How to Add Emojis to Outlook Emails on Web, Desktop & Phone

Adding emojis to your Outlook emails makes your messages friendlier and helps convey tone that plain text can miss. This guide shows you exactly how to insert emojis in Outlook on the web (browser), the desktop app (Windows and Mac), and the mobile app (iOS and Android). No special skills or tools are needed—just your Outlook account and a few clicks or taps.

What You’ll Need

• An Outlook account (personal, work, or school)
• Access to Outlook on one of the platforms: web browser, desktop app, or mobile app
• For desktop: a keyboard with a Windows key (PC) or a trackpad/keyboard with emoji shortcuts (Mac)
• For mobile: a device with an emoji keyboard enabled (usually built-in)

Step-by-Step

On Outlook Web (Browser)

1. Open your preferred browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) and go to outlook.com or your organization’s Outlook web access (OWA) URL.
2. Sign in with your email address and password if prompted.
3. Click New message (or New mail) in the top-left corner to start composing an email.
4. In the compose window, place your cursor where you want the emoji to appear in the body or subject line.
5. Click the smiley face icon (usually located in the bottom toolbar of the compose window, near the formatting options). This opens the emoji picker.
6. Browse through the categories (smileys, people, animals, food, etc.) or use the search bar to find a specific emoji.
7. Click the emoji you want—it will be inserted at your cursor position.
8. If the smiley icon isn’t visible, you can also use the keyboard shortcut: press Windows key + . (period) on Windows, or Control + Command + Space on Mac, to open the system emoji picker and choose from there.
9. Continue typing and adding emojis as needed, then click Send when done.

On Outlook Desktop (Windows and Mac)

1. Open the Outlook desktop app on your computer.
2. Click New Email (or New Message) in the Home tab to start composing.
3. Place your cursor in the body of the email where you want the emoji.
4. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon at the top.
5. Click Emoji (or the smiley face icon) in the Symbols group. This opens a small emoji panel.
6. Select the emoji you want from the panel. If you don’t see it, click More Emojis to open the full emoji picker.
7. Alternatively, use the same keyboard shortcuts as on the web: Windows key + . (Windows) or Control + Command + Space (Mac) to bring up the system emoji picker.
8. Click the emoji to insert it, then continue composing and hit Send.

On Outlook Mobile (iOS and Android)

1. Open the Outlook app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the New message icon (usually a pencil or a plus sign in a square) at the bottom or top corner.
3. Tap in the body of the email (or the subject line) to bring up the on-screen keyboard.
4. Switch to the emoji keyboard on your device. On iOS, tap the globe icon or the smiley face at the bottom of the keyboard. On Android, tap the smiley face icon (usually on the left of the spacebar) or the emoji key depending on your keyboard app (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, etc.).
5. Browse through the emoji categories and tap the emoji you want—it will be inserted at the cursor.
6. If you don’t see an emoji keyboard, go to your device’s keyboard settings and enable the emoji keyboard (Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Emoji on iOS; Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Gboard > Preferences > Show emoji switch key on Android, or similar for other keyboards).
7. After adding your emojis, tap the send arrow to send the email.

Common Mistakes

• Using the wrong shortcut on a Mac: The Windows key shortcut doesn’t work on Mac. If you’re on a Mac, use Control + Command + Space instead.
• Emoji not appearing in the subject line: Some email clients may not render emojis in the subject line correctly. It’s safer to put emojis in the body.
• Inserting emojis in plain text mode: If your email is set to plain text format, emojis may not display as colorful icons—they might appear as black-and-white symbols or not at all. Switch to HTML format (usually the default) by going to Format Text > HTML in the desktop app, or ensure you’re composing in the default rich text mode on web/mobile.
• Overusing emojis: Too many emojis can make your email look unprofessional or cluttered. Use them sparingly to emphasize tone.
• Copy-pasting emojis from websites: While it works, it’s slower and can sometimes paste as plain text if the source isn’t compatible. Use the built-in pickers instead.

Tips

• Search for emojis: In the emoji picker on web and desktop, you can type a keyword (like “happy” or “party”) to find the right emoji faster.
• Use emojis to convey tone: A smiley at the end of a sentence can soften a request, while a thumbs-up can show approval. Use them to add clarity.
• Check how it looks before sending: Emojis may look different on different devices. If you’re sending an important email, preview it or send a test to yourself first.
• Keyboard shortcuts are your friend: Once you memorize the Windows key + . or Control + Command + Space shortcut, you’ll add emojis in seconds without touching the mouse.
• Use emojis in signatures: You can add an emoji to your email signature (via Settings > Compose and reply > Email signature) to give it a personal touch, but keep it professional.

Troubleshooting

• Emoji picker doesn’t open: Try refreshing the browser (web) or restarting the Outlook app (desktop/mobile). If the issue persists, check for updates to your browser or Outlook app.
• Emojis appear as empty boxes: This usually means the recipient’s device doesn’t support the specific emoji or the email is in plain text. Switch to HTML format and try a more common emoji (like 😊 or â�¤ï¸�).
• Keyboard shortcut not working on Windows: Ensure your keyboard layout is set to English (US) or another layout that supports the shortcut. If it still doesn’t work, use the smiley icon in the toolbar instead.
• No emoji option on mobile keyboard: Go to your device settings and enable the emoji keyboard as described in the mobile steps. On some Android keyboards, you may need to tap and hold the enter key to access emojis.
• Emojis not sending in the email: If the emojis disappear after sending, it might be due to the recipient’s email client stripping them. Try using fewer emojis or check if the recipient uses a modern email client that supports Unicode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add emojis to the subject line of an Outlook email?

Yes, you can. Just place your cursor in the subject field and use the same emoji picker or keyboard shortcut. However, be aware that some email clients may not display emojis in the subject line correctly, so use them sparingly.

Why don’t emojis show up in my email when I send it?

This usually happens because the email is in plain text format or the recipient’s email client doesn’t support Unicode emojis. Switch to HTML format (the default in most cases) and ensure you’re using standard emojis that are widely supported.

Can I use emojis in Outlook on the web if I’m using a work account?

Yes, the same steps apply for Outlook on the web (OWA) for work or school accounts. The smiley icon should be available in the compose toolbar. If not, your organization may have disabled it—use the keyboard shortcut instead.

How do I add emojis to Outlook on my iPhone?

Open the Outlook app, start a new email, tap in the body, and switch to the emoji keyboard by tapping the globe or smiley icon at the bottom of your iPhone’s keyboard. Then tap the emoji you want to insert.

Is there a way to add custom emojis or stickers in Outlook?

Outlook doesn’t support custom emojis natively. You can only use the standard emoji set provided by your operating system or the emoji picker in Outlook. For stickers, you’d need to insert images manually.

Can I use emojis in Outlook email signatures?

Yes, you can include emojis in your email signature. Go to Settings > Compose and reply > Email signature, and paste an emoji (using the shortcut or picker) into the signature editor. Just keep it professional.

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