How to Add Emojis to Your Messages on Discord (PC & Mac)

Discord has become a go-to platform for communities, gamers, and friends to connect and communicate. One of the most fun and expressive ways to enhance your conversations on Discord is by using emojis. Emojis can convey emotions, add humor, and simply make your messages more engaging. Whether you’re using Discord on a PC or a Mac, this comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to add emojis to your messages, making your Discord experience even better.

Why Use Emojis on Discord?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s briefly discuss why emojis are so popular and effective on Discord:

• Expressiveness: Emojis allow you to convey emotions and reactions that words alone might not capture.
• Engagement: They make your messages more visually appealing and can draw more attention from other users.
• Clarity: Emojis can help clarify the tone of your message, preventing misunderstandings.
• Fun: Let’s face it, emojis are fun! They add a lighthearted and playful element to your conversations.

Method 1: Using the Built-in Emoji Picker

Discord comes with a built-in emoji picker, making it incredibly easy to add emojis to your messages. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Discord: Launch the Discord application on your PC or Mac and navigate to the server or direct message where you want to send a message.
2. Locate the Message Bar: Find the text input bar at the bottom of the screen where you type your messages.
3. Click the Emoji Icon: To the right of the message bar, you’ll see a small emoji icon (a smiley face). Click on this icon to open the emoji picker.
4. Browse or Search for Emojis:
   • Browsing: The emoji picker displays a categorized list of emojis. You can scroll through the different categories (e.g., Smileys & Emotion, People & Body, Animals & Nature, Food & Drink, Activity, Travel & Places, Objects, Symbols, Flags) to find the emoji you want to use.
   • Searching: If you know the name or a keyword related to the emoji you’re looking for, you can use the search bar at the top of the emoji picker. Type in your search term (e.g., “happy,” “sad,” “cat”) and the picker will display relevant emojis.
5. Select an Emoji: Once you’ve found the emoji you want to use, simply click on it. The emoji will be automatically inserted into your message in the text input bar.
6. Send Your Message: After adding the emoji (or multiple emojis), type any additional text you want to include in your message, and then press Enter or click the Send button to send your message.

Tips for Using the Emoji Picker:

• Recently Used: The emoji picker usually has a “Recently Used” section, which displays the emojis you’ve used most recently. This can save you time if you frequently use the same emojis.
• Keyboard Shortcuts: While the emoji picker is convenient, you might prefer using keyboard shortcuts for frequently used emojis. We’ll cover this in a later method.

Method 2: Using Emoji Shortcodes (Text Emoticons)

Discord supports emoji shortcodes, which are text-based representations of emojis. These shortcodes are enclosed in colons (:) and are automatically converted into the corresponding emoji when you send your message. This method is particularly useful for quickly adding emojis without having to use the emoji picker.

1. Open Discord: Launch Discord and go to the chat where you want to type.
2. Type the Emoji Shortcode: In the message bar, type the shortcode for the emoji you want to use. For example:
   • :smile: will become 🙂
   • :laughing: or :joy: will become 😂
   • :heart: will become ❤️
   • :thumbsup: will become 👍
   • :thumbsdown: will become 👎
   • :wink: will become 😉
   • :cry: or :sob: will become 😭
3. Send Your Message: After typing the shortcode, type any additional text and press Enter or click the Send button. Discord will automatically convert the shortcode into the corresponding emoji when the message is sent.

Finding Emoji Shortcodes:

The challenge with this method is knowing the correct shortcodes for the emojis you want to use. Here are a few ways to find emoji shortcodes:

• Discord’s Emoji Picker: Open the emoji picker (as described in Method 1) and hover your mouse over an emoji. The shortcode for that emoji will be displayed in a tooltip.
• Online Emoji Lists: Search online for “Discord emoji shortcodes” or “emoji cheat sheet.” You’ll find numerous websites that list emojis and their corresponding shortcodes. Websites like Emojipedia often have comprehensive lists.
• Memorization: Over time, you’ll likely memorize the shortcodes for the emojis you use most frequently.

