fix: prevent accidental desktop chat sends (#631)

Desktop users have different multiline habits, and issue #631 calls out that Enter-only submission is too easy to trigger. This adds a persisted General setting that keeps Enter-send as the default while allowing Ctrl/Cmd+Enter submission for users who want plain Enter to insert a newline.

Constraint: Preserve existing Enter-to-send behavior as the default
Rejected: Change the global default to Ctrl/Cmd+Enter | would disrupt existing users
Confidence: high
Scope-risk: moderate
Directive: Keep active and empty session composers using the shared send shortcut helper
Tested: cd desktop && bun run test -- --run src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts
Tested: bun run check:desktop
Tested: cd desktop && bun run lint
Tested: Browser smoke on http://127.0.0.1:5174/?serverUrl=http%3A%2F%2F127.0.0.1%3A3456
Not-tested: Packaged Tauri app runtime
Related: #631

desktop/src/__tests__/generalSettings.test.tsx

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useUIStore } from '../stores/uiStore'
 import { useUpdateStore } from '../stores/updateStore'
 import type { SavedProvider } from '../types/provider'
 import type { ProviderPreset } from '../types/providerPreset'
-import type { AppMode, ThemeMode, UpdateProxySettings } from '../types/settings'
+import type { AppMode, ChatSendBehavior, ThemeMode, UpdateProxySettings } from '../types/settings'
 
 const MOCK_DELETE_PROVIDER = vi.fn()
 const MOCK_GET_SETTINGS = vi.fn()
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ describe('Settings > General tab', () => {
       thinkingEnabled: true,
       skipWebFetchPreflight: true,
       desktopNotificationsEnabled: true,
+      chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
       responseLanguage: '',
       uiZoom: 1,
       webSearch: { mode: 'auto', tavilyApiKey: '', braveApiKey: '' },
@@ -193,6 +194,9 @@ describe('Settings > General tab', () => {
       setDesktopNotificationsEnabled: vi.fn().mockImplementation(async (enabled: boolean) => {
         useSettingsStore.setState({ desktopNotificationsEnabled: enabled })
       }),
+      setChatSendBehavior: vi.fn().mockImplementation(async (chatSendBehavior: ChatSendBehavior) => {
+        useSettingsStore.setState({ chatSendBehavior })
+      }),
       setResponseLanguage: vi.fn().mockImplementation(async (language: string) => {
         useSettingsStore.setState({ responseLanguage: language })
       }),
@@ -328,6 +332,18 @@ describe('Settings > General tab', () => {
     expect((networkHeading.compareDocumentPosition(webFetchHeading) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_FOLLOWING) !== 0).toBe(true)
   })
 
+  it('lets users choose Ctrl or Command Enter as the chat send shortcut', async () => {
+    render(<Settings />)
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText('General'))
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Ctrl\/Cmd\+Enter sends/i }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(useSettingsStore.getState().setChatSendBehavior).toHaveBeenCalledWith('modifierEnter')
+    })
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /Ctrl\/Cmd\+Enter sends/i })).toHaveAttribute('aria-pressed', 'true')
+  })
+
   it('saves provider network timeout and manual proxy from General settings', async () => {
     render(<Settings />)
 

desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.test.tsx

@@ -920,6 +920,36 @@ describe('ChatInput file mentions', () => {
     expect(input).not.toHaveClass('pb-14')
   })
 
+  it('uses Ctrl or Command Enter to send when that composer preference is selected', async () => {
+    useSettingsStore.setState({
+      chatSendBehavior: 'modifierEnter',
+    })
+
+    render(<ChatInput />)
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(mocks.getGitInfo).toHaveBeenCalledWith(sessionId)
+    })
+
+    const input = screen.getByRole('textbox') as HTMLTextAreaElement
+    fireEvent.change(input, {
+      target: {
+        value: 'avoid accidental sends',
+        selectionStart: 'avoid accidental sends'.length,
+      },
+    })
+
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: 'Enter' })
+    expect(mocks.wsSend).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: 'Enter', ctrlKey: true })
+    expect(mocks.wsSend).toHaveBeenCalledWith(sessionId, {
+      type: 'user_message',
+      content: 'avoid accidental sends',
+      attachments: [],
+    })
+  })
+
   it('prioritizes active-session slash commands by command name when filtering', async () => {
     useChatStore.setState({
       sessions: {

desktop/src/components/chat/ChatInput.tsx

@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import {
   type ComposerAttachment,
 } from '../../lib/composerAttachments'
 import { useComposerFileDrop } from './useComposerFileDrop'
+import { shouldSubmitOnEnter } from './sendShortcut'
 
