How to type a message in new Teams without formatting

Hi @Olack, Zachary (NAZ-V),

Thank you for reaching out about the difficulty you’re having with typing plain‑text messages in the new Teams. I understand why this feels restrictive - Microsoft has redesigned the chat box to use rich‑text formatting, and the new experience doesn’t currently offer a way to turn that off completely.

The formatting toolbar (the “A” icon with the pen/paintbrush) simply expands the full message composer. If you leave it closed, Teams keeps you in the basic inline compose box. Microsoft’s documentation shows that rich‑text options only appear after selecting Format, so avoiding that toggle is the simplest way to keep your message plain.

Reference: Format a message in Microsoft Teams.

Here are some workarounds you can consider:

1/ Paste text without formatting

If the main issue is pasted text bringing in unwanted styles, you can paste as plain text using:

• Windows: Ctrl + Shift + V
• Mac: ⌥ + ⌘ + Shift + V

These shortcuts strip most formatting from copied content so your message stays plain.

Note: Teams will still automatically convert URLs into clickable links - this behavior cannot be disabled.

2/ Use a plain‑text code block for exact “what‑you‑typed” output

If you need to prevent Teams from applying any rich formatting (such as auto-italicizing underscores, styling symbols, etc.), you can send your message inside a code block:

• Type three backticks ``` , then choose Plain Text as the language. Teams renders your message monospaced and doesn’t apply rich formatting to its contents - good for paths, strings with underscores, or anything you don’t want interpreted.
• You can also insert a code block from the Format menu if you’ve expanded the editor (but you don’t have to - ``` works from the simple composer too).

For more detail: Use code blocks in Microsoft Teams.

Submit feedback to Microsoft:

As a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the Microsoft Teams · Community.This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered about how company-only contacts are handled in search results, with potential improvements being considered  for future improvements.      

You've clearly identified a real-world challenge, and your suggestion reflects a deep understanding of user needs - feedback like yours is truly valuable and helps shape the future of Microsoft team.   

Once you’ve submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here. I’d be happy to upvote it to help increase its visibility.  Moreover, if you are unable to submit feedback, please inform me at your convenience. In that case, I will gladly assist by submitting it on your behalf to ensure your request is properly captured.         

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well.   

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.   

Wishing you a smooth rest of your day.   

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