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How to do emojis on a keyboard

Happy face – it’s emoji time!

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Because we’ve got so attached to our phones, emojis have become an essential part of our communication. Those tiny, expressive symbols add a whole new dimension to our messages, helping us convey emotions and reactions with just a single character.

And emojis work! Social posts with emojis get far more engagement than those without. And whether you’re trying to express annoyance or go for a laughing emoji on your keyboard, there’s a tiny picture that’ll do it a lot faster than words.

While most devices come with built-in emoji keyboards, it’s not always easy to know how to access them and use them quickly during chats. In this guide, we'll explain how to access emoji keyboard shortcuts on Windows, MacBook and more - making it easier for you to express yourself in fun and creative ways.

Keyboard shortcut for emojis

You can really interrupt a chat by having to pause on your keyboard, switch to the mouse or trackpad and then hunt down a list of emojis. So, keyboard shortcuts keep the chat flowing.

On both Windows and Mac, you can summon the emoji keyboard by using a simple keyboard shortcut:

Windows

Windows key + "." (full stop) on Windows

Mac

Command key + Control + Spacebar

This quick combination makes it simple to open up your choice of emojis, allowing you to pick out the perfect emoji to give some colour to your messages, emails and social media posts.

Emojis on Windows keyboard

Windows 10 and later versions come with an emoji picker that can be accessed using the Windows Key shortcut. Once the emoji picker appears, you can browse through different categories of emojis, such as smileys, animals, food, and more, or use the search bar to find a specific one.

This built-in feature means you don’t have to rely on clunky third-party apps and makes adding emojis to messages and documents seamless. Whether you're writing an email, chatting with friends, or working on a project, Windows makes it a breeze to add some flair to your text with colourful emojis.

Tip:

Some of the best keyboards for gaming let you remap your own keys just the way you want them – so you can create your own shortcuts for emojis.

Emojis on Mac keyboard

If you're using a Mac, you're in for a treat - as Apple has made it incredibly simple to access emojis. Besides using the keyboard shortcut above, you can also access emojis through the Mac's Touch Bar (available on certain MacBook Pro models) or by clicking on the emoji icon in the menu bar.

When you click on the emoji icon, a window with a whole host of emojis will appear, and you can either click on the one you want or use the search bar to find a specific emoji. Emojis on Mac are well-organised into categories, making it easier for you to find the perfect emoji to express yourself.

Emojis on touchscreen devices

If you're using a touchscreen device like a smartphone or tablet, the emoji keyboard is typically integrated into the device's virtual keyboard. When typing a message, you'll often see a smiley face icon or a small keyboard switch key. Just tapping on it to bring up the emoji keyboard.

Bonus tip: personalised emojis

The emojis on offer used to be confined to a smiley face or a wink. Even vegetables and champagne bottles are old news. These days, you create custom emojis that are you all over.

Apple let you create a cartoon avatar of your face in all kinds of moods. And Whatsapp has a cool feature that lets you turn pictures on your phone into emojis you can use any time. So now your cute cat can be your go-to in every conversation!

So, go ahead and add a splash of creativity to your messages, and let the emojis do the talking for you. Happy emoting! 😊

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