How to Perform an Emote in Fortnite on PC

To use an emote in Fortnite on PC, press and hold the emote wheel key (default is E), then move your mouse to select the emote you want and click it. The emote wheel displays all the emotes you have equipped, arranged in a circle around your character. Release the key or click your selection, and your character will perform the animation.

If you have not customized your emotes yet, Fortnite assigns default ones to your account. You can change which emotes appear on the wheel by opening your locker before a match starts. The emote wheel works the same way in Battle Royale, Creative, and Team Rumble modes.

Some players prefer to bind individual emote slots to single keys instead of using the wheel. You can do this in Settings under the Input section, assigning each of your six emote slots to a separate keyboard key. This method is faster if you use the same emote repeatedly during a match.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold E (or your custom emote wheel key) to open the emote wheel, then click the emote you want to perform.
  • You can equip up to six emotes at a time in your locker, and they appear on the wheel in the order you arrange them.
  • Emotes can be bound to individual keys in Settings under Input if you want to trigger them without opening the wheel.
  • Emotes work in all game modes and do not interrupt your ability to move, build, or fight—you can cancel an emote by moving or jumping.

Customizing Your Emote Wheel Before a Match

Open Fortnite and go to your locker from the main menu. Select the Emotes tab on the left side. You will see all the emotes you own, organized by rarity and type. Click on any emote to preview it and see its name and description.

To add an emote to your wheel, click the emote and select Equip. You can equip up to six emotes at once. The position where you click on the wheel determines where that emote appears—clicking the top slot puts it at the top of the wheel, clicking the right slot puts it on the right, and so on. Rearrange them by unequipping and re-equipping in your preferred order.

Once you have equipped your emotes, they stay on your wheel until you change them again. You can swap out your emotes between matches without penalty, so you can have different wheels for different situations or moods.

Binding Emotes to Individual Keys

If you want to trigger an emote with a single keypress instead of opening the wheel, you can bind each emote slot to its own key. Open Fortnite and go to Settings (the gear icon on the main menu). Select the Input tab.

Scroll down to the section labeled Emotes. You will see six rows, one for each emote slot. Click on the key binding next to Emote Slot 1 and press the key you want to use (for example, 1, 2, 3, etc.). Repeat for the other five slots. Common choices are number keys or function keys like F1 through F6.

After you bind the keys, you can press them during a match to perform the emote in that slot when ready. This method is faster than the wheel but requires you to remember which key corresponds to which emote. You can still use the wheel even if you have individual keys bound—both methods work at the same time.

Canceling an Emote Mid-Performance

Emotes in Fortnite do not lock you in place. You can cancel an emote at any time by moving your character, jumping, or pressing a weapon or building key. This means you can start an emote and stop it when ready if you spot an enemy or need to move quickly.

If you are in the middle of an emote and need to build or shoot, straightforward press your build or fire key and the emote will stop. Your character will return to normal stance and you can act normally. This is useful if you want to celebrate a victory but need to react fast if another player appears.

Emotes You Own vs. Emotes You Can Unlock

Emotes come from the Item Shop, Battle Pass rewards, or special events. The Item Shop rotates emotes regularly, and some are only available during certain seasons or events. You can only equip emotes that you own—you cannot use an emote you have not purchased or earned.

Battle Pass emotes are unlocked by reaching certain tiers during a season. Free Battle Pass members get some emotes, and paid Battle Pass members unlock more. Once you own an emote, it stays in your locker forever, even after the season ends or the Item Shop rotates.

You can preview any emote in the Item Shop or Battle Pass before you commit to it. Click on the emote to see the full animation and read the description. Some emotes are longer than others—a few take 10 to 15 seconds to complete, while others finish in 2 to 3 seconds.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistake is forgetting to equip emotes before a match. If you buy a new emote from the Item Shop, it does not automatically appear on your wheel—you have to go to your locker and equip it. If you try to use the emote wheel and do not see your new emote, check your locker to make sure it is equipped.

Another mistake is binding emote keys to keys you already use for other actions. For example, if you bind Emote Slot 1 to E but E is also your interact key, pressing E near a chest or supply drop will open it instead of playing the emote. Choose keys that do not conflict with your other bindings.

Players also sometimes forget that emotes are visible to other players. If you are hiding or trying to stay undetected, performing an emote will give away your position. Emotes are best used when you are safe, celebrating a win, or in Team Rumble where respawning is when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emotes while in a vehicle?

No, you cannot perform emotes while driving a car, helicopter, or boat. You must exit the vehicle first. Once you are out, you can use your emote wheel normally.

Do emotes cost V-Bucks every time I use them?

No. You pay V-Bucks (Fortnite's premium currency) once to purchase or unlock an emote. After that, you can use it as many times as you want for free during matches.

What happens if I perform an emote while falling?

Your character will continue falling while performing the emote animation. The emote plays but does not affect your fall speed or trajectory. You will still take fall damage if you hit the ground from a high height, even if you are in the middle of an emote.

Can I use emotes in Creative mode?

Yes, emotes work in Creative mode the same way they do in Battle Royale. Press and hold your emote wheel key and select the emote you want. This is useful for making videos or practicing emote timing.

Why is my emote wheel not showing up?

Make sure you have equipped at least one emote in your locker. If the wheel still does not appear, check that your emote wheel key is not bound to a conflicting action. You can also reset your key bindings to default in Settings and try again.