 type GitInfo = SessionGitInfo
 
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
     activeTabId ? state.selections[activeTabId] : undefined,
   )
   const currentModel = useSettingsStore((state) => state.currentModel)
+  const chatSendBehavior = useSettingsStore((state) => state.chatSendBehavior)
   const runtimeSelectionKey = runtimeSelection
     ? `${runtimeSelection.providerId ?? 'official'}:${runtimeSelection.modelId}`
     : undefined
@@ -694,7 +696,11 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
         return
       }
       if (event.key === 'Enter') {
-        if (exactSlashCommand && slashFilter.trim().toLowerCase() === exactSlashCommand.name.toLowerCase()) {
+        if (
+          exactSlashCommand &&
+          slashFilter.trim().toLowerCase() === exactSlashCommand.name.toLowerCase() &&
+          shouldSubmitOnEnter(event, chatSendBehavior)
+        ) {
           event.preventDefault()
           handleSubmit()
           return
@@ -717,7 +723,7 @@ export function ChatInput({ variant = 'default', compact = false }: ChatInputPro
       }
     }
 
-    if (event.key === 'Enter' && !event.shiftKey) {
+    if (shouldSubmitOnEnter(event, chatSendBehavior)) {
       event.preventDefault()
       handleSubmit()
     }

desktop/src/components/chat/sendShortcut.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import type { ChatSendBehavior } from '../../types/settings'
+import type { KeyboardEvent as ReactKeyboardEvent } from 'react'
+
+export function shouldSubmitOnEnter(
+  event: Pick<KeyboardEvent | ReactKeyboardEvent, 'key' | 'shiftKey' | 'ctrlKey' | 'metaKey'>,
+  behavior: ChatSendBehavior,
+): boolean {
+  if (event.key !== 'Enter' || event.shiftKey) return false
+  if (behavior === 'modifierEnter') return event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey
+  return !event.ctrlKey && !event.metaKey
+}

desktop/src/i18n/locales/en.ts

@@ -862,6 +862,12 @@ export const en = {
   'settings.general.notificationsOpenSettings': 'Open Settings',
   'settings.general.notificationsTestTitle': 'Claude Code Haha notifications are enabled',
   'settings.general.notificationsTestBody': 'Permission prompts and completed agent replies will now use system notifications.',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorTitle': 'Message Sending',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorDescription': 'Choose how the desktop chat composer submits messages.',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnter': 'Enter sends',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnterDescription': 'Shift+Enter inserts a new line.',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifier': 'Ctrl/Cmd+Enter sends',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifierDescription': 'Enter and Shift+Enter insert new lines.',
   'settings.general.h5AccessTitle': 'H5 Access',
   'settings.general.h5AccessDescription': 'Expose the desktop H5 app on your local network. Phones connect with a QR link that includes a short-lived H5 token.',
   'settings.general.h5AccessEnabled': 'Enable H5 access',

desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh.ts

@@ -864,6 +864,12 @@ export const zh: Record<TranslationKey, string> = {
   'settings.general.notificationsOpenSettings': '打开系统设置',
   'settings.general.notificationsTestTitle': 'Claude Code Haha 通知已启用',
   'settings.general.notificationsTestBody': '后续授权确认和 Agent 回复完成都会通过系统通知提醒。',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorTitle': '消息发送方式',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorDescription': '选择桌面端对话输入框如何发送消息。',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnter': 'Enter 发送',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnterDescription': 'Shift+Enter 换行。',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifier': 'Ctrl/Cmd+Enter 发送',
+  'settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifierDescription': 'Enter 和 Shift+Enter 都会换行。',
   'settings.general.h5AccessTitle': 'H5 访问',
   'settings.general.h5AccessDescription': '在局域网内暴露桌面端 H5 应用。手机通过带 H5 token 的二维码快速连接。',
   'settings.general.h5AccessEnabled': '启用 H5 访问',

desktop/src/pages/EmptySession.tsx

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   type ComposerAttachment,
 } from '../lib/composerAttachments'
 import { useComposerFileDrop } from '../components/chat/useComposerFileDrop'
+import { shouldSubmitOnEnter } from '../components/chat/sendShortcut'
 import {
   getLocalizedFallbackCommands,
   filterSlashCommands,
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ export function EmptySession() {
   const setActiveView = useUIStore((state) => state.setActiveView)
   const addToast = useUIStore((state) => state.addToast)
   const currentModel = useSettingsStore((state) => state.currentModel)
+  const chatSendBehavior = useSettingsStore((state) => state.chatSendBehavior)
   const lastPluginReloadSummary = usePluginStore((state) => state.lastReloadSummary)
   const draftRuntimeSelection = useSessionRuntimeStore((state) => state.selections[DRAFT_RUNTIME_SELECTION_KEY])
   const draftRuntimeSelectionKey = draftRuntimeSelection
@@ -380,7 +382,8 @@ export function EmptySession() {
         if (
           event.key === 'Enter' &&
           exactSlashCommand &&
-          slashFilter.trim().toLowerCase() === exactSlashCommand.name.toLowerCase()
+          slashFilter.trim().toLowerCase() === exactSlashCommand.name.toLowerCase() &&
+          shouldSubmitOnEnter(event, chatSendBehavior)
         ) {
           event.preventDefault()
           void handleSubmit()
@@ -398,7 +401,7 @@ export function EmptySession() {
       }
     }
 
