Home windows 11 simply made it approach simpler to kind emojis

Up to date April 9, 2025: Yesterday, with April’s Patch Tuesday replace KB5055523, Microsoft rolled out the “emoji and extra” panel that’s now accessible by way of a system tray icon within the taskbar. This function was beforehand out there within the non-compulsory KB5053656 replace from March, and earlier than that was out there within the preview replace talked about beneath. The best approach to set up KB5055523 is by way of Home windows Replace.

Authentic story from December 10, 2024: Microsoft appears to assume Home windows 11 customers are clamoring for simpler methods to insert emojis, as if we’re so continuously in want of fast entry to emojis on a day-to-day foundation that we want tremendous shortcuts for it.

Properly, if that describes you, Microsoft desires you to know that they’re listening they usually care. Within the newest Home windows 11 Insiders preview (Construct 22635.4580), Microsoft has added an emoji panel to the taskbar, granting instant entry to emojis it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.

Though there’s already a keyboard shortcut for accessing the emoji panel — merely press Home windows key + Interval or Home windows key + Semicolon — it’s clear that not everyone seems to be conscious of it. In any case, who can actually keep in mind the a whole lot of keypress combos that exist?

Should you don’t need the emoji panel within the taskbar, you may flip it off within the settings by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, then below “System tray icons,” search for “Emojis and extra.” Change the drop-down menu to By no means to disable it.

Should you aren’t a Home windows 11 Insider, this function will come to you quickly sufficient. Preserve a watch out for replace KB5046733 in Home windows Replace, however we have now no phrase on when precisely it can arrive as of but.

Additional studying: Helpful Home windows 11 keyboard shortcuts to know