How to Type the Elusive Blue Square Emoji: A Comprehensive Guide
The blue square emoji, a seemingly simple geometric shape, has become a ubiquitous part of digital communication. From signaling agreement and solidarity to adding a splash of color to your messages, the blue square emoji offers a versatile way to express yourself. But unlike some of the more readily accessible emojis, finding and typing the blue square can sometimes feel like a digital scavenger hunt. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods for inserting the blue square emoji (🟦) into your text, no matter what device or platform you’re using.
## Understanding the Blue Square Emoji
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s briefly touch on the significance of the blue square emoji. While its primary function is decorative, it can also be used to:
* **Show Support:** The blue square has become a symbol of support for various causes and movements. Its neutrality makes it a safe and inclusive choice.
* **Indicate Progress or Completion:** In project management or task lists, a blue square can represent a completed task or a stage of progress.
* **Add Visual Appeal:** A simple blue square can break up long blocks of text and make your messages more visually engaging.
* **Represent Calmness and Trust:** The color blue is often associated with tranquility, trust, and stability. Using the blue square emoji can subtly convey these emotions.
## Methods for Typing the Blue Square Emoji
Here are several methods you can use to type the blue square emoji, depending on your device and platform:
### 1. Using the Emoji Keyboard on Mobile Devices (iOS and Android)
This is arguably the most straightforward method. Both iOS and Android devices have built-in emoji keyboards. Here’s how to access and use them:
**For iOS (iPhone and iPad):**
1. **Open the App:** Launch the app where you want to use the emoji (e.g., Messages, WhatsApp, Notes).
2. **Tap the Text Field:** Tap on the text input field to bring up the keyboard.
3. **Locate the Emoji Button:** The emoji button usually looks like a smiley face or a globe icon. It’s typically located in the bottom-left corner of the keyboard, near the space bar or the microphone button. If you see a globe icon, tapping it will cycle through different keyboard languages, including the emoji keyboard.
4. **Search for “Square”:** Once the emoji keyboard is open, use the search bar at the top of the keyboard and type “square”. Alternatively, you can browse through the shapes and symbols categories.
5. **Find the Blue Square:** Scroll through the search results or the shapes section until you find the blue square emoji (🟦). There may be other colored squares as well, so make sure you select the correct one.
6. **Tap to Insert:** Simply tap the blue square emoji to insert it into your text.
**For Android Devices:**
The process is very similar to iOS, but the exact location of the emoji button and the appearance of the keyboard may vary slightly depending on your Android version and keyboard app.
1. **Open the App:** Launch the app where you want to use the emoji.
2. **Tap the Text Field:** Tap on the text input field to bring up the keyboard.
3. **Locate the Emoji Button:** The emoji button usually looks like a smiley face or a globe icon. Some Android keyboards may also have a dedicated emoji key on the bottom row.
4. **Search for “Square”:** Tap the emoji button to open the emoji keyboard. Use the search bar and type “square”, or browse the shapes and symbols categories.
5. **Find the Blue Square:** Scroll through the results until you locate the blue square emoji (🟦).
6. **Tap to Insert:** Tap the blue square emoji to insert it into your text.
**Troubleshooting the Emoji Keyboard:**
* **Emoji Keyboard Not Enabled:** If you can’t find the emoji button, make sure the emoji keyboard is enabled in your device’s settings. On iOS, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and ensure that the “Emoji” keyboard is added. On Android, the process varies depending on the device manufacturer, but it’s usually found under Settings > Language & Input > Virtual Keyboard > Manage Keyboards.
* **Keyboard App:** If you’re using a third-party keyboard app, the location of the emoji button may be different. Refer to the keyboard app’s documentation for instructions.
### 2. Using the Character Map on Windows
Windows has a built-in Character Map that allows you to find and insert special characters, including emojis. Here’s how to use it to find the blue square emoji:
1. **Open the Character Map:**
* **Windows 10 and 11:** Type “Character Map” in the search bar on the taskbar and press Enter.
* **Older Versions of Windows:** Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Character Map.
2. **Select Font:** In the Character Map window, select a font that supports emojis. Arial Unicode MS and Segoe UI Emoji are good choices.
3. **Search for “Square”:** The Character Map doesn’t have a direct search function for emojis. You will need to scroll through the characters. To make it easier, you can filter by Unicode subrange. Select “Unicode Subrange” from the “Group by” dropdown.
4. **Select ‘Miscellaneous Symbols’ or ‘Geometric Shapes’:** From the subrange options, explore “Miscellaneous Symbols” or “Geometric Shapes”. The blue square emoji is typically found within these categories.
5. **Find the Blue Square:** Scroll through the characters until you find the blue square emoji (🟦). It might take some time, but be patient.
6. **Select and Copy:** Once you find the blue square, click on it to select it. Then, click the “Select” button and then the “Copy” button.
7. **Paste into Your Document:** Go to your document or application where you want to use the emoji and paste it (Ctrl+V).
### 3. Using the Emoji Viewer on macOS
macOS has a built-in Emoji Viewer that provides a convenient way to insert emojis into your text.
1. **Open the Emoji Viewer:** There are several ways to open the Emoji Viewer:
* **Using the Keyboard Shortcut:** Press Control + Command + Spacebar.