-    if (event.key === 'Enter' && !event.shiftKey) {
+    if (shouldSubmitOnEnter(event, chatSendBehavior)) {
       event.preventDefault()
       handleSubmit()
     }

desktop/src/pages/Settings.tsx

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { ConfirmDialog } from '../components/shared/ConfirmDialog'
 import { Input } from '../components/shared/Input'
 import { Button } from '../components/shared/Button'
 import { Dropdown } from '../components/shared/Dropdown'
-import type { PermissionMode, EffortLevel, ThemeMode, UpdateProxyMode, NetworkProxyMode, WebSearchMode, AppMode } from '../types/settings'
+import type { PermissionMode, EffortLevel, ThemeMode, UpdateProxyMode, NetworkProxyMode, WebSearchMode, AppMode, ChatSendBehavior } from '../types/settings'
 import type { Locale } from '../i18n'
 import type { SavedProvider, UpdateProviderInput, ProviderTestResult, ModelMapping, ApiFormat, ProviderAuthStrategy } from '../types/provider'
 import type { ProviderPreset } from '../types/providerPreset'
@@ -1489,6 +1489,8 @@ function GeneralSettings() {
     setLocale,
     theme,
     setTheme,
+    chatSendBehavior,
+    setChatSendBehavior,
     skipWebFetchPreflight,
     setSkipWebFetchPreflight,
     desktopNotificationsEnabled,
@@ -1632,6 +1634,19 @@ function GeneralSettings() {
     },
   ]
 
+  const CHAT_SEND_BEHAVIORS: Array<{ value: ChatSendBehavior; label: string; description: string }> = [
+    {
+      value: 'enter',
+      label: t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnter'),
+      description: t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorEnterDescription'),
+    },
+    {
+      value: 'modifierEnter',
+      label: t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifier'),
+      description: t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorModifierDescription'),
+    },
+  ]
+
   const notificationStatusLabel: Record<DesktopNotificationPermission, string> = {
     granted: t('settings.general.notificationsStatusGranted'),
     denied: t('settings.general.notificationsStatusDenied'),
@@ -2088,6 +2103,31 @@ function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      <div className="mt-8">
+        <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-[var(--color-text-primary)] mb-1">{t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorTitle')}</h2>
+        <p className="text-sm text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)] mb-3">{t('settings.general.chatSendBehaviorDescription')}</p>
+        <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-2 rounded-xl border border-[var(--color-border)] bg-[var(--color-surface-container-low)] p-2">
+          {CHAT_SEND_BEHAVIORS.map((option) => (
+            <button
+              key={option.value}
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => void setChatSendBehavior(option.value)}
+              aria-pressed={chatSendBehavior === option.value}
+              className={`rounded-lg border px-3 py-2 text-left transition-colors ${
+                chatSendBehavior === option.value
+                  ? 'border-[var(--color-brand)] bg-[var(--color-surface-selected)] text-[var(--color-text-primary)]'
+                  : 'border-[var(--color-border)] text-[var(--color-text-secondary)] hover:bg-[var(--color-surface-hover)]'
+              }`}
+            >
+              <div className="text-xs font-semibold">{option.label}</div>
+              <div className="mt-1 text-[11px] leading-4 text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">
+                {option.description}
+              </div>
+            </button>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
       {uiZoomSection}
 
