How to Quickly Search for Emoji on Windows 10

Emoji aren’t just for texts anymore — they’re a quick way to add personality, tone, or fun to your messages, emails, documents, and social media posts. But if you’re on Windows 10, you might be wondering: How do I find the one I want without scrolling forever?

Here’s the fastest way to search for and use emoji on Windows 10.

The Shortcut You Need

Just press:

Windows key + . (period)
or
Windows key + ; (semicolon)

That’s it. This opens the built-in emoji picker.

How to Search

Once the emoji picker is open:

1. Start typing a word — like “smile,” “heart,” “food,” or “thumbs.”
2. Matching emoji will show up instantly.
3. Click the one you want, and it’ll be inserted right where your cursor is.

Tip:

The picker works in most apps — including browsers, Word, Outlook, Slack, and even Notepad.

Bonus: Symbols and Kaomoji

At the top of the emoji panel, you’ll see three tabs:

• 😀 Emoji
• 🈂️ Kaomoji (Japanese-style emoticons like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)
• Ω Symbols (currency, math, arrows, etc.)

These tabs make it easy to find non-standard characters without needing to copy them from the web.

Quick Recap

• Open emoji picker: Windows + .
• Search by keyword: Just start typing
• Use in most apps: Works almost anywhere you can type

No more digging through websites or trying to remember ALT codes. Windows 10 makes emoji quick and easy.