How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (2025)

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (1)

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  • Kaomoji
  • Symbols

On Windows 10, you can quickly insert emojis, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard, and in this guide, we'll show you how.

Although the ability to type emojis to quickly express emotions, situations, or ideas into messages or documents has been available since the Fall Creators Update, it wasn't until the May 2019 Update that Windows 10 expanded the feature to offer "kaomoji," which are similar to emoji but the expressions are made out of characters, emojis, and symbols (such as ;-), ヾ(•ω•`)o, and (☞゚ヮ゚)☞]).

In addition, the feature also provides symbols means you no more have to remember "Alt" key codes or search the internet to hunt down "em dash" (—) or "greater than" (>), or "less than" (<) symbols.

This guide will walk you through the easy steps to use the keyboard to type emojis, kaomoji, and symbols in documents, emails, social media posts, and pretty much anywhere else on Windows 10.

How to use emoji on Windows 10

To find and insert emojis in any text area, use these steps:

  1. Open any app (such as Notepad, Word, or Microsoft Edge).
  2. In the text area, open the emoji panel using the "Windows key + ; (semicolon)" or "Windows key +. (period)."
  3. Click on the Smiley face (emoji) tab.
  4. Start typing to search for an emoji.
  5. Select the emoji to insert.

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (2)

  1. (Optional) Select one of the categories at the bottom of the page to find an emoji:
  • Smiley faces and animals.
  • People.
  • Celebrations and objects.
  • Food and plants.
  • Transportation and places.
  • Symbols.

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (3)

  • Quick tip: If you use the People emoji, you can change the skin tone with the options available at the top of the list. Also, you can use the arrow keys to navigate, "Tab/Shift + Tab" to switch categories, and Enter to insert emojis.
  1. Scroll down and select the emoji that you want to use.
  • Quick note: As you use emojis, your most frequent choices will appear in the "Most recently used" tab (clock button in the bottom right) for quicker access.
  1. Click the X button in the top-right or ESC key to exit the panel.

Once you complete these steps, the emoji will appear in the email, document, or social media post that you're writing.

How to use kaomoji on Windows 10

To find and insert faces made out of characters (kaomoji) on Windows 10, use these steps:

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  1. Open any app (such as Notepad, Word, or Microsoft Edge).
  2. In the text area, use the "Windows key + ; (semicolon)" or "Windows key +. (period)" to open the emoji panel.
  3. Click on the Winking face (made of characters) tab.
  4. Select one of the categories at the bottom of the page to find a kaomoji:
  • Classic ASCII Emoticons.
  • Happy.
  • Greeting.
  • Acting cute.
  • Sad.
  • Angry.
  • Surprised/Speechless.
  1. Scroll down and select the kaomoji.
  • Quick note: As you use kaomoji, your most frequent choices will appear in the "Most recently used" tab (clock button in the bottom-right) for quicker access.

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (4)

  1. Click the X button in the top-right or ESC key to exit the panel.

After you complete the steps, the kaomoji you selected will appear in the social media post, email, or document.

How to use symbols on Windows 10

To insert currency, language, and other symbols on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open any app (such as Notepad, Word, or Microsoft Edge).
  2. In the text area, use the "Windows key + ; (semicolon)" or "Windows key +. (period)" to open the emoji panel.
  3. Click on the Omega tab.
  4. At the bottom, select one of the categories to find a symbol:
  • General punctuation.
  • Currency symbols.
  • Latin symbols.
  • Geometric symbols.
  • Math symbols.
  • Supplemental symbols.
  • Language symbols.
  1. Scroll down and select the symbol that you want to use.
  • Quick note: As you use the feature, the most frequently used symbols will appear in the "Most recently used" tab (clock button in the bottom-right) for quicker access.
  1. Click the X button in the top-right or ESC key to exit the panel.

