You can insert emojis into Outlook emails on Windows, Mac, and the web version
Outlook lets you add emojis to your messages in three different ways depending on which version you use. On Windows 10 and 11, you can open the emoji picker with a keyboard shortcut. On Mac, the emoji menu is built into the system. On Outlook.com or Outlook on the web, you'll find an emoji button in the compose toolbar. The steps differ slightly between versions, but the end result is the same — your message will include the emoji you selected.
Emojis work in both the message body and in the subject line. They display the same way to the person receiving your email, regardless of whether they use Outlook, Gmail, or another email client. The emoji you see on your screen is what they'll see on theirs.
Key Takeaways
- Windows 10 and 11 users can press Windows key + period to open the emoji picker while composing an email.
- Mac users can press Control + Command + Space to open the emoji menu from within Outlook.
- Outlook.com and web-based Outlook have an emoji button (smiley face icon) in the compose toolbar above the message body.
- You can search for emojis by name in the picker or menu instead of scrolling through categories.
Adding emojis in Outlook on Windows
Open Outlook and start composing a new email. Click in the message body where you want the emoji to appear. Press the Windows key and the period key at the same time. A small window will pop up showing emoji categories across the top and a search box at the bottom.
You can browse emojis by clicking the category icons — the smiley face for smileys and emotion, the hand for hand gestures, the lightbulb for objects, and so on. Or type what you're looking for in the search box. If you type "thumbs", you'll see all thumbs-up and thumbs-down variations. Click the emoji you want, and it will insert into your message at the cursor position. The picker closes automatically after you select one.
If the Windows key + period shortcut doesn't work, your keyboard or system settings may have disabled it. Try Windows key + semicolon instead — this is an alternate shortcut for the same emoji picker. If neither works, check that you're running Windows 10 or later.
Adding emojis in Outlook on Mac
Open Outlook and start composing a message. Click where you want the emoji to go in the message body. Press Control + Command + Space at the same time. The emoji picker will open as a floating window showing a grid of emojis.
Use the category tabs at the bottom of the picker to jump between sections — recent, smileys, animals, food, travel, activities, objects, symbols, and flags. You can also type in the search field at the top to find emojis by name. Type "party" and you'll see party poppers, party hats, and celebration emojis. Click the emoji you want and it will insert into your message.
If Control + Command + Space doesn't open the picker, go to Outlook's menu, select Preferences, then Keyboard and click Customize Keyboard Shortcuts. Search for "emoji" to see what shortcut is assigned, or assign a new one if needed.
Adding emojis in Outlook.com and web Outlook
Log into Outlook.com or access Outlook on the web through your browser. Click Compose to start a new email. In the toolbar above the message body, look for a smiley face icon. This is the emoji button. Click it and a panel will open showing emoji categories.
The categories appear as tabs across the top — recently used, smileys and emotion, people, animals and nature, food and drink, travel and places, activities, objects, symbols, and flags. Click a category to see those emojis. You can also use the search box at the top of the panel to find emojis by typing their name. Click any emoji to insert it into your message at the cursor position.
If you don't see the smiley face icon in the toolbar, your browser window may be too narrow. Try making the window wider or scrolling the toolbar to the right to find it. The emoji button is usually near the formatting buttons like bold and italic.
Searching for emojis by name instead of browsing
All three versions of Outlook have a search feature in their emoji pickers. This is faster than scrolling through categories if you know what you're looking for. Type the name of what you want — "heart", "star", "fire", "clock", "rocket" — and the picker will show matching emojis.
The search works with partial names too. Type "hand" and you'll see thumbs up, thumbs down, waving hand, raised hand, and other hand-related emojis. Type "face" to see all face emojis. If you're not sure of the exact name, try typing a related word — searching "happy" will show smiling faces, and searching "sad" will show frowning faces.
Emojis in the subject line
You can add emojis to your email subject line the same way you add them to the message body. Click in the subject field, open the emoji picker using the method for your version of Outlook, and select the emoji you want. It will appear in the subject line just like it does in the message.
Keep in mind that some older email clients or spam filters may not display emojis in subject lines correctly, though most modern email programs handle them fine. If you're sending to someone using very old software, the emoji might show as a box or question mark on their end, but it will display correctly for most recipients.
Troubleshooting emojis that don't appear
If you insert an emoji and it shows as a box or question mark when you send the email, the recipient's email client doesn't support that particular emoji. This is rare with modern email programs, but it can happen with older systems or certain corporate email setups. Try using a more common emoji like a smiley face or thumbs up instead.
If the emoji picker itself won't open, make sure you're using the correct keyboard shortcut for your device. Windows users should try both Windows + period and Windows + semicolon. Mac users should confirm Control + Command + Space is the assigned shortcut in Preferences. Web users should check that the smiley icon is visible in the compose toolbar — if not, try refreshing the page or using a different browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use emojis in Outlook on my phone?
Yes. On iPhone, open Outlook and start composing an email. Tap the message body, then tap the globe icon on your keyboard to switch to the emoji keyboard. On Android, tap the smiley face icon on your keyboard. Select the emoji and it will insert into your message.
Do emojis work in Outlook calendar invites and meeting requests?
Yes, you can add emojis to the title and description of calendar events and meeting requests. Open the event, click in the title or description field, and use the same emoji picker method as you would for an email. The emoji will show in the invite that recipients receive.
Will the person receiving my email see the same emoji I see?
Almost always yes. Modern email clients all support standard emojis. The emoji you select in Outlook will display the same way on Gmail, Apple Mail, and other email programs. Very old email systems might show it as a box, but this is uncommon with current software.
Can I copy and paste emojis into Outlook instead of using the picker?
Yes. You can copy an emoji from anywhere online or from another application and paste it directly into an Outlook message. Click where you want it, paste, and it will appear in your email. This works as an alternative to using the emoji picker if you prefer.
Why does the emoji picker close after I select one emoji?
The picker closes automatically to let you continue typing your message. If you want to add multiple emojis, just open the picker again using the same method. On Windows, press Windows + period again. On Mac, press Control + Command + Space again. On the web, click the smiley icon again.