How To Use The New Emojis In Windows 11

Windows 11 comes with a variety of updated features, including new emojis that you can use in your daily communication. Microsoft has been working on updating its emoji library to stay current with evolving emoji standards and to provide users with more expressive options. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to access and use these new emojis in Windows 11.

1. Accessing the Emoji Picker in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a built-in emoji picker that you can easily access with a keyboard shortcut. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon) to bring up the emoji picker.

Step 2: A window will pop up that contains emojis, GIFs, kaomojis (Japanese emoticons), and symbols.

Step 3: Browse through the emoji categories by scrolling or selecting from the icons on the bottom of the picker.

This emoji picker can be used in nearly all text input fields across applications like Microsoft Word, Notepad, web browsers, messaging apps, and more.

 2. What's New in the Windows 11 Emoji Set?

In the latest versions of Windows 11, Microsoft has rolled out new emojis as part of their broader visual update. Some of the key changes and additions include:

1.3D-Style Emojis: Initially, Microsoft planned to release 3D-style emojis in Windows 11, but they opted for a 2D design instead. The emojis are flat but colorful, modern, and in line with Fluent Design principles, which is a design language used across Windows 11.

2.Updated Emoji Set: The new emoji set aligns with Unicode 14.0, which adds more diverse and inclusive characters. This includes gender-neutral emojis, additional skin tone options for couples, and new emojis such as the melting face, face with a peeking eye, and biting lip, among others.

3.Support for Diverse Skin Tones: Emojis representing human figures or body parts come with multiple skin tone options. To change the skin tone of emojis like thumbs up or hand gestures, you can press and hold the emoji in the picker and choose from the available tones.

4.Inclusive Emojis: Microsoft has emphasized inclusivity in its new emoji set by adding gender-neutral emojis. There are also more emojis representing people with disabilities, as well as different cultural and lifestyle representations.

3. Searching for Specific Emojis

If you're looking for a specific emoji but don’t want to scroll through hundreds of options, Windows 11 makes it easy to find exactly what you need.

Step 1: When the emoji picker is open, simply start typing a related word, such as “heart,” “smile,” or “cat.” The emoji picker will display all relevant emojis based on your keyword.

Step 2: Select the emoji you want, and it will automatically be inserted into the text field.

The emoji picker also shows recently used emojis, making it easier for you to access the emojis you use frequently.

4.Emoji Shortcuts and Text Suggestions

Windows 11 comes with smart text suggestions that include emojis. As you type, Windows can suggest relevant emojis based on what you are typing.

Example: If you type “happy” in a text field, Windows might suggest the smiling face emoji in the text suggestions that pop up. You can click on the emoji from the suggestions to use it immediately.

You can enable or disable this feature by going to Settings > Time & Language > Typing and then toggling the Show text suggestions as I type option.

 5. Using Emojis in Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Other Apps

If you're using Windows 11 in a work environment, you’ll be glad to know that emojis can also be used in professional applications like Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Slack, and more. Here’s how to use emojis in these apps:

1.Microsoft Teams: In Teams, you can use emojis in chats by clicking on the emoji icon in the chat window or using the emoji picker (Windows key + .). Teams also supports animated emojis (GIFs) which can be used to liven up your messages.

2.Outlook: In Outlook email or calendar events, you can use the emoji picker to insert emojis directly into your messages. Emojis in Outlook will appear as colorful icons if you’re using an updated version of the application.

6. Adding Emojis to Social Media Posts

Windows 11's emoji picker can be used in all major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Here’s a simple example of how to use emojis in a social media post:

Step 1: Open your browser or social media app and start writing your post.

Step 2: Press Windows key + . to open the emoji picker.

Step 3: Choose your emojis and insert them directly into your post.

Emojis can help convey emotions, tone, or humor more effectively in social media communications. You can also combine multiple emojis to make creative sequences or emoji art, which is popular on platforms like Twitter.

 7. Emoji Kaomoji and GIF Support

In addition to standard emojis, Windows 11 offers kaomoji (text-based emoticons) and GIFs in the emoji picker.

1.Kaomoji: These are Japanese-style emoticons like `¯\_(ツ)_/¯` or `(•‿•)`. To access kaomojis, open the emoji picker and click on the kaomoji tab at the bottom of the picker.

2.GIFs: You can also search and send animated GIFs using the emoji picker in certain supported applications. Just click on the GIF tab in the emoji picker and search for the GIF you want to send.

8. Customizing Emojis and Text Symbols

Windows 11 also provides a Symbols section in the emoji picker. Here, you can find mathematical symbols, currency signs, punctuation marks, and more. This can be useful for professional or academic writing.

Moreover, there is no built-in way to customize or create your own emojis in Windows 11. However, if you want custom emojis, you can use third-party apps like Bitmoji or Emoji Maker to create personalized emojis. These apps allow you to design your own emoji avatars, which can then be used across different platforms.

 9. Emojis in Touch Keyboard (Tablet Mode)

If you're using a touchscreen device running Windows 11, like a 2-in-1 laptop or tablet, the touch keyboard also includes emoji support.

Step 1: When the touch keyboard is open, click on the emoji button to bring up the emoji options.

Step 2: Just like the emoji picker, you can browse, search, and select emojis to use in your text.

The touch keyboard is especially useful for users who rely on touch input for faster, more convenient emoji use.

Conclusion

Windows 11 has embraced the growing use of emojis by making them more accessible, diverse, and easy to use. Whether you’re working, socializing, or just adding a bit of fun to your communication, you can easily insert emojis through the built-in emoji picker. The addition of updated emoji sets that support Unicode 14.0, gender diversity, skin tone vari

ations, and more helps keep Windows users up to date with the evolving emoji culture.