The fastest way to type an emoji depends on your operating system

On Windows 11 and later, press Windows key + period (.) or semicolon (;) to open the emoji picker. A panel appears with hundreds of emojis sorted by category. Click the one you want and it types into whatever program you're using. On Windows 10, the same shortcut works but the picker looks slightly different.

On Mac, press Control + Command + Space to open the emoji picker. It works the same way — find what you want, click it, and it appears in your document or message. On Linux, the method varies by desktop environment, but GNOME-based systems often use Ctrl + ; (semicolon) or Ctrl + . (period).

If the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, your operating system may be too old to have a built-in picker. In that case, you can copy emojis from a website like emojipedia.org or unicode.org/emoji, or install a third-party tool.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11 and later: press Windows key + period or semicolon to open the emoji picker.
  • Mac: press Control + Command + Space to open the emoji picker.
  • You can also copy emojis from websites like emojipedia.org and paste them anywhere.
  • Some programs like Discord and Slack have their own emoji pickers built in — usually triggered by typing a colon.
  • If your keyboard shortcut doesn't work, your operating system may be older than Windows 10 or macOS 10.12.

Windows 10 and earlier versions

Windows 10 has the emoji picker, but it looks different from Windows 11. Press Windows key + period to open it. The panel shows emojis in a grid, and you can search by typing a word like "smile" or "heart" to narrow the results.

If you're on Windows 7 or Windows 8, the emoji picker doesn't exist. Your best option is to visit emojipedia.org in your web browser, find the emoji you want, and copy it. Then paste it into your document, email, or message. This works in any program that accepts text.

Using emoji websites to copy and paste

Emojipedia.org is the most complete reference. Search for what you want — "thumbs up", "fire", "thinking face" — and the results show you the emoji and its official name. Right-click the emoji and select Copy, or click it once and use Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac) to copy it.

Then go to wherever you want to use it — an email, a text document, a social media post — and paste it with Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac). The emoji appears exactly as it does on the website.

Unicode.org/emoji is another option if you want to see the technical details of each emoji, but emojipedia is easier for most people because it shows you what the emoji looks like and tells you what it means.

Emoji pickers in messaging and social apps

Discord, Slack, and many other messaging programs have their own emoji pickers. In Discord, type a colon (:) followed by a word — for example, :smile — and a menu appears showing matching emojis. Press Enter or click the one you want.

Slack works the same way. Type a colon and start typing the emoji name, and suggestions appear. You can also click the smiley face icon in the message box to open a full emoji picker.

Gmail and other web-based email services often have an emoji button in the compose window — usually a smiley face icon. Click it to open a picker, then select your emoji. The exact location varies depending on which version of Gmail you're using.

Typing emoji codes if you know them

Every emoji has a Unicode code point — a number that identifies it. If you know the code, you can type it directly on some systems. On Windows, hold Alt and type the code on the numeric keypad (the number pad on the right side of your keyboard), then release Alt. This doesn't work on all keyboards or all programs, and it requires you to know the code beforehand.

On Mac, you can set up custom keyboard shortcuts for emojis in System Preferences, but this is more work than using the built-in picker. Most people find it easier to use the emoji picker or copy from a website.

Why some emojis look different on different devices

The same emoji code can look slightly different depending on your device. A smiley face on an iPhone looks different from a smiley face on Android or Windows. The emoji itself is the same — it's the design (called the "rendering") that changes.

This matters if you're sending emojis to other people. They will see the emoji in their device's style, not yours. If you send a thumbs-up from a Mac, someone on Android sees it in Android's style. The meaning stays the same, but the appearance shifts.

Troubleshooting when the emoji picker doesn't open

If Windows key + period doesn't work on Windows, check that you're on Windows 10 or later. Open Settings, go to System, and look at the "About" section to see your Windows version. If you're on Windows 7 or 8, the shortcut doesn't exist — use the copy-and-paste method instead.

On Mac, if Control + Command + Space doesn't work, check that you're on macOS 10.12 or later. You can find your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac". If the shortcut still doesn't work, try going to System Preferences, then Keyboard, and checking that the shortcut isn't assigned to something else.

If you're using a non-English keyboard layout, the period or semicolon key might be in a different location. Try the key that produces a period or semicolon in your layout, or use the copy-and-paste method from emojipedia instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I type emojis on a Chromebook?

Yes. On Chrome OS, press Ctrl + . (period) to open the emoji picker. It works the same way as Windows — find the emoji you want and click it. If that shortcut doesn't work, your Chromebook may be older; use emojipedia.org and copy-paste instead.

Do I need to install anything to use emojis on my computer?

No. Windows 10 and later, macOS, and modern Linux systems have emoji support built in. You don't need to read or install anything. If you're on an older system, you can still use emojis by copying them from websites.

Why do some websites show a box or question mark instead of an emoji?

The website's browser or font doesn't recognize that emoji code. This usually happens on very old websites or with very new emojis that the site hasn't updated to support. It doesn't mean your computer can't display emojis — it's a problem with that specific website.

Can I make my own custom emoji on my computer?

Not in the system emoji picker. You can create image files that look like emojis and use them in some programs, but they won't work in the standard emoji picker. Discord and Slack let you upload custom emojis for use within those apps only.

What's the difference between an emoji and a special character?

Emojis are pictures — a smiley face, a heart, a pizza slice. Special characters are text symbols like &, @, or ©. Both can be typed on your computer, but emojis come from the emoji picker or websites, while special characters are usually on your keyboard or in a character map.