How to Use Emoji on Any Device: Windows, Mac, iPhone & Android Guide

Every Device Has Emoji. Few People Use Them Fully.

I have a confession: for the longest time, I only knew one way to type emoji. (If you just want to copy and paste, check our Emoji Copy & Paste tool.) I would open my phone's emoji keyboard, scroll until I found what I wanted, and tap it. That was my entire emoji workflow for years.

Then I started building emodji.com, and I realized just how much I had been missing. Every major operating system has emoji features that most users never discover. Hidden shortcuts, advanced search, skin tone customization, accessibility options, predictive suggestions -- there is a whole world of emoji functionality sitting right there on your device, waiting to be used.

This guide is the one I wish I had when I started. I am going to walk you through every major platform, step by step, covering not just the basics but also the features that even power users tend to miss.

Windows 10 and Windows 11

Opening the Emoji Picker

The fastest way to access emoji on Windows is the keyboard shortcut: press the Windows key and the period key at the same time (Win + .). This works in virtually any text field -- browsers, Microsoft Office, Notepad, messaging apps, you name it.

An alternative shortcut that does the same thing: Win + ; (Windows key plus semicolon). Both shortcuts open the same emoji picker panel.

Navigating the Picker

Once the picker is open, you have several tabs at the top. The smiley face tab shows emoji. There is also a tab for kaomoji (Japanese text emoticons like the classic tableflip), and a tab for special symbols (arrows, math symbols, currency signs).

Within the emoji tab, you can browse by category using the icons at the bottom of the panel: Smileys, People, Animals, Food, Travel, Objects, Symbols, and Flags.

Searching for Emoji

Here is the feature most Windows users miss: you can type to search. With the emoji picker open, just start typing a word. Type "rocket" and the rocket emoji appears. Type "heart" and you see every heart variant. Type "cat" and you get all the cat emoji.

The search is keyword-based and reasonably smart. It will find emoji by their official Unicode names as well as common descriptions.

Skin Tone Selection

For emoji that support skin tone modifications (people, hand gestures, etc.), you can right-click or long-click on the emoji to see skin tone options. Select your preferred tone, and Windows will remember your choice for future use.

Clipboard History

A related Windows feature that pairs beautifully with emoji: Clipboard History. Press Win + V to see your recent clipboard items, including emoji you have copied. This is fantastic for reusing emoji you frequently paste.

GIF Integration

The Windows emoji picker also includes a GIF tab (on Windows 11), allowing you to search and insert GIFs directly from the same panel. While not technically emoji, this integration means the Win+Period shortcut is your one-stop shop for expressive content.

macOS

The Character Viewer (Cmd + Ctrl + Space)

On Mac, the primary emoji access method is the Character Viewer. Press Command + Control + Space simultaneously to open it. A compact floating panel appears with your recently used emoji and a search bar.

This shortcut works system-wide -- in Safari, Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and any other text field.

Expanding the Viewer

Click the small icon in the top-right corner of the compact viewer to expand it into the full Character Viewer. This expanded view gives you access to the entire Unicode character set, organized by category. You can browse emoji, arrows, math symbols, Latin characters, CJK characters, and much more.

The expanded view also shows detailed information for each character: its Unicode name, code point, and related characters.

Searching on Mac

The Character Viewer's search is excellent. Type any descriptive word and it finds matching emoji. It searches Unicode names, annotations, and keywords. Searching for "laugh" returns not just "Face with Tears of Joy" but also "Rolling on the Floor Laughing" and other related emoji.

The Globe Key on MacBooks

Newer MacBooks (with the Touch Bar or later models) have a Globe key (also called the Function key on some models). Pressing it once switches input languages, but pressing Function + E or configuring it in System Settings can open the emoji picker directly.

You can customize this behavior in System Settings under Keyboard. Set "Press Globe key to" to "Show Emoji and Symbols" for instant emoji access with a single key press.

Touch Bar Emoji (Older MacBook Pro)

If you have a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar (2016-2020 models), the Touch Bar can display emoji suggestions contextually. When you are typing in a text field, the Touch Bar may show relevant emoji that you can tap to insert. You can also tap the smiley face icon on the Touch Bar to browse the full emoji set.

Skin Tones on Mac

Click and hold on a skin-tone-eligible emoji in the Character Viewer to see all available tone variations. Select one, and macOS remembers your preference for that specific emoji going forward.

iPhone and iPad (iOS and iPadOS)

Enabling the Emoji Keyboard

The emoji keyboard should be enabled by default on most iOS devices. If it is not, go to Settings, then General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards, then Add New Keyboard, and select "Emoji."

Switching to Emoji

When you are typing, tap the smiley face icon at the bottom-left of the keyboard (or the globe icon if you have multiple keyboards installed). This switches your entire keyboard to the emoji layout.

Emoji Search

At the top of the emoji keyboard, there is a search field. Tap it and type a description to find emoji quickly. This search is more capable than most people realize -- it understands synonyms and related concepts, not just official emoji names.

Swipe Navigation

The emoji keyboard is organized into categories. Swipe left and right to move through them, or tap the category icons at the bottom. Your frequently used emoji appear in the first section, which iOS curates automatically based on your usage patterns.

Skin Tone Selection

Long-press on any skin-tone-eligible emoji to see all five tone options plus the default yellow. Tap your preferred tone, and iOS remembers it for that specific emoji.

Tapback Reactions

In iMessage, you can react to any message with emoji-like expressions called Tapback. Long-press (or double-tap) on a message to see the Tapback options: heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, laugh, exclamation marks, and question mark. These are not full emoji, but they serve a similar expressive function.