Custom Emojis (Server-Specific):

Many Discord servers allow users to upload and use custom emojis. These custom emojis also have shortcodes, which are usually the name given to the emoji when it was uploaded. To use a custom emoji, type its shortcode (enclosed in colons) just like you would with standard emojis. If you don’t know the exact name, typing a colon (:) will bring up a list of available emojis, including custom ones on that server.

Method 3: Copying and Pasting Emojis

Another way to add emojis to your Discord messages is by copying them from another source and pasting them into the message bar. This method can be useful if you want to use emojis that aren’t available in Discord’s built-in emoji picker or if you find it easier to browse emojis on a different platform.

1. Find an Emoji Source: You can find emojis on various websites, emoji keyboards for your operating system, or even in other applications.
   • Websites: Emojipedia (emojipedia.org) is a popular website for browsing and copying emojis.
   • macOS Emoji Keyboard: On a Mac, press Control + Command + Spacebar to open the system-wide emoji keyboard.
   • Windows Emoji Keyboard: On Windows 10 and 11, press Windows Key + . (period) or Windows Key + ; (semicolon) to open the emoji panel.
2. Copy the Emoji: Select the emoji you want to use and copy it to your clipboard. On a website, this usually involves selecting the emoji with your mouse and pressing Ctrl+C (Windows) or Cmd+C (Mac). In the macOS/Windows emoji keyboard, simply clicking the emoji will usually copy it.
3. Open Discord: Launch Discord and go to the chat.
4. Paste the Emoji: In the message bar, press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Cmd+V (Mac) to paste the emoji into your message.
5. Send Your Message: Type any additional text and press Enter or click the Send button.

Method 4: Using Custom Emojis and Discord Bots

Discord allows servers to have custom emojis, often called “emotes.” These are images uploaded by the server’s administrators or moderators. Furthermore, some Discord bots can enhance emoji functionality and offer even more options.

1. Using Custom Emojis:
   • Accessing Custom Emojis: Type a colon (:) in the message bar. A popup will appear displaying available emojis, including custom emojis specific to that server.
   • Selecting Custom Emojis: Scroll through the list of emojis to find the custom emoji you want to use and click on it. Alternatively, start typing the name of the custom emoji (which is its shortcode) after the colon, and the list will filter to show matching emojis.
   • Example: If a server has a custom emoji named “coolcat,” you would type :coolcat: to use it.
2. Using Discord Bots for Emojis:
   • Inviting a Bot: To use a bot, you must first invite it to the Discord server. Server administrators or those with the necessary permissions can do this. Look for Discord bots designed for emoji management or other features on websites like Top.gg or Discord.bots.gg.
   • Using Bot Commands: Once the bot is in the server, it will usually have specific commands for using emojis or other features. These commands often start with a prefix (e.g., !, $, or ?). Refer to the bot’s documentation or use its help command (e.g., !help) to learn how to use its emoji-related features.
   • Example: Some bots may allow you to use emojis from other servers or create animated emojis. The specific commands and functionality will vary depending on the bot.

Method 5: Using Your Operating System’s Emoji Picker

As mentioned earlier, both macOS and Windows have built-in emoji pickers that you can use system-wide. This is a convenient method if you want to use emojis in various applications, not just Discord.

1. Open Discord: Launch Discord and go to the desired chat.
2. Access the Emoji Picker:
   • macOS: Press Control + Command + Spacebar to open the Character Viewer (which includes emojis).
   • Windows: Press Windows Key + . (period) or Windows Key + ; (semicolon) to open the emoji panel.
3. Browse and Select Emojis: The emoji picker will display a list of available emojis. You can scroll through the categories or use the search bar to find the emoji you want to use. Click on the emoji to select it. It should be copied to the clipboard automatically (on macOS) or inserted into the text field directly (on Windows).
4. Paste (macOS): If you’re using macOS, you’ll need to paste the emoji into the Discord message bar by pressing Cmd + V. On Windows, the emoji is usually inserted directly into the text field.
5. Send Your Message: Type any additional text and press Enter or click the Send button.