* **From the Menu Bar:** In most applications, you can go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols.
2. **Search for “Square”:** In the Emoji Viewer, use the search bar at the top and type “square”.
3. **Find the Blue Square:** Scroll through the search results until you find the blue square emoji (🟦).
4. **Double-Click to Insert:** Double-click the blue square emoji to insert it into your text.
**Alternative Method on macOS (System Preferences):**
1. **Enable Keyboard Viewer:** Go to System Preferences > Keyboard.
2. **Show Keyboard and Emoji Viewers in Menu Bar:** Check the box next to “Show Keyboard, Emoji & Symbol Viewers in menu bar”.
3. **Access Emoji Viewer:** Click the new icon in the menu bar (it looks like a keyboard). Select “Show Emoji & Symbols”. This opens the Character Viewer (which is effectively the Emoji Viewer).
4. **Search and Insert:** Follow steps 2-4 from above.
### 4. Copying and Pasting from Online Sources
If you’re having trouble finding the blue square emoji using the methods above, you can always copy and paste it from an online source. Many websites list emojis and allow you to copy them with a simple click. Here are a few options:
* **Emojipedia:** Emojipedia is a comprehensive resource for all things emoji. Simply search for “blue square” on Emojipedia, and you’ll find the emoji with a “Copy” button.
* **Get Emoji:** Get Emoji is another website that lists emojis and allows you to copy them. Search for “blue square” and click the copy button.
* **Other Emoji Websites:** A quick Google search for “copy blue square emoji” will reveal numerous other websites where you can find and copy the emoji.
**Important Note about Copying and Pasting:**
* **Font Compatibility:** When you copy and paste an emoji, the appearance of the emoji may vary depending on the font used in the application where you’re pasting it. Some fonts may not support all emojis, in which case the emoji may appear as a box or a question mark.
* **Platform Compatibility:** Emojis may also render differently on different platforms (e.g., Windows, macOS, iOS, Android). This is because each platform has its own emoji font. While the meaning of the emoji will remain the same, its visual appearance may vary.
### 5. Using HTML Entity or Unicode Code
For web developers or those who need to insert the blue square emoji into HTML code, you can use its HTML entity or Unicode code.
* **Unicode Code:** The Unicode code for the blue square emoji is `U+1F7E6`.
* **HTML Entity (Decimal):** There is no direct HTML entity for the blue square emoji. However, you can use the Unicode code point in decimal form within HTML using the numerical character reference `📦`.
**How to Use in HTML:**
html
This is a blue square: 📦
**Note:** While this method *should* work, support for some newer emojis via numerical character references can be inconsistent across browsers and systems. The copy/paste method might be more reliable in many cases for web content. Also, ensure your HTML document is encoded with UTF-8.
### 6. Using Autocorrect or Text Replacement Features
Most operating systems and some applications have autocorrect or text replacement features that allow you to define custom shortcuts for frequently used text or emojis. You can set up a shortcut to automatically insert the blue square emoji when you type a specific sequence of characters.
**For iOS:**
1. **Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.**
2. **Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner.**
3. **In the “Phrase” field, paste the blue square emoji (🟦).**
4. **In the “Shortcut” field, enter a short, easy-to-remember sequence of characters (e.g., `bsq`).**
5. **Tap “Save”.**
Now, whenever you type `bsq` (or whatever shortcut you chose) in any app on your iPhone or iPad, it will automatically be replaced with the blue square emoji.
**For macOS:**
1. **Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text.**
2. **Click the “+” button.**
3. **In the “Replace” column, enter a short sequence of characters (e.g., `bsq`).**
4. **In the “With” column, paste the blue square emoji (🟦).**
**For Android:**
The process for setting up text replacement on Android varies depending on the device manufacturer and keyboard app. However, most Android keyboards offer a similar feature. Look for “Text Replacement,” “Personal Dictionary,” or “Shortcuts” in the keyboard settings.
## Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I See the Blue Square Emoji?
If you’re unable to see the blue square emoji, here are some possible reasons and solutions:
* **Outdated Operating System:** Older operating systems may not support the latest emoji characters. Make sure your operating system is up to date.
* **Outdated Browser:** If you’re viewing the emoji on a website, make sure your browser is up to date.
* **Font Issues:** As mentioned earlier, some fonts may not support all emojis. Try changing the font in your application or document to a font that is known to support emojis (e.g., Arial Unicode MS, Segoe UI Emoji).
* **Missing Emoji Font:** In rare cases, your system may be missing the emoji font. Reinstalling your operating system or installing a dedicated emoji font may resolve the issue.
* **Platform Differences:** Keep in mind that emojis may render differently on different platforms. An emoji that looks fine on your iPhone may appear slightly different on a Windows computer.
## Conclusion
Typing the blue square emoji might seem like a minor task, but it’s a valuable skill for anyone who wants to communicate effectively in the digital age. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can easily insert the blue square emoji into your text, no matter what device or platform you’re using. Whether you’re showing support for a cause, adding visual appeal to your messages, or simply expressing yourself creatively, the blue square emoji is a versatile tool that can enhance your digital communication.
So go ahead, embrace the blue square, and let your messages shine!