How to Insert Emojis in Outlook: The Complete 2026 Guide

Using emojis in emails is often seen as a sign of unprofessionalism, but who said every email need to be so serious? A well-placed emoji can make your email stand out among the rest, and it can even help highlight certain points in your message. So, if you are ready to give a lighthearted touch to your emails, but don’t know how, then here’s a quick guide on how to insert emojis in Outlook mail.

4 Quick Ways to Add Emojis in Outlook (Desktop & Web)

Adding an emoji is pretty easy on a phone, but many people are not sure how to add an emoji in Outlook on their desktop. Well, there are multiple methods to do it, like using the Insert option, the 3-dot menu, or keyboard shortcuts on your system. Let me take you through each one step-by-step.

Method 1: Using the Built-in “Insert” Menu (Best for Desktop)

Let’s start with the basics. You can add emojis in the Outlook web and classic versions from the Insert menu in the toolbar. Simply follow these steps:

1. When drafting an email in Outlook, click on the Insert tab from the top toolbar.
2. Now, click on the Emoji option and pick the one you want to use.
3. Once you are done, click on the x icon to close the emoji sidebar.

Method 2: The “More Actions” (3-dots) Menu (Best for Outlook Web)

Another place to find the Emoji option in Outlook is under the Message menu. Here, you can click on the 3-dot icon to open the emoji side panel.

1. Select the Message option in the Outlook toolbar at the top.
2. Click on the 3-dots icon at the far right, as shown in the image.

3. From the drop-down menu, select Emoji.
4. This will open the Emoji side panel that you can use to insert emojis in your Outlook email.

Method 3: The Fastest Way – Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows, macOS and Linux)

If you find the above methods inconvenient, then I don’t blame you. Instead, you can use keyboard shortcuts to bring up the emoji menu and then use it to insert emojis in your Outlook emails.

Platform	Shortcut
Windows	Windows Key + . (period)
macOS	Ctrl + Command + Space bar
Linux (Ubuntu, GNOME, Mint)	Ctrl + . (period)

Method 4: Copy-Paste from the Character Map / Emoji Keyboard

If you cannot access the built-in emoji picker in Outlook, another way to insert emojis is by copying and pasting them from an online character map or emoji picker website. Here is how to do it:

1. Head over to charactermap.org or the Unicode emoji picker website.
2. Place the cursor over the emoji you want to copy in Outlook.
3. Right-click on it using your mouse, and select Copy.
4. Now, open Outlook and place your cursor where you want to insert the emoji.
5. Right-click again and select Paste.

How to Use Emojis in the Outlook Mobile App (iPhone & Android)

Outlook mobile app works similarly to other email clients like Apple Mail and Gmail. So, if you want to insert emojis into Outlook on your Android or iPhone, then you can do so from your phone’s default keyboard. Here’s a quick tutorial to help you out.

1. Open a New email on the Outlook app.
2. Now, when writing your email, tap on the smiley icon at the bottom of your keyboard.
3. This will bring up the emoji keyboard; you can use it to insert an emoji in your Outlook mail.
4. In case you see a globe icon, then long-press on the globe icon and then select Emoji.

Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I See or Use Emojis in Outlook?

In case you are not able to insert emojis in Outlook emails, or the keyboard shortcuts aren’t working for you, then there could be an issue with your Outlook version or system settings. Here are some fixes that you can check out:

• Check your Outlook version: Microsoft has ended support for older versions of Outlook, specifically Outlook 2016 and 2019, in October 2025. This might be the reason behind the issue. Updating Outlook to the latest version can resolve the issue.
• Check your keyboard settings: Some keyboards have different shortcuts to bring up the emoji panel. Check your keyboard’s key binding to make sure you are using the correct shortcuts.
• Switch to HTML Email Format: Emojis may not appear when using Outlook in plain text mode. You can change that by going to File > Settings > Compose and reply > select HTML.
• Update your operating system: Older operating systems may not have the proper emoji support, preventing you from inserting one in an Outlook email. Update Windows or macOS to the latest version to fix that.
• Try Outlook Web or app: Some features work differently in the Outlook desktop app compared to Outlook on the web, so try using the browser version if emojis are not showing.

Make Your Outlook Emails Fun Again

So that is all the ways that I could find to insert emojis in Outlook. I hope your emails never seem so boring again, and you make good use of your newfound knowledge. In case you need help with any of the stuff we discussed here, then reach out to us in the comments below.