mute Notifications: If a group or contact is sending too many notifications, mute them temporarily or permanently. Tap the three dots in the chat screen and click on “Mute notifications” choose a time or select “Always”.
- Read Receipts: By default, WhatsApp shows blue ticks (double tick) when someone has read your message. You can disable this feature in your account settings if you prefer not to share read receipts or if you want to read someone’s messages without them knowing.
- Broadcast Lists: Send the same message to multiple contacts without starting a group chat, create a broadcast list.
- WhatsApp Web and Desktop: Use WhatsApp on your computer for easier typing and access. Scan the QR code from your phone on web.whatsapp.com or open the WhatsApp desktop app to begin using it.
- Clear or Delete Chats: Clear out your conversation history for better management by selecting a chat, clicking the three dots and selecting the clear chat or delete chat option. Clearing will remove all the text but the chat will remain and deleting the chat will remove the text and the chat from your list.
- WhatsApp Status: Share photos, videos, and text updates with all your contacts using the ‘Status’ feature, viewable for a 24 hour period.
Conclusion
WhatsApp is a powerful communication platform with many features beyond basic text messaging. By mastering these techniques, you can enhance your communication skills, share your thoughts more effectively, and make the most of this versatile app. Whether you are sending a quick message to a friend, sharing photos with your family, or collaborating with colleagues, understanding how to send WhatsApp messages is a must in today’s interconnected world.
This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview of sending WhatsApp messages. Take the time to explore the various features, experiment with formatting, and discover how you can use WhatsApp to improve your communication. Keep learning and stay connected!