How to Add Emojis in Outlook Emails🤔? All Outlook Versions ✅

  Tej Pratap Shukla
Written By Tej Pratap Shukla
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Modified On May 21st, 2026
Reading Time 8 Minutes Reading

Received an email with emojis and are eager to know how to add emojis in Outlook emails? This SysTools’ one-stop guide will help you out!

See, inserting emojis in Outlook emails is a very easy process. Keyboard shortcuts and the native built-in emoji menu are some of the most preferred methods.

However, the respective steps vary from version to version of Outlook. Therefore, we have created this complete guide. It gives you all the methods that you can use to add emojis in different Outlook versions.

So, let’s begin!

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How to Add Emojis in Outlook Emails? 4 Simple Methods

Here are the 4 simple methods to add emojis in Outlook emails:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Fastest & Most Used Method)

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way that you can use to add emojis in Outlook. We also recommend this key combination method for instant emoji insertion.

  • Compatible across all versions of Outlook (desktop and web).
  • Seamless emoji browsing and the search feature to find a specific symbol.
  • Requires 2 or 3 key combinations to open the menu.

But what are the keyboard shortcuts for emojis? Let’s discover and find out how to insert emojis in Outlook on Windows and Mac.

How to add emojis in Outlook on Windows?

  1. Open Outlook >> click New Mail >> write your email.
  2. Press Windows key + . (period) key or Windows key + ; (semicolon) key.

How to add emojis in Outlook on Mac?

  1. Go to Outlook >> hit New Mail >> write your message.
  2. Press Control + Command + Space buttons.

Via Built-in Toolbar (New Outlook, Outlook on the Web)

As a New Outlook or Outlook user, you can use the built-in toolbar to insert emojis easily.

But how? We have attached the simple steps below. Follow them to use the built-in toolbar in Outlook.

  1. Open Outlook >> hit New Reply or simply reply to an old conversation.
  2. Click the Emoji/Insert emojis and GIFs icon ( in the compose toolbar).
  3. Press Windows key + . (period) key or Windows key + ; (semicolon) key.Note: If you can’t find the respective icon, click the three-dot icons >> Expressions >> select Emoji.
  4. Lastly, browse emojis or type the specific emoji in the search bar.

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Using Text Shortcuts

You can also use text shortcuts to turn classic text emoticons into colourful symbols.

To use text shortcuts to add an emoji in Outlook, simply type standard/usual combinations. Let’s understand this with some easy examples.

  • Try typing 🙂 or 🙂 in your email. It automatically inserts a smiling emoji(😊).
  • To add a heart emoji (❤️), type <3.
  • For a growing emoji (🙁), insert 🙁 or 🙁 symbol and it will convert it.

Adding Emojis Manually (Outlook Classic Desktop App)

“How to add emojis in Outlook Classic?” – let’s address this query as well.

Outlook Classic or older/enterprise build users can also decorate their emails/messages with preferred emoji by inserting them manually. Here’s how you can manually add them as structural symbols.

  1. Open Outlook Classic >> select the Insert tab (top ribbon menu).
  2. Hit Symbol >> click the More Symbols options.
  3. Set the Font dropdown menu and set it to Switch to Seoge UI Emoji.
  4. Modify the Subset dropdown menu. Set it to Extended Characters -Plane 1.
  5. Lastly, choose your desired symbol >> hit Insert.

So, these are the steps to add emojis in all Outlook versions. Also, you can create custom shortcuts to transform texts into emojis automatically.

Let’s check it out!

How to Create Custom Shortcuts to Automatically Turn Texts into Emojis?

What could be more interesting than your texts turning into emojis automatically, right?

So, choose your Outlook version and apply the dedicated steps to add emojis in Outlook emails.

How to create custom emoji on Outlook  Classic Desktop App (Windows)?

  1. Launch Outlook desktop >> open a new mail window.
  2. Press File (top left corner) >> click Options.
  3. Click Mail (left side bar) >> select the Spelling and Autocorrect button.
  4. Choose Autocorrect options >> type your shortcode (in the Replace box).
  5. In the With box, place your cursor >> press Windows key + . (period) key to add emoji.
  6. Lastly, click Add >> Hit OK to save.

