Windows 10 has a built-in emoji keyboard that works in almost any app: email, Word, chat apps, web browsers and even file names. You open it with a two-key shortcut, search for the emoji you want, and click to insert it. This guide covers the shortcut, searching, skin tones, the touch keyboard for tablets, and what to do when the emoji panel will not open.
Quick answer
Click where you want the emoji, press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon), and click an emoji in the panel that appears. Start typing to search, for example “heart” or “laugh”.
Step 1: Open the emoji panel
- Click in a text box or document so the cursor is blinking where you want the emoji.
- Press Windows + . (period) or Windows + ; (semicolon).
A small panel opens near the cursor, showing recently used emoji and categories along the bottom.
Step 2: Find an emoji
- Browse: click the category icons at the bottom, such as smileys, people, celebrations, food, travel and symbols.
- Search: with the panel open, just start typing. The panel filters as you type, so “pizza” or “thumbs” finds matches instantly.
- Use the keyboard: press the arrow keys to move between emoji and Enter to insert.
Step 3: Insert one or more emoji
Click an emoji to insert it. The panel stays open, so you can click several in a row. Press Esc or click elsewhere to close it.
Change skin tone
In the people category, click the skin tone option at the top of the panel and choose a tone. Windows remembers your choice for future emoji.
Kaomoji and symbols
Recent versions of Windows 10 add two more tabs at the top of the panel:
- Kaomoji (the 😉 icon): text faces like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and (╯°□°)╯.
- Symbols (the Ω icon): punctuation, currency, math, Latin and other special characters. This is a quick way to type symbols like the degree sign; see how to get the degree symbol on Windows.
Use emoji on a touchscreen
- Tap a text box to open the touch keyboard. If it does not appear, right-click the taskbar and choose Show touch keyboard button, then tap the keyboard icon near the clock.
- Tap the smiley face key.
- Tap an emoji to insert it.
Emoji panel not opening?
- Check the cursor: the panel only opens when a text field is active.
- Use the period key on the main keyboard, not the numeric keypad.
- Change the keyboard language: the panel works best with the English (United States) keyboard. Switch with Windows + Space.
- Update Windows in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. The emoji panel was added in the Fall Creators Update (version 1709), and search and extra tabs arrived later.
- Restart the text input service: restart the PC, or end the CTF Loader process in Task Manager and try again.
Emoji in popular apps
- Word and Outlook: the Windows panel works, and emoji appear in color in recent versions.
- Chrome, Edge and Firefox: use the panel in any text field, including social media and email sites.
- Teams, Slack and Discord: these apps have their own emoji pickers, but the Windows panel works in their message boxes too.
Why do some emoji look different?
Windows 10 shows emoji in Microsoft’s style. When you send them, the other person sees their own device’s version, so an emoji may look different on an iPhone or Android phone. Some newer emoji released after Windows 10 stopped receiving feature updates may appear as boxes on Windows 10.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use emoji in file names?
Yes. Rename a file and open the emoji panel while typing the name.
Is there a shortcut for a specific emoji?
Not built in, but you can type a word and pick the emoji from search in a second or two. In Word and Outlook, AutoCorrect also turns 🙂 into a smiley.
Does this work on Windows 11?
Yes. The same shortcut opens a redesigned panel that also includes GIFs and the clipboard history. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025.
Summary
- Press Windows + . or Windows + ; to open the emoji panel.
- Type to search or browse the categories.
- Click to insert, and use the skin tone option for people emoji.
- Use the Kaomoji and Symbols tabs for text faces and special characters.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.