How to Add a New Line in Slack Without Sending

To go to the next line in Slack without sending the message, press Shift+Enter. It works the same on Mac, Windows, Linux and in the browser. Press it twice for a blank line between paragraphs. If you would rather have Enter add lines, open Preferences, Advanced, and under When writing a message, press Enter to pick Start a new line. After that, Enter adds a line and Cmd+Enter (Mac) or Ctrl+Enter (Windows and Linux) sends.

On iPhone and Android the return key already adds a new line. You send with the arrow button.

The free Markdown to Slack converter previews line breaks, lists and code the way Slack shows them.

What we tested in Slack

We checked each method on 2 October 2026 in Slack's web app, in our own direct message, and read the stored message back with conversations.history:

So Shift+Enter stores a real line break, two of them store a blank line, and an API \n gives the same result. A status has no line breaks at all.

New line vs send in Slack, by device

Shift+Enter keeps working when you switch the preference, so you do not have to relearn it. The key is called Return on some Mac keyboards; Shift+Return does the same thing.

Make Enter start a new line instead of sending

• Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
• Select Preferences. The shortcut is Cmd+, on Mac or Ctrl+, on Windows and Linux.
• Choose Advanced.
• Under When writing a message, press Enter to, select Start a new line.

This is the section as it looks in the web app. The option right above it matters for code:



If you tick When typing code with three backticks, Enter should not send the message (Slack shows the backticks themselves), Enter adds lines inside a code block you opened with three backticks, and Shift+Enter sends instead. It was off in our workspace.

Now Enter adds a line, and Cmd+Enter or Ctrl+Enter sends. This is a per-person desktop setting. It does not change anything for your coworkers.

People who write long messages, paste logs, or keep sending half-finished messages by accident tend to like this setting. If you already sent too early, press Cmd+Z (Ctrl+Z) right away to unsend it, or press the Up arrow to edit your last message.

Line breaks in lists, quotes and code blocks

The keys for each format, such as Cmd+Shift+8 for a bulleted list, are in our Slack keyboard shortcuts guide.

Slack new line on iPhone and Android

In the Slack mobile apps, the return key on the keyboard adds a new line and never sends. Tap the send arrow to post the message.

Line breaks in Slack API and webhook messages

When a bot or script posts to Slack, put a line break in the text as the two-character sequence backslash n in the JSON string:

curl -X POST -H 'Content-type: application/json' \
  --data '{"text":"Deploy finished\nVersion: 2.4.1\nStatus: ok"}' \
  "$SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL"

Slack shows that as three lines. Two in a row leave a blank line. The same rule works in Block Kit mrkdwn text and in tools such as the Slack GitHub Action. To draft the message first and see the line breaks, or to start from GitHub markdown, use the Markdown to Slack converter; it handles the blank lines and lists for you.

No formatting buttons under the message field? See Slack formatting toolbar missing.

FAQ

Why does Enter send my Slack message? That is the default. Change it in Preferences, Advanced, under When writing a message, press Enter to.

Can I add a new line in a Slack status? No. When we saved a status with a line break through the API, Slack replaced the break with a space. A status is one line of up to 100 characters; ideas that fit are in funny Slack status ideas.