Text replacement not working in WhatsApp for Desktop on MacBook

Part 1 of 2

Since your Text Replacement works in other apps, there is no reason to change or recreate your macOS replacements.

With WhatsApp open and the message field active, check Edit >> Substitutions >> Text Replacement. 

Apple says this option controls whether an individual app uses macOS text replacements. 

If it is checked but omw still does not expand to “On my way!”, then the issue is confined to WhatsApp's handling of macOS text replacement. 

Apple also notes that text replacement is not supported by every app. (Apple Support)

Text replacements, smart quotes and dashes, and smart links aren’t available in all apps.

Your macOS Tahoe 26.6 is relevant because Apple confirms that 26.6 included bug fixes and security updates, but Apple's published notes do not identify a Text Replacement change or a WhatsApp-related issue. 

So there is not enough evidence to say that Tahoe 26.6 caused this problem. (Apple Support)

Part 2 of 2 

Certain misconceptions persist regarding the relationship between Apple Computer and third-party applications.

These misconceptions often arise when third-party products fail to function or meet user expectations.

Apple is responsible for addressing issues with its own services, applications, operating systems.

However, Apple cannot rectify user choices of third-party products installed and used on their computers.

This responsibility lies solely with the third party to evaluate the performance of their products when used on an Apple Computer running the intended version of macOS.

How to contact an app developer - Apple Support (CA)

Text replacement often fails in the native WhatsApp Desktop app for macOS because Electron-based or web-wrapped apps do not always hook into system-wide Mac text substitutions by default.

Open WhatsApp, click Edit in the top menu bar, go to Substitutions, and ensure Text Replacement is checked.

Alternatively, Switch to using WhatsApp Web in Safari, where native browser text-expansion rules are more reliably supported.

More info: Replace text and punctuation in documents on Mac - Apple Support

I switched to the web version until they fix the app, text replacements are still working there.

It does work in whatsapp web because you're interfacing with whatever browser you're using. It doesn't work with whatsapp native mac app, and it's annoying because of specific ways in which I use the app (multiple languages etc)

Is it working on other apps? If so, then no, it's a WhatsApp issue (one of MANY, it would seem). Contact WhatsApp support.

The problem is with WhatsApp itself.

Online version has the same problem.

Tried everything what ChatGTP recommended, not helping at all.

Will wait for new updates

wabbak wrote:

Text replacement not working in whatsapp for desktop. Up till two days ago, everything worked as usual. could it be the latest Tahoe update? I'm on a Macbook M4.

There were two WhatsApp updates on the day you posted, one update several days prior to that, one update one day after you posted, and another update just now, one week after you posted.

I have the latest version and it does not do the substitutions properly, just as you have reported. I haven't checked the web based version, I didn't even know there was one.

I treat WhatsApp like a simple texting app, and I have looked back months at messages from others and don't see any text substitutions in those.

By the way, the vast majority of users use the phone apps, not the desktop app.

There are other bugs I have noticed in WhatsApp. Including some pertaining to the cloud backup (which I don't care much about) and also on my desktop app it does not automatically download images or videos although I have a setting to do that, which it ignores.

I have seen much higher quality apps, but I guess the price is right; you get what you pay for.

It's checked already still it's not working on WhatsApp Application.

Verified that Text Replacement is checked.

Still not working.

Very annoying.

still facing the issue.. i have tried every thing.. did any of u find the solution ??

There is no solution at this time.

Time to accept that and move on ...

WhatsApp has a number of bugs or "features" that are probably more annoying than anything else, and this is one of them.