You can add emojis to Outlook on Windows, Mac, and the web version, but the method depends on which one you use

Emojis work in Outlook the same way they work in text messages or social media — you insert them into the body of your email, and they appear as small pictures or symbols. On Windows, you use the built-in emoji picker. On Mac, you use the character viewer. On Outlook.com (the web version), you can copy emojis from the web or use your keyboard's emoji input. The emoji you send will look the same to the person receiving it, as long as their device supports emojis — which nearly all modern devices do.

The reason this matters is that some older email clients or very strict corporate systems may strip out or display emojis differently, but for most personal and modern workplace email, they work without any setup or special software.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows Outlook, press Windows key + period (.) to open the emoji picker, then click the emoji you want and it inserts into your email.
  • On Mac Outlook, press Control + Command + Space to open the character viewer, search for the emoji, and double-click it to insert it.
  • On Outlook.com in a web browser, you can copy emojis from Google or paste them directly, or use your operating system's built-in emoji keyboard.
  • Emojis sent from Outlook appear the same way on the recipient's end as they do on yours, so there is no compatibility step needed on your part.

Adding emojis in Outlook on Windows

Open your email in Outlook and click in the message body where you want the emoji to go. Then press the Windows key and the period key (.) at the same time. A panel will open showing categories of emojis — smileys, hand gestures, animals, food, travel, objects, symbols, and flags.

Click the category you want, scroll through the options, and click the emoji you want to insert. It will appear in your email right where your cursor was. You can add as many emojis as you want in a single email. When you are done, close the emoji picker by clicking elsewhere in your email or pressing Escape.

If the Windows key + period shortcut does not work, your version of Windows may be older. In that case, you can copy an emoji from a website like emojipedia.org and paste it into your Outlook email the same way you would paste any text.

Adding emojis in Outlook on Mac

Click in the body of your email where you want to add an emoji. Then press Control + Command + Space at the same time. The character viewer will open, showing a grid of symbols and characters.

At the top of the character viewer, you will see a search box. Type the name of the emoji you want — for example, "smile" or "thumbs up" — and the matching emojis will appear below. Double-click the emoji you want, and it will insert into your email. You can search for as many emojis as you need and add them one at a time.

If you prefer to browse instead of search, click the smiley face icon at the top left of the character viewer to see all emojis organized by category. Then scroll and double-click the one you want.

Adding emojis in Outlook.com (web version)

If you use Outlook through a web browser at outlook.com, you have a few options. The simplest is to open a new tab, go to emojipedia.org or google.com, search for the emoji you want, and copy it. Then go back to your Outlook email, click in the message body, and paste it.

Alternatively, you can use your operating system's emoji keyboard. On Windows, press Windows key + period (.) just as you would in the desktop version. On Mac, press Control + Command + Space. The emoji picker or character viewer will open, and you can select the emoji you want — it will copy to your clipboard, and you can paste it into Outlook.com.

Some versions of Outlook.com may have a smiley face button in the formatting toolbar above the message body. If you see it, click it to open a small emoji menu. This is less common in newer versions, but if your interface has it, it is the fastest route.

What happens when you send an emoji to someone else

When you send an email with an emoji, the emoji travels as part of the message text. The person who receives it will see the same emoji on their end — a smiley face looks like a smiley face, a thumbs up looks like a thumbs up. There is no step you need to take to make sure they see it correctly.

The only exception is very old email systems or strict corporate filters that do not support emojis. In those cases, the recipient might see a blank box or a code instead of the emoji. This is rare with modern email, but if you are sending to a very old system or a highly regulated industry, it is worth knowing. If you are unsure, you can always test by sending a straightforward emoji to that person first.

Emojis in subject lines and signatures

You can add emojis to your subject line the same way you add them to the body of your email — use the emoji picker on Windows, the character viewer on Mac, or copy and paste on the web. An emoji in the subject line can make an email stand out in a crowded inbox, though some workplaces prefer to keep subject lines text-only for professionalism.

You can also add an emoji to your email signature. Go to your Outlook settings, find the signature section, and add the emoji using the same method — emoji picker, character viewer, or copy and paste. The emoji will appear at the bottom of every email you send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the emoji look the same on the recipient's phone as it does on my computer?

Mostly yes, but there can be small differences. Different devices and operating systems sometimes render emojis slightly differently — a smiley face on an iPhone might look a tiny bit different from a smiley face on an Android phone. The meaning is always the same, and the difference is usually not noticeable. The emoji itself will definitely come through; it will not disappear or break.

Can I use emojis in a work email?

It depends on your workplace culture. Some teams use emojis regularly in internal email, while others keep communication formal and text-only. If you are unsure, look at how your coworkers and manager write their emails. If you see emojis in their messages, it is probably fine to use them. If you are writing to a client or someone outside your organization, it is safer to skip emojis unless you already have a casual relationship with them.

What if my emoji picker is not working?

On Windows, make sure you are using Windows 10 or later — the emoji picker does not exist on older versions. If you have the right version and the shortcut does not work, try restarting Outlook. On Mac, make sure you are using a recent version of macOS. If the shortcut still does not work, copy and paste emojis from a website instead.

Can I use emojis in Outlook rules or automated messages?

Yes, you can add an emoji to an out-of-office message or any other automated reply. Use the same method you would use to add it to a regular email. The emoji will appear in the message the same way it does in a normal email you send.