Emoji Picker

Search and tap emoji to build a message, then copy the whole message in one go. Emoji are grouped into categories such as smileys, gestures, animals, food and objects. It's handy on a computer, where emoji aren't easy to type.

How to use it

1. Search or choose a category.
2. Tap emoji to add them to your message.
3. Add your own text if you like.
4. Press Copy message.

When it helps

• Adding emoji to posts and bios.
• Writing messages on a desktop computer.
• Finding the right emoji by name.
• Building a set of reactions.

Good to know

• Emoji look slightly different on each device.
• Use them sparingly in professional writing.
• Screen readers announce each emoji by name, so a long string can be tedious.

How emoji work

Emoji are Unicode characters, so they're really text. Each device draws its own artwork for them, which is why a grinning face on an iPhone looks different from one on Android or Windows. The meaning is the same, but the look and sometimes the tone vary.

Some emoji are combinations of several characters joined together, such as a family or a flag, and older software may show them as separate pieces. If an emoji shows up as a box, it's usually because the font lacks it.

Worked example: a friendly announcement

For a launch post you might tap the party popper, a rocket and a sparkle, then add your text. Copy the message and paste it into your post. Because the emoji are plain characters, they come along without any special formatting.

Search is useful for less common ones. Typing "water" finds the water drop, and "fire" brings up the flame. Names are simple descriptions, not official Unicode names, so try a couple of words if the first doesn't work.

Using emoji well

Emoji can add warmth and clarity, but too many can make writing harder to scan and may be misread. A single, relevant emoji at the end of a sentence usually works better than several in a row. In formal or business messages, consider using none.

For accessibility, avoid replacing words with emoji, and avoid long sequences. Assistive software reads out every emoji, so a long chain can drown out your actual message.

A brief history of emoji

Emoji began in Japan in the late 1990s, with the first set of 176 designed by Shigetaka Kurita for a mobile phone service. Unicode adopted them in 2010, and they've since grown to thousands, with new ones approved each year.

Their popularity comes from conveying tone, which plain text struggles to do. A smile after a blunt sentence changes how it lands.

Typing emoji on devices

Phones have emoji keyboards built in, and computers offer shortcuts, such as the Windows key plus a full stop on Windows or Control, Command and space on a Mac. This picker is a convenient alternative when you want to search by name.

Questions