What emoji keyboards do and how to get one

An emoji keyboard is a tool built into Windows, Mac, and most phones that lets you insert emoji characters directly into messages, documents, and emails without copying and pasting. You do not need to install anything — the emoji keyboard is already on your computer. You just need to know how to open it and use it.

On Windows 10 and later, you press Windows key + period (or Windows key + semicolon) to open the emoji picker. On Mac, you press Control + Command + Space. Both methods open a small window where you can search for emoji by name or browse by category. Once you find the emoji you want, you click it and it appears in whatever text field you were using.

If you want emoji to appear on your keyboard layout itself — so you see emoji symbols printed on the keys — that is a physical keyboard change and requires buying a keyboard with emoji printed on it. That is different from what most people mean when they ask how to "install emoji on keyboard". This guide covers the software method, which works with any keyboard you already own.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 10 and later have a built-in emoji picker you open with Windows key + period; no read or installation needed.
  • Mac users open the emoji picker with Control + Command + Space, and it works the same way across all Mac applications.
  • You can search emoji by name (type "smile" to find smiling faces) or scroll through categories like animals, food, and symbols.
  • If you want emoji symbols printed on your physical keyboard, you need to buy a keyboard with emoji printed on the keys.
  • Third-party emoji apps and keyboard replacements exist but are unnecessary — the built-in tools are faster and do not require permissions to your files or messages.

Opening the emoji picker on Windows

Press the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo) and the period key at the same time. A window will pop up showing emoji organized by category. If that keyboard shortcut does not work, try Windows key + semicolon instead — both work depending on your Windows version and keyboard layout.

Once the emoji picker is open, you can search by typing. Type "heart" and it shows all heart emoji. Type "laugh" and it shows laughing faces. You can also click the category tabs at the bottom — the smiley face icon shows faces, the food icon shows food, and so on. Click any emoji to insert it into whatever you were typing.

The emoji picker remembers which emoji you use most often and shows them first when you open it. This makes your frequently used emoji faster to find over time.

Opening the emoji picker on Mac

Hold down Control and Command at the same time, then press Space. The emoji picker appears in the same place as your Spotlight search box. Type to search — "thumbs" finds thumbs-up and thumbs-down, "fire" finds the fire emoji, and so on.

You can also browse by category using the icons at the top of the picker. Click the smiley face to see faces, the clock to see time-related emoji, the lightbulb to see objects. Unlike Windows, the Mac emoji picker shows a preview of each emoji as you hover over it, so you can see the exact size and style before you click.

The Mac emoji picker works in any text field — email, messages, documents, web forms, everywhere. You do not need to do anything special to enable it; it is always available.

Searching and browsing emoji by category

Both Windows and Mac emoji pickers let you search by typing the name of what you want. This is usually faster than browsing. Type "clap" to find the clapping hands emoji, "wave" to find waving hands, "party" to find party poppers and confetti. The search understands common words, so "happy" finds smiling faces and "sad" finds frowning ones.

If you do not know the name, browse by category instead. The categories are usually: smileys and faces, people and body parts, animals and nature, food and drink, travel and places, activities, objects, symbols, and flags. Click the category icon and scroll through. This is slower than searching but useful if you are exploring what emoji exist.

Both pickers show recently used emoji at the top, so emoji you use often appear first. This saves time if you use the same emoji repeatedly in a conversation.

Why you should not use third-party emoji apps

You will find apps and browser extensions that claim to add emoji keyboards or make emoji easier to use. Most of these are unnecessary — your computer already has everything you need built in. Some third-party apps ask for permissions to read your messages, track your typing, or access your files. You do not need to grant those permissions to use emoji.

The built-in emoji pickers on Windows and Mac are faster, more reliable, and do not require you to trust a third-party company with your data. They work everywhere — in email, messages, documents, web forms — without any setup. If you find yourself reaching for a third-party app, the built-in tool probably does what you need; you may just not know the keyboard shortcut yet.

The only reason to use a third-party keyboard app is if you want a different emoji style or design. Some apps let you choose between different emoji art styles (Apple style, Google style, Samsung style, and so on). If that matters to you, research the app's privacy policy before installing it, because keyboard apps have broad access to everything you type.

Using emoji in different programs and websites

The emoji picker works the same way in most places: email clients like Outlook and Gmail, messaging apps like Slack and Teams, documents in Word and Google Docs, and text fields on websites. Open the picker with your keyboard shortcut, search or browse, click the emoji, and it appears in your text.

Some programs have their own emoji buttons. Gmail has a smiley face button next to the send button. Slack has an emoji button in the message box. These buttons open a similar picker, but they are not necessary — you can always use your keyboard shortcut instead. The keyboard shortcut is often faster because you do not have to move your mouse.

On older versions of Windows (Windows 7 and earlier) or older Macs, the emoji picker may not exist or may work differently. If your keyboard shortcut does not work, your computer may be too old to have a built-in emoji picker. In that case, you can copy and paste emoji from websites like emojipedia.org, or upgrade to a newer version of Windows or Mac.

Troubleshooting when the emoji picker does not open

If Windows key + period does not work, try Windows key + semicolon. If neither works, you may be on Windows 7 or earlier, which does not have a built-in emoji picker. Check your Windows version by right-clicking "This PC" or "My Computer" and clicking "Properties". If it says Windows 7 or earlier, the emoji picker is not available; you will need to copy emoji from a website instead.

On Mac, if Control + Command + Space does not work, check that you are not using a keyboard shortcut that another program has claimed. Some apps override the emoji picker shortcut. Try the shortcut in a different program like Notes or Mail to see if it works there. If it does, the problem is with the app you were using, not your Mac.

If the emoji picker opens but looks broken or shows no emoji, restart your computer. If that does not fix it, make sure your operating system is up to date. Emoji are added and updated regularly, and an old version of Windows or Mac may have fewer emoji available or display them incorrectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use emoji on my phone the same way?

Phones have emoji keyboards built in, but you access them differently. On iPhone, tap the globe icon on your keyboard to switch to the emoji keyboard. On Android, tap the smiley face icon. The process is simpler than on computers because phones are designed around emoji use. You do not need to install anything.

Why do emoji look different on different devices?

Each company — Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung — designs emoji with their own art style. The same emoji character looks slightly different on each device. This is normal and intentional. The emoji you send is the same character; it just renders with a different visual style on the recipient's device.

Can I make my own custom emoji?

The built-in emoji pickers do not let you create custom emoji. Some messaging apps like Slack and Discord let you upload custom emoji for use within that app only. If you need custom emoji for email or documents, you would need to use an image instead of an emoji character.

Do I need to read emoji updates?

No. Emoji are part of your operating system and update automatically when you install Windows or Mac updates. You do not need to do anything. New emoji appear in the picker as your system updates.

What if my keyboard does not have a period key?

Some international keyboards have different layouts. If Windows key + period does not work, try Windows key + the key that has a period on your specific keyboard layout. You can also search "emoji picker" in the Windows search box and click the Emoji & Symbols app to open it without a keyboard shortcut.