Ah, the humble emoji, tiny keystrokes that convey big emotions. Who would have thought they’d become a universal language? Whether you’re a fan or a skeptic, the fact is, emojis are here to stay and they’ve found a place in our professional correspondence as well, softening the tone, conveying feelings, or simply making our messages more colorful. And where better to use them than in Outlook?
So, here we are today, embarking on this journey to unearth the best ways to insert emojis in Outlook – across all platforms. Desktop, Mobile, and Web, we’re covering them all.
1. The Classic Keyboard Shortcut
If you are using Outlook on your Windows desktop, there’s a quick way to bring up the emoji keyboard. While you are writing your email, press the ‘Windows’ key and the ‘.’ (period) key at the same time, or you can also press ‘Windows’ key and ‘;’ (semicolon) key simultaneously. An emoji keyboard will appear on the screen. Now, you can scroll through and click on the emoji you want to use, and it will be inserted right where your cursor is in the text.
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2. The In-app Emoji Button
If you are using the Outlook mobile app, you can easily add emojis through an in-app feature. Here’s how you do it: Open the app and start composing a new message. On the bottom row of the app, you’ll see a ‘+’ symbol. When you tap on this, several options will appear, one of which is the emoji option. Tap on it, and you’ll be able to scroll through a selection of emojis. Select the one you want and it will be inserted into your message.
3. The Web Version Surprise
If you are using Outlook on the web, you can also insert emojis easily. When you are writing a new email, look at the bottom toolbar. You will see a smiley face icon. When you click on this icon, an emoji panel will pop up. Now, you can scroll through and click on the emoji you want to insert in your text.
4. Copy and Paste – The Ol’ Reliable
Another method that works regardless of your platform (desktop, mobile, web) is the good ol’ copy and paste method. Go to an online emoji database like Emojipedia, find the emoji you want to use, click on it and select ‘Copy’. Then, go back to your Outlook email and paste the emoji (Ctrl + V on Windows, or Command + V on Mac) where you want it.
5. The AutoCorrect Feature
Outlook’s AutoCorrect feature can also be used to insert emojis. This feature works by automatically converting certain text patterns into corresponding emojis. For example, typing “:)” in your email will transform into a smiley face emoji when you hit the space bar or enter key. This feature can be accessed in the desktop version of Outlook by going to File > Options > Mail > Editor Options > AutoCorrect Options.
6. Insert Symbol Dialog
Another method in the desktop version of Outlook is the Insert Symbol dialog. When you are writing an email, click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the top menu, then click ‘Symbol’ > ‘More Symbols’. In the dialog box that appears, switch the font to ‘Segoe UI Emoji’. You will then see a range of emojis to choose from. Click on the emoji you want and then click ‘Insert’.
7. The Mobile Keyboard’s Bounty
On your mobile device, you can also use your default keyboard to insert emojis in Outlook. Whether you’re using Android’s Gboard or iOS’s default keyboard, there will be an emoji icon usually located on the keyboard itself. Simply tap on the emoji icon and you’ll see a selection of emojis to choose from.
8. Using Emoticons in the Web App
In the web version of Outlook, you can also use text-based emoticons to automatically insert emojis. When you type an emoticon such as “:)” and hit the space bar, the emoticon will automatically be transformed into an emoji.
9. Use an Emoji Chrome Extension
For users of Outlook on the web through Google Chrome, there are several extensions available which allow for easy insertion of emojis. One example is JoyPixels, an emoji keyboard extension. After adding this extension to your browser, it allows you to easily insert emojis into your Outlook emails.
10. Outlook’s Mobile App Shortcut
Finally, there is a shortcut in the mobile app to help you quickly access your frequently used emojis. When composing a new email, double tap the space bar. A panel will pop up displaying your most frequently used emojis. Tap on the emoji you want and it will be inserted into your email.
I hope these step-by-step methods help you add a touch of color and personality to your Outlook emails.
Conclusion,
there are numerous ways to infuse our emails with emojis’ vibrant vibes, regardless of the device or platform. Give them a go, play around, and see which ones suit your style. Remember, the right emoji can transform a dull email into a delightful read.