Starting with iOS 17, you can use any emoji as a Tapback reaction, not just the six preset options. Long-press a message, then swipe up on the Tapback bar to access the full emoji keyboard for reactions.

Emoji Stickers

iOS 17 introduced the ability to create stickers from your photos and use them like emoji in messages. Long-press on a subject in a photo, tap "Add Sticker," and you have a custom sticker you can send in iMessage. These can also be used as Tapback reactions.

Predictive Emoji

When you type in Messages, iOS will sometimes suggest relevant emoji above the keyboard. If you type "pizza," you might see the pizza emoji offered as a suggestion. This feature learns from your usage over time.

Emoji-to-Text

A subtle but useful iOS feature: when you switch to the emoji keyboard after typing a message, some words in your text will be highlighted in orange. Tapping a highlighted word replaces it with the corresponding emoji. Type "I love coffee," switch to emoji keyboard, and you can tap "love" to replace it with the heart emoji and "coffee" to replace it with the coffee cup.

Android (Gboard)

Accessing Emoji on Gboard

Gboard (Google's keyboard, which is the default on most Android devices) offers emoji access through the smiley face icon on the keyboard. Tap it to switch to the emoji layout.

On some Gboard configurations, you long-press the comma key to access emoji. The exact method can vary depending on your Gboard settings and Android version.

Emoji Search

Gboard's emoji search is among the best on any platform. Tap the search icon within the emoji panel and type a word. Gboard searches by name, keywords, and even related concepts. Searching for "happy" returns multiple smiling faces. Searching for "money" returns the money bag, dollar bills, and money-with-wings emoji.

Emoji Kitchen

Emoji Kitchen is a Gboard feature that lets you combine two emoji into a unique sticker. When you tap one emoji, Gboard may show "Kitchen" suggestions that combine it with another emoji. For example, combining a heart and fire creates a flaming heart sticker.

These creations are stickers rather than standard emoji characters, so they only work in apps that support stickers (like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messages). But they are a delightful way to create unique expressions.

Emoji Bar

Gboard can show an emoji bar at the top of the keyboard that suggests relevant emoji as you type. Enable this in Gboard Settings under "Emoji, Stickers, and GIFs." When active, typing words like "congratulations" will show party-related emoji suggestions in the bar.

Floating Keyboard

On tablets or large phones, Gboard's floating keyboard mode lets you position the keyboard anywhere on screen. This can make emoji selection more comfortable when you are working with a large display.

Skin Tone Selection

Long-press on a skin-tone-eligible emoji in Gboard to see tone variations. Select one, and Gboard remembers your preference.

Hidden Features Most People Miss

Emoji Combos in Quick Succession

On both iOS and Android, the emoji keyboard stays open after you insert an emoji. This means you can rapidly tap multiple emoji to build combinations. The keyboard does not close after each selection, which is by design for exactly this workflow.

Recently Used Smart Sorting

Every platform tracks your emoji usage and sorts the "recent" section accordingly. But the algorithms are smarter than simple frequency. They consider recency, time of day, and conversational context. You might notice that certain emoji appear in your recents more prominently during holidays or when you are in specific messaging threads.

Emoji in File Names

On macOS, iOS, and most Linux distributions, you can use emoji in file names. This is a quirky but useful organizational tool. Name a folder with a relevant emoji prefix and it stands out in your file browser. Developers sometimes use emoji in branch names or commit messages (though this is controversial).

Voice-to-Emoji

On both iOS and Android, dictation can produce emoji. Say "smiley face" or "heart emoji" while using voice dictation, and the system may insert the corresponding emoji. The reliability varies, but it is a useful hands-free option.

Accessibility Options

VoiceOver and TalkBack

On iOS, VoiceOver reads emoji by their Unicode descriptions. "Thumbs Up Sign," "Red Heart," "Face with Tears of Joy." You can move through emoji in text character by character, and VoiceOver will announce each one.

On Android, TalkBack provides similar functionality. Each emoji is read aloud with its official description.

Reduce Motion

If animated emoji or stickers cause discomfort, both iOS and Android have "Reduce Motion" settings (iOS: Settings then Accessibility then Motion; Android: Settings then Accessibility then Display) that minimize animations throughout the system, including in messaging apps.

Bold and Large Text

Increasing your system text size also affects how emoji are displayed in many contexts. On iOS, go to Settings, then Display and Brightness, then Text Size. Larger text settings make emoji in messages and other apps appear bigger, which helps with visibility.

Switch Control and Voice Control

For users with motor impairments, both iOS and Android support switch control and voice control methods that work with emoji keyboards. On iOS, Voice Control lets you say "tap [emoji name]" to insert emoji hands-free.

My Recommendations

After years of testing every emoji input method across every platform, here is what I recommend.

For casual texting, use your native emoji keyboard. It is fast, it learns your preferences, and it is always available.

For finding specific emoji quickly, use the search function. On every platform, the emoji search is faster than browsing through categories. Get comfortable typing descriptive words to find what you need.

For building complex emoji combinations or strings, use a dedicated website like emodji.com. The larger display and organized layout make it easier to browse and compose.

For professional work, learn your platform's keyboard shortcuts. Win + Period on Windows and Cmd + Ctrl + Space on Mac become second nature after a few days, and they are dramatically faster than any other method.

For accessibility, familiarize yourself with your platform's screen reader emoji support. Understanding how emoji are read aloud — and sometimes mangled — by assistive technology helps you communicate more effectively with everyone.

Emoji are a tool, and like any tool, they work best when you know how to use them properly. All of these features are built into the devices you already own. Take ten minutes to try them out, and you will communicate more expressively and efficiently from today forward.