How to Enter Emojis, GIFs and Symbols on Windows 11

Get Ready

Here is the basic routine. It takes a few tries to get used to, but the steps never change.

1. Click in the document, message or text box where you want the symbol. The blinking cursor should appear there.
2. Check that Num Lock is on. The number pad does nothing for Alt codes when Num Lock is off, and most keyboards have a small Num Lock light that shows its state.
3. Press and hold the Alt key. Use the Alt key to the left of the spacebar if you have a choice, because the right Alt key acts as a different key (AltGr) on some keyboard layouts.
4. While holding Alt, type the code on the number pad, not on the number row above the letters. Type every digit, including any leading zero, because a code with and without the zero can give different characters.
5. Release the Alt key. The symbol appears at the cursor.

That’s it. You have typed a special character with an Alt code, and you can repeat the same steps for any other code.

The Magic Numbers

For example, hold Alt and type 0169 to get the copyright symbol. Most people only need a handful of codes, so keep a short list nearby until you remember them.

Alt+1 produces a smiley face. It is a plain text character, not a colorful emoji, and how it looks depends on the app and font. For color emojis, use the emoji panel described below.

Here are some common Alt codes you can use right away:

• Alt + 0169 for the copyright symbol (©)
• Alt + 0174 for the registered symbol (®)
• Alt + 0153 for the trademark symbol (™)
• Alt + 0151 for the em-dash (—)
• Alt + 0149 for a bullet point (•)
• Alt + 0167 for the section symbol (§)
• Alt + 0161 for an upside-down exclamation mark (¡)
• Alt + 0191 for an upside-down question mark (¿)

See the Symbol Appear

The Alt code method needs a working number pad with Num Lock turned on. If the pad is switched off, or the keyboard doesn’t have one, nothing appears when you release Alt. Typing the digits on the number row above the letters does not work either.

Many compact keyboards and laptops hide a number pad behind the Fn key, with small numbers printed on the letter keys. If yours does, you may need to hold Fn or turn on a number lock for those keys. If you have no number pad at all, use the Windows emoji panel instead.

The Easy Way: The Emoji Panel

Windows 11 has a built-in panel for emojis, GIFs and symbols. You don’t have to remember any codes, and it works on keyboards of every size. It needs no setup and no restart.

The panel works in Windows 11 Home and Pro alike. The GIFs tab needs an internet connection and, as explained below, an up-to-date copy of Windows.

Open the Panel

Open the panel like this:

1. Click inside any text box, such as an email, a document or a chat window. The cursor should blink in the box.
2. Press the Win and the period key (.) at the same time. The emoji panel opens next to the cursor.

That’s it. The panel is open and ready, and you can pick a symbol, emoji or GIF from it.

If nothing happens, make sure the cursor is actually in a text field. The panel can’t open from the desktop or from an app that has no place to type.

Find Your Symbol

The panel has tabs along the top for Emojis, GIFs and Symbols. Windows 11 may also show tabs such as Kaomoji (faces built from text characters) and clipboard history.

1. Click the Symbols tab. The grid of characters opens.

Look and Choose

2. Browse the categories, such as Punctuation or Currency, or type a keyword into the search🔍 box. The grid changes to match what you choose or type.
3. Click the symbol you want. It is inserted at the cursor.

That’s it. You have inserted a symbol without any code, and you can reopen the panel with Windows key + period for the next one.

The GIFs tab now gets its content from GIPHY. Google deprecated its Tenor API, which the panel used before, and Microsoft switched the panel to GIPHY in update KB5095093. Install the latest Windows update starting June 30, 2026, or the panel shows a “GIF service is not available” error.

To fix that error, open Settings › Windows Update and select Check for updates. Install what Windows finds and restart if it asks. The Emojis and Symbols tabs do not depend on this change.

Add It to Your Text

Alt codes work in almost any app where you can type text, including word processors, email programs and web browsers. Put the cursor where you want the symbol, make sure Num Lock is on, hold Alt, type the code, and release Alt.

Some specialized programs use their own keyboard shortcuts and may ignore Alt codes. If a code doesn’t work in one app but works in Notepad, check that program’s help section. The emoji panel is a good fallback in those cases.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-keyboard-tips-and-tricks-588e0b72-0fff-6d3f-aeee-6e5116097942#id0ebf=windows_11

Summary

Alt codes and the built-in emoji panel give you two quick ways to add emojis, symbols and special characters to a document or message without searching online. Learning a few codes saves time if you often type symbols like © or ™ in emails or reports.

Use Alt codes when you have a number pad and know the number. Use the emoji panel (Windows key + period) when you want to browse, search, or add emojis and GIFs. If the GIFs tab shows an error, install the latest Windows update.