Pro-tip: To make sure the regular words don’t accidentally change while you type, always add a unique character like an asterisk. For example: *check*.

How to create custom emoji on Outlook Classic (Mac)?

Here’s how you can create custom emoji on Outlook Mac:

  1. Hit Outlook (top menu bar) >> select Preferences.
  2. Click Autocorrect >> insert your preferred shortcut keyword (in Replace Column).
  3. Press Control + Command + Space key in the With column >> click + (plus)  sign to save it.

How to create custom emoji in Outlook 365/Outlook New and Outlook on the Web?

  1. Open Outlook >> click Settings (Gear Icon) in the top right.
  2. Navigate to Mail >> hit Compose and Reply.
  3. Scroll down and select the Quick Suggestions or Autocorrect section.
  4. Type your desired text. Connect it with your selected emoji >> save changes.

How to Add the Emoji Button to the Main Toolbar?

Adding the Symbol/expression button to the Quick Access Toolbar is another quick way to access emojis. It basically provides one-click access to your favourite emojis.

In other words, it will always keep your smiley face emoji on top of your email windows.

And since different Outlook setups have different toolbar layouts, we have classified the steps according to their version. Do check them out!

How to add the emoji button in the Outlook Desktop App (Windows)?

  1. In Outlook Classic, click New Email. Or, open any email in a separate window.
  2. Select the Insert tab (top ribbon menu) >> click Symbol button >> choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

These steps will trigger a small shortcut icon. That will be pinned at the top of your email. Simply, click it to check your symbol history.

How to add the emoji button in the Outlook New and Outlook on the Web?

  1. Open a New email or click reply in Outlook.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (bottom toolbar) >> select Customise toolbar.
  3. Scroll and find Emojis or Expressions.
  4. Select the Emoji icon and move it to your main toolbar >> hit Save.

How to add the emoji button in Outlook for Mac?

In macOS, you cannot insert a custom emoji button into the ribbon. But why?
Because Outlook in macOS takes direct support from the system-level panel.

Still, you can pin a floating panel beside your Outlook window. To do so, apply the given steps.

  1. Go to Outlook >> hit Control + Command + Space. It will open the Mac character viewer.
  2. Select the small Window Expansion Icon (top right corner).

These mere steps will add a permanent, floating panel. It will keep open while you type, next to your Outlook window.

Conclusion

Emojis in Outlook emails are fun! But adding them could be confusing for some. As an Outlook user, there are various ways to insert an emoji in Outlook emails. Keyboard shortcuts and the built-in emoji menu are the most common ones.

So, if you want to know how you can also incorporate an emoji, you can take the given methods into account.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q.1 How to insert emojis in Outlook 365?
To insert the emojis in Outlook 365, follow the instructions below.

  1. Open Outlook >> click Settings (Gear Icon) in the top right.
  2. Navigate to Mail >> hit Compose and Reply.
  3. Scroll down and select the Quick Suggestions or Autocorrect section.
  4. Type your desired text. Connect it with your selected emoji >> save changes.

Q.2 How to add emojis in Outlook on Mac?
Here’s how you can add emojis to Outlook on Mac:

  1. Open Outlook >> click New Mail >> write your message.
  2. Hit Control + Command+ Space.

Q.3 How to change the default skin tone of emojis in Outlook email?
Changing the default skin tone of emojis in Outlook is effortless. Simply:

  1. Move your cursor in an email >> Hit Windows key + . (period).
  2. Click People category (person icon) >> choose preferred circle to set it as default.

Q.4 How to insert emojis in Outlook without the Windows key?
You can add emojis in Outlook without using the Windows key by using

  • Expressions menu
  • Typing-based emoticons

Q.5 How to insert an emoji in Outlook when replying to email?

  • Go to Outlook >> click New Mail >> Write your email.
    Press Windows key + . (period) key or Windows key + ; (semicolon) key.
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