Troubleshooting Emoji Issues on Discord

Sometimes, you might encounter issues with emojis on Discord. Here are some common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

• Emojis Not Displaying Correctly:
  • Check Discord Updates: Make sure you’re using the latest version of Discord. Outdated versions can sometimes have issues with emoji rendering. Go to `Discord > Check for Updates` (on Mac) or restart Discord (on Windows). Discord automatically checks for updates on startup.
  • Clear Discord Cache: Clearing the Discord cache can sometimes resolve display issues. To do this, close Discord completely, then open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and type %appdata%\discord (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/Discord (Mac) into the address bar. Delete the `Cache`, `Code Cache`, and `GPUCache` folders. Then, restart Discord.
  • Font Issues: In rare cases, a font on your system might be interfering with emoji rendering. Try changing your system font or Discord’s font settings (if available) to see if that resolves the issue. This is less common but worth considering.
• Custom Emojis Not Working:
  • Server-Specific: Custom emojis are specific to the server they were uploaded to. Make sure you’re trying to use the emoji in the correct server.
  • Permissions: If you’re unable to use custom emojis, it’s possible that you don’t have the necessary permissions on the server. Contact a server administrator or moderator to check your role and permissions.
  • Emoji Limit: Discord servers have a limited number of custom emoji slots. If the server has reached its limit, you won’t be able to upload any new emojis.
• Emoji Shortcodes Not Converting:
  • Typing Errors: Double-check that you’re typing the emoji shortcode correctly, including the colons (:) at the beginning and end.
  • Custom Emoji Conflicts: If a custom emoji has the same name as a standard emoji shortcode, the custom emoji might take precedence. Try renaming the custom emoji or using a different shortcode.

Tips for Effective Emoji Use

Using emojis can greatly enhance your Discord conversations, but it’s important to use them effectively to avoid miscommunication or overwhelming your messages. Here are some tips:

• Use Emojis Sparingly: While emojis are fun, avoid overusing them. Too many emojis can make your messages look cluttered and difficult to read. Use them to complement your text, not replace it entirely.
• Consider the Context: Think about the context of the conversation and the server’s culture before using emojis. What might be appropriate in one server might not be in another.
• Use Emojis to Clarify Tone: Emojis can be especially helpful for clarifying the tone of your message, especially in situations where your intent might be unclear. For example, adding a 🙂 emoji to a slightly sarcastic comment can help prevent misunderstandings.
• Know Your Audience: Consider your audience when using emojis. Some people might appreciate a lot of emojis, while others might find them annoying. Adapt your emoji usage to suit the preferences of the people you’re communicating with.
• Don’t Rely Solely on Emojis: While emojis can add expressiveness, don’t rely solely on them to convey your message. Use clear and concise language in addition to emojis to ensure that your message is understood.
• Be Aware of Emoji Meanings: Emojis can have different meanings depending on cultural context and individual interpretation. Be aware of the potential meanings of the emojis you use to avoid miscommunication. Researching emoji meanings on sites like Emojipedia can be helpful.
• Use Animated Emojis Judiciously: Animated emojis can be visually appealing, but they can also be distracting if overused. Use them sparingly and only when they add something meaningful to your message.
• Test Your Emojis: Before sending a message with a lot of emojis, especially custom ones, it’s a good idea to test it in a private channel or with a friend to make sure everything looks the way you intended.

Conclusion

Adding emojis to your Discord messages is a simple yet effective way to enhance your conversations and express yourself more fully. By using the built-in emoji picker, emoji shortcodes, copy-pasting, custom emojis, or your operating system’s emoji picker, you can easily add emojis to your messages on both PC and Mac. Remember to use emojis effectively and appropriately to create a positive and engaging experience for yourself and others on Discord. Experiment with different methods and find what works best for you!