How to Put Emojis in Word (Windows and Mac)

To put an emoji in Word on Windows, click where you want it and press Windows + . (period) or Windows + ; (semicolon) to open the emoji panel, then click an emoji. You can type to search, for example “heart”. On a Mac, press Control + Command + Space. Emojis act like text, so you can resize them with the font size box.

Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows 10 and 11 and macOS, and Word for the web.

Method 1: The Windows emoji panel

1. Click in the document where you want the emoji.
2. Press Windows + . (period).
3. Scroll through the categories or start typing a word to search.
4. Click an emoji to insert it. The panel stays open so you can add more; press Esc to close it.

The same panel has kaomoji like (^_^) and symbols such as arrows, currency and math signs. On Windows 11 it also has GIFs, which Word doesn’t support. For the panel’s other features, read using emojis in Windows 11 or using emojis on Windows 10.

Method 2: Mac Character Viewer

1. Click in the document.
2. Press Control + Command + Space, or choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
3. Search or browse, then click an emoji.

On Macs with a Globe key, you can also press Globe + E.

Method 3: Insert > Symbol

1. Go to Insert > Symbol > More Symbols.
2. Set Font to Segoe UI Emoji.
3. Scroll to the emoji, select it and choose Insert.

This is slower, but you can assign a Shortcut Key to an emoji you use often. The same dialog lets you add special characters in Word too.

Method 4: Office icons

For reports and handouts, Insert > Icons gives you simple pictures that you can recolor and resize without blurring. They’re images, not text, so they don’t flow with your sentences the way emojis do.

Make emojis bigger, smaller or colored

• Size: select the emoji and change the font size, like any letter.
• Color: Microsoft 365 shows emojis in color. Some older versions of Word show them in black and white. That’s a limit of the version, not a setting.
• Printing and PDF: color emojis print in color and keep their color when you save as PDF from Microsoft 365.

Use AutoCorrect for quick emojis

Word turns 🙂 into a smiley face by default. To add your own, select an emoji in a document, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, and in Replace type a shortcut such as :thumbs:. The emoji appears in With. Select Add.

Troubleshooting

The emoji shows as a box or question mark

The font doesn’t contain it, or the document was opened on an older system. Select it and set the font to Segoe UI Emoji on Windows or Apple Color Emoji on a Mac.

Windows + . does nothing

Click inside the document first so the cursor is blinking, then try Windows + ; instead. If neither works, restart the PC; a stuck input service is the usual cause.

Emojis look different on another computer

Each system draws emojis in its own style. A heart from a Mac looks slightly different in Windows. Save as PDF if the look matters.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add emojis in Word for the web?

Yes. The same keyboard shortcuts work in the browser, because the emoji panel belongs to Windows or macOS, not to Word.

Are emojis appropriate in professional documents?

Use them sparingly. Icons or simple symbols like a check mark usually look more professional.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.