Emojis Not Showing in Outlook? [How to Fix?]

Many users face an issue where emojis are not showing in Outlook, appear as empty boxes, question marks, or simply fail to load. This problem can occur on Windows, Mac, Outlook Web, and mobile devices, making it frustrating when trying to communicate clearly. Outlook relies on system fonts, software updates, and email formatting to display emojis correctly. If any of these components are outdated or misconfigured, emojis may not appear or may show incorrectly.

Some common reasons include outdated Outlook or Windows versions, unsupported fonts, plain text email format, disabled emoji panel, and corrupted Office installation. Once you identify the cause, applying the right fix becomes much easier.

Now, you know the possible causes for the issue, and it’s time to resolve it. So, let’s start! 

Emojis Not Showing in Outlook? [How to Fix?]

If emojis are not showing in Outlook, the issue is usually caused by outdated software, incorrect font settings, disabled emoji shortcuts, or compatibility problems between devices. To solve this problem, update Outlook and Windows, enable emoji support, check font settings, repair Office, and verify message format settings. These fixes restore proper emoji display in Outlook on desktop, web, and mobile versions.

Below are detailed steps to resolve the problem and bring emojis back in Outlook.

Step 1: Update Outlook and Windows

The first and most important step is ensuring your Outlook application and Windows operating system are fully updated. Outdated software often causes compatibility issues with modern emojis.

Open Outlook and go to the File menu. Click on Office Account and select Update Options. Choose Update Now to install any available updates. After updating Outlook, check for Windows updates by opening Settings, selecting Windows Update, and clicking Check for updates.

Updates often include support for new emoji libraries and improved rendering. Once updates are installed, restart your computer and open Outlook again. Many users find that emojis start displaying normally after updating both Outlook and Windows.

Step 2: Check Email Format Settings

Outlook supports multiple email formats, including Plain Text, Rich Text, and HTML. Emojis may not display properly if emails are set to Plain Text format.

Open Outlook and click on File, then choose Options. Select the Mail tab and locate the section labeled Compose messages. Ensure the format is set to HTML or Rich Text instead of Plain Text.

HTML format allows Outlook to display emojis correctly because it supports modern fonts and formatting. After changing the setting, compose a new email and try inserting an emoji using the keyboard shortcut Windows + period key. If the emoji appears correctly, the issue was caused by incorrect message formatting.

Step 3: Use the Built-in Emoji Panel Correctly

Outlook uses the system emoji panel provided by the operating system. If emojis are not appearing, the panel itself may not be functioning properly.

Press Windows key + period or Windows key + semicolon on your keyboard. This opens the emoji panel. Select any emoji and insert it into your email message.

If the emoji panel does not open, it may be disabled or unsupported on your system version. Updating Windows usually resolves this problem. Also, ensure you are typing in a supported field, such as the email body, rather than the subject line in older Outlook versions.

Using the correct shortcut ensures emojis are inserted properly and displayed in compatible formats.

Step 4: Change the Font Settings in Outlook

Another common cause of missing emojis is unsupported fonts. Some fonts do not support modern emoji characters and display blank boxes instead.

Open Outlook and go to File, then select Options and click Mail. Choose Stationery and Fonts, and check the font used for composing emails. Fonts such as Calibri, Segoe UI, and Arial support emojis well.

If you are using a custom or older font, switch to a standard font like Segoe UI. Save the changes and restart Outlook. Try inserting an emoji again to see if it appears correctly.

Changing the font often resolves emoji display issues instantly.

Step 5: Check Outlook Web Browser Compatibility

If you use Outlook Web through a browser, emojis may not display due to browser compatibility issues. Outdated browsers or unsupported extensions can interfere with emoji rendering.

Open Outlook Web using a modern browser like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox. Ensure the browser is updated to the latest version. Clear the browser cache and cookies, then reload Outlook Web.

Disable browser extensions temporarily, especially those related to ad blocking or script blocking. Some extensions can prevent emojis from loading correctly.

After refreshing the page, try inserting an emoji into an email. If it appears correctly, the issue was related to the browser.

Step 6: Repair Microsoft Office Installation

A corrupted Office installation can also cause emojis not to appear. Repairing Microsoft Office can fix missing files and restore proper functionality.

Open the Control Panel on your computer and select Programs and Features. Find Microsoft Office in the list and right-click on it. Choose Change and select Quick Repair. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair.

If the issue persists, perform an Online Repair for a deeper fix. This process reinstalls essential components and resolves software corruption issues.

After repairing Office, restart your computer and test emojis in Outlook again.

Step 7: Enable Color Emoji Support

Some systems may not support color emojis if specific settings are disabled. Ensuring color emoji support is enabled can help display emojis properly.

Go to Windows Settings, then select Personalization and open Fonts. Ensure standard system fonts like Segoe UI Emoji are installed. If missing, reinstall or restore default fonts.

Restart your system after restoring fonts. Open Outlook and insert emojis to verify that color emojis now appear correctly.

Step 8: Check Recipient and Device Compatibility

Sometimes emojis appear fine on your device but not on the recipient’s device. This happens when the recipient uses an older email client or operating system that does not support modern emojis.

Ensure you are using widely supported emojis instead of newly released ones. Test by sending an email to yourself or another modern email client. If emojis display correctly on updated devices, the issue is likely with recipient compatibility.

Using standard emojis ensures better compatibility across devices and email clients.

These were all the best and tried solutions. I hope, now you have fixed your issue and are now able to pull up your desired emojis!

Faqs

Why are emojis showing as boxes in Outlook?

Emojis may appear as boxes if the font does not support them or if Outlook is outdated. Updating Outlook and switching to a supported font like Segoe UI usually fixes the problem.

Why can I not insert emojis using keyboard shortcuts?

If the emoji shortcut does not work, your Windows version may be outdated, or emoji panel support may be disabled. Updating Windows typically restores the shortcut.

Do emojis work in all Outlook versions?

Most modern Outlook versions support emojis. Older versions may not display newer emojis correctly. Updating Outlook ensures full emoji compatibility.

Why do emojis appear in Outlook Web but not in desktop Outlook?

This usually happens due to outdated desktop software or incorrect font settings. Updating Outlook and checking fonts resolves the issue.

Can antivirus software or extensions block emojis?

Yes, certain browser extensions or security software can interfere with emoji display in Outlook Web. Disabling extensions temporarily helps identify the cause.