       <div className="mt-8">

desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.test.ts

@@ -279,6 +279,56 @@ describe('settingsStore network persistence', () => {
       },
     })
   })
+
+  it('persists the chat send behavior preference and normalizes invalid values', async () => {
+    const updateUser = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({})
+    vi.doMock('../api/settings', () => ({
+      settingsApi: {
+        getUser: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+          chatSendBehavior: 'unexpected',
+        }),
+        updateUser,
+        getPermissionMode: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ mode: 'default' }),
+        setPermissionMode: vi.fn(),
+        getCliLauncherStatus: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    }))
+    vi.doMock('../api/models', () => ({
+      modelsApi: {
+        list: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ models: [] }),
+        getCurrent: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ model: null }),
+        setCurrent: vi.fn(),
+        getEffort: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ level: 'medium' }),
+        setEffort: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    }))
+    vi.doMock('../api/h5Access', () => ({
+      h5AccessApi: {
+        get: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+          settings: {
+            enabled: false,
+            tokenPreview: null,
+            allowedOrigins: [],
+            publicBaseUrl: null,
+          },
+        }),
+        enable: vi.fn(),
+        disable: vi.fn(),
+        regenerate: vi.fn(),
+        update: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    }))
+
+    const { useSettingsStore } = await import('./settingsStore')
+
+    await useSettingsStore.getState().fetchAll()
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().chatSendBehavior).toBe('enter')
+
+    await useSettingsStore.getState().setChatSendBehavior('modifierEnter')
+
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().chatSendBehavior).toBe('modifierEnter')
+    expect(updateUser).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ chatSendBehavior: 'modifierEnter' })
+  })
 })
 
 describe('settingsStore app mode', () => {

desktop/src/stores/settingsStore.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   isThemeMode,
   type AppMode,
   type AppModeConfig,
+  type ChatSendBehavior,
   type DesktopTerminalSettings,
   type DesktopTerminalStartupShell,
   type H5AccessDiagnostics,
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ type SettingsStore = {
   activeProviderName: string | null
   locale: Locale
   theme: ThemeMode
+  chatSendBehavior: ChatSendBehavior
   skipWebFetchPreflight: boolean
   desktopNotificationsEnabled: boolean
   desktopTerminal: DesktopTerminalSettings
@@ -82,6 +84,7 @@ type SettingsStore = {
   setThinkingEnabled: (enabled: boolean) => Promise<void>
   setLocale: (locale: Locale) => void
   setTheme: (theme: ThemeMode) => Promise<void>
+  setChatSendBehavior: (behavior: ChatSendBehavior) => Promise<void>
   setSkipWebFetchPreflight: (enabled: boolean) => Promise<void>
   setDesktopNotificationsEnabled: (enabled: boolean) => Promise<void>
   setDesktopTerminal: (settings: DesktopTerminalSettings) => Promise<void>
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
   activeProviderName: null,
   locale: getStoredLocale(),
   theme: useUIStore.getState().theme,
+  chatSendBehavior: 'enter',
   skipWebFetchPreflight: true,
   desktopNotificationsEnabled: false,
   desktopTerminal: DEFAULT_DESKTOP_TERMINAL_SETTINGS,
@@ -189,6 +193,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
         effortLevel: level,
         thinkingEnabled: userSettings.alwaysThinkingEnabled !== false,
         theme,
+        chatSendBehavior: normalizeChatSendBehavior(userSettings.chatSendBehavior),
         skipWebFetchPreflight: userSettings.skipWebFetchPreflight !== false,
         desktopNotificationsEnabled: userSettings.desktopNotificationsEnabled === true,
         desktopTerminal: normalizeDesktopTerminalSettings(userSettings.desktopTerminal),
@@ -272,6 +277,18 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsStore>((set, get) => ({
     }
   },
 
+  setChatSendBehavior: async (behavior) => {
+    const prev = get().chatSendBehavior
+    const next = normalizeChatSendBehavior(behavior)
+    set({ chatSendBehavior: next })
+    try {
+      await settingsApi.updateUser({ chatSendBehavior: next })
+    } catch (error) {
+      set({ chatSendBehavior: prev })
+      throw error
+    }
+  },
+
   setSkipWebFetchPreflight: async (enabled) => {
     const prev = get().skipWebFetchPreflight
     set({ skipWebFetchPreflight: enabled })
@@ -466,6 +483,10 @@ function normalizeWebSearchSettings(settings: WebSearchSettings | undefined): We
   }
 }
 
+function normalizeChatSendBehavior(value: unknown): ChatSendBehavior {
+  return value === 'modifierEnter' ? 'modifierEnter' : 'enter'
+}
+
 function isUpdateProxyMode(value: unknown): value is UpdateProxyMode {
   return value === 'system' || value === 'manual'
 }

desktop/src/types/settings.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ export function isThemeMode(value: unknown): value is ThemeMode {
 
 export type WebSearchMode = 'auto' | 'anthropic' | 'tavily' | 'brave' | 'disabled'
 
+export type ChatSendBehavior = 'enter' | 'modifierEnter'
+
 export type WebSearchSettings = {
   mode?: WebSearchMode
   tavilyApiKey?: string
@@ -80,6 +82,7 @@ export type UserSettings = {
   alwaysThinkingEnabled?: boolean
   permissionMode?: PermissionMode
   theme?: ThemeMode
+  chatSendBehavior?: ChatSendBehavior
   skipWebFetchPreflight?: boolean
   desktopNotificationsEnabled?: boolean
   webSearch?: WebSearchSettings