How do I copy and paste an emoji?

Tap the Copy button next to the emoji, then paste it where you want it: Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac, or press and hold in a text field on a phone and choose Paste. The emoji is copied as text, so it works in messages, social posts, documents, and most forms.

Why does an emoji look different on my friend's phone?

Unicode defines each emoji's name and general intent, but Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, and others each draw their own version. The meaning is the same, while colors and small details change, which is why a joke emoji can look slightly different to the recipient.

Why does an emoji show as an empty box?

The device or app does not have a font for that emoji, usually because it is newer than the software. Update the operating system or app, or use an older emoji with a similar meaning, such as a basic smiley instead of a very new face.

What is the difference between an emoji and a kaomoji?

An emoji is a picture character that looks different on each platform. A kaomoji (顔文字) is a face drawn from text characters, like (^_^), so it looks identical everywhere and can be pasted into usernames and bios where pictures are not allowed.

Can I use emoji in usernames and bios?

Most apps allow emoji in bios and display names, but some usernames accept only letters and numbers. If emoji are rejected, a text symbol like ★ or ♡ often works, and the cute symbols page has plenty to copy.

Emoji Copy and Paste

Popular emoji to copy and paste, each with a plain-English meaning so you pick the one that says what you actually mean. Tap Copy, then paste it into a chat, caption, or bio.

42 items in 5 groups — tap Copy on any one.

Smiling and laughing emoji

The everyday reactions. Most differences are about intensity: a plain smile is polite, tears of joy means you are really laughing, and a rolling-on-the-floor face means it was hilarious.

Emoji	Meaning	Copy
😀	Grinning face: open, friendly happiness
😊	Smiling face with smiling eyes: warm, sincere, a little shy
🙂	Slight smile: polite, neutral, sometimes mildly passive-aggressive
😁	Beaming face: big excited grin
😂	Tears of joy: laughing hard
🤣	Rolling on the floor laughing: it was extremely funny
😅	Grinning with sweat: relieved, or an awkward 'oops'
😉	Winking face: joking, teasing, light flirting
😎	Sunglasses: cool, confident, relaxed
🤩	Star-struck: amazed, excited, impressed
🥳	Partying face: celebration, birthday, good news
🤔	Thinking face: pondering, doubtful, 'hmm'
🙃	Upside-down face: sarcasm, irony, or playful silliness
😴	Sleeping face: tired, bored, or going to bed

Hearts and affection

Hearts are the most copied emoji family. The color changes the tone, so the full set, with a meaning for every color, is on the heart emoji page.

Emoji	Meaning	Copy
❤️	Red heart: love, romance, strong affection
💕	Two hearts: sweet, playful affection
💖	Sparkling heart: excited, gushing love
💔	Broken heart: heartbreak, disappointment, loss
😍	Heart eyes: adoring, loving something
🥰	Smiling face with hearts: feeling loved and grateful
😘	Face blowing a kiss: affectionate goodbye or flirting
🫶	Heart hands: warm support and appreciation

Sad and crying emoji

From a single tear to full sobbing. Note that 😭 is also used ironically to mean laughing so hard you are crying, so context matters. More faces are on the crying emoji page.

Emoji	Meaning	Copy
😢	Crying face: a single tear, sad or touched
😭	Loudly crying: sobbing, or overwhelmed by something funny or cute
🥺	Pleading face: begging, vulnerable, or very cute
😞	Disappointed face: let down, discouraged
😔	Pensive face: quiet, thoughtful sadness
🥲	Smiling face with tear: bittersweet, or hiding sadness
😩	Weary face: exhausted, fed up, dramatic

Stars and sparkles

Used for praise, ratings, magic, and bios. The star emoji page also has plain star symbols (★ ☆ ✦) that are not emoji and paste cleanly into usernames.

Emoji	Meaning	Copy
⭐	Star: favorite, rating, excellent
🌟	Glowing star: shining, standout, special
✨	Sparkles: magic, new, clean, or 'emphasis'
💫	Dizzy star: stars swirling, dazed, or whimsical
🌠	Shooting star: wishes and dreams

Reaction and gesture emoji

Quick replies that need no words. Several have different meanings by culture, so check your audience before relying on a gesture in a formal setting.

Emoji	Meaning	Copy
👍	Thumbs up: yes, okay, approved (can feel curt in some chats)
👏	Clapping hands: applause, congratulations
🙏	Folded hands: please, thank you, or a prayer
🔥	Fire: great, impressive, or 'hot'
💯	Hundred points: totally agree, perfect
🎉	Party popper: celebration, congratulations
👀	Eyes: watching, curious, 'look at this'
🤝	Handshake: agreement or deal

How to use them

Find the emoji by mood in the tables below, and read the meaning column before you send.
Tap Copy. The emoji is placed on your clipboard as text, so it works in any app.
Paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac, or a long-press and Paste on a phone.

About emoji

Emoji are small pictures encoded as text characters (Unicode). Copying and pasting them is the fastest way to use one when it is not on your keyboard, and the same emoji can look different on Apple, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft devices even though the meaning stays the same.

Most people pick an emoji by sight, but meaning is where messages go wrong. 🙂 can read as polite or as passive-aggressive, 👍 can feel curt in a work chat, and 😭 is often used for laughing rather than crying. The tables on this page add a short meaning next to every emoji so you can match the tone you intend.

For deeper coverage of the three most searched families, use the heart emoji page (every heart color and what it signals), the crying emoji page (from a single tear to sobbing, plus pleading and tired faces), and the star emoji page (emoji stars plus plain star symbols). If you prefer faces made from text characters, the kaomoji library has more than 24,000, and multi-emoji sets for bios live on the emoji combos page.

Emoji are not the only way to decorate a message. Text symbols such as ★ and ♡ are not pictures, so they look identical everywhere and are accepted in usernames and fields that reject emoji.

Frequently asked questions

How do I copy and paste an emoji?
Tap the Copy button next to the emoji, then paste it where you want it: Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac, or press and hold in a text field on a phone and choose Paste. The emoji is copied as text, so it works in messages, social posts, documents, and most forms.
Why does an emoji look different on my friend's phone?
Unicode defines each emoji's name and general intent, but Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, and others each draw their own version. The meaning is the same, while colors and small details change, which is why a joke emoji can look slightly different to the recipient.
Why does an emoji show as an empty box?
The device or app does not have a font for that emoji, usually because it is newer than the software. Update the operating system or app, or use an older emoji with a similar meaning, such as a basic smiley instead of a very new face.
What is the difference between an emoji and a kaomoji?
An emoji is a picture character that looks different on each platform. A kaomoji (顔文字) is a face drawn from text characters, like (^_^), so it looks identical everywhere and can be pasted into usernames and bios where pictures are not allowed.
Can I use emoji in usernames and bios?
Most apps allow emoji in bios and display names, but some usernames accept only letters and numbers. If emoji are rejected, a text symbol like ★ or ♡ often works, and the cute symbols page has plenty to copy.