Once you complete the steps, the symbol will print into the text document.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

  • Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
  • Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (6)

Windows 11

Cutting-edge operating system

A refreshed design in Windows 11 enables you to do what you want effortlessly and safely, with biometric logins for encrypted authentication and advanced antivirus defenses.

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (7)

Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10 (2025)

FAQs

How to type emoji, kaomoji, and symbols using a hardware keyboard on Windows 10? ›

During text entry, type Windows logo key + . (period). The emoji keyboard will appear. Select an emoji with the mouse, or keep typing to search through the available emojis for one you like.

How to put kaomoji on keyboard? ›

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  1. Open any app (such as Notepad, Word, or Microsoft Edge).
  2. In the text area, use the "Windows key + ; (semicolon)" or "Windows key +. ...
  3. Click on the Winking face (made of characters) tab.
  4. Select one of the categories at the bottom of the page to find a kaomoji:
Jan 16, 2023

How do you type ♡ on a keyboard in Windows 10? ›

Windows: Press Alt+3 on your keyboard to instantly type a heart symbol (must have Number Pad). Alternatively, press Windows key+. (Period) to bring up the emoji keyboard.

How do you make emoticons with keyboard symbols? ›

Happy Faces
  1. :-D colon + minus sign + capital D.
  2. =) equal sign +close parentheses.
  3. :-( colon + minus sign + open parentheses.
  4. :'-( colon + apostrophe + minus sign + open parentheses.
  5. :'( colon + apostrophe sign + open parentheses.
  6. ;-) semicolon + minus sign + close parentheses.
  7. :-P colon + minus sign + capital P.
Apr 1, 2013

How do I use Kaomoji on Windows 10? ›

To use it: During text entry, type Windows logo key + . (period). The emoji keyboard will appear.

How do I turn on emojis when typing? ›

For those Android users lucky enough to own a new KitKat-running device, all you have to do is press and hold the enter or search key to get at its new built-in emoji keyboard. In some apps, it'll add an emoji smiley icon in the lower right.

How do you type ✔ on a keyboard? ›

Hold down the Alt key, and use the number keypad to enter the character code — that's 0252 for the plain checkmark and 0254 for the boxed checkmark.

How do I get special characters on my keyboard Windows 10? ›

Method 2. To insert a special character by using the Unicode value: In your document, position the insertion point where you want the special character to appear. Press and hold down the ALT key while you type the four number Unicode value for the character.

How do I type Unicode characters on my keyboard Windows 10? ›

Inserting Unicode characters

To insert a Unicode character, type the character code, press ALT, and then press X. For example, to type a dollar symbol ($), type 0024, press ALT, and then press X. For more Unicode character codes, see Unicode character code charts by script.

What is the Ctrl command for emojis? ›

Press the Win and period . keys together, or, on a Mac, use the combination Ctrl + Cmd + space .

How do you type ☺ on a keyboard? ›

Press Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + U . Then release the keys. Type 263a and press ↵ Enter for ☺.

How do you write emoji symbols? ›

In Microsoft apps such as Notepad or Word, or in the Edge web browser, press Windows key + ; (semicolon) or Windows key + . (period) to open a window that will allow you to insert an emoji, kaomoji, or special character.

How do you make a little smiley face on the keyboard? ›

If you're using Windows 10 or 11, open the emoji panel by pressing the Windows key + period. On macOS, open the emojis menu by going to Edit in the menu bar and selecting Emojis & Symbols. For iOS, tap the emoji button in the bottom right of the keyboard, then select a smiley face.

How do I type emoji letters? ›

In Microsoft apps such as Notepad or Word, or in the Edge web browser, press Windows key + ; (semicolon) or Windows key + . (period) to open a window that will allow you to insert an emoji, kaomoji, or special character. For emojis, click on the smiley face and then on the category – People, Food and plants, etc.

How to get cute symbols on keyboard iphone? ›

Open the Settings app, then navigate to General –> Keyboard –> Keyboards –> Add New Keyboard. Next, find a keyboard with an emoticon library.

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