Emoji shortcodes

In this article

1. Insert emojis with shortcodes
2. Use the emoji picker
3. Use smiley shortcuts
4. Emoji categories
5. How to disable emoji shortcodes
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Express yourself with emojis without ever leaving the keyboard. By typing a colon (:) followed by an emoji name, you can quickly search for and insert emojis directly into your note title or body—no need to open an external emoji keyboard.

Insert emojis with shortcodes

There are two ways to insert emojis using shortcodes in Evernote:

• Emoji picker: Type : followed by a keyword to open an autocomplete menu, then select the emoji you want.
• Inline shortcode: Type the full emoji shortcode (e.g., :smile:) and press Space, Tab, or Enter to instantly convert it to the emoji character.

Both methods work in the note body and in the note title.

Use the emoji picker

The emoji picker provides a visual way to find and insert emojis as you type.

How to use it

1. Place your cursor in the note body or note title.
2. Type : at the beginning of a line or after a space.
3. Start typing the name of the emoji you're looking for (e.g., :rocket, :heart, :wave).
4. A floating emoji picker will appear, showing matching emojis in a grid.
5. Select an emoji by:
   • Clicking on the emoji you want
   • Using the Arrow keys to navigate the grid, then pressing Enter
   • Pressing Tab to insert the first matching emoji
6. The shortcode text is replaced with the emoji character.

To dismiss the picker without inserting an emoji, press Escape.

Tips for finding emojis

• You don't need to type the exact name—partial matches work. For example, :cat will show 🐱 (cat face), 🐈 (cat), and other cat-related emojis.
• Search is case-insensitive, so :Smile and :smile give the same results.
• Many emojis have multiple aliases. For example, the 😂 emoji can be found by typing :joy, :face_with_tears_of_joy, or :facewithtearsofjoy.

Inline shortcode conversion

If you already know the exact shortcode for the emoji you want, you can type it directly without using the picker:

1. Type the full shortcode enclosed in colons, for example :thumbsup:.
2. Press Space, Tab, or Enter.
3. The shortcode is instantly replaced with the emoji character (👍).

Here are some commonly used shortcodes:

Use smiley shortcuts

In addition to emoji shortcodes, Evernote also supports classic smiley shortcuts. Type a common text smiley followed by a Space, Tab, or Enter, and it will be converted to the corresponding emoji:

Note: Smiley shortcuts are case-sensitive (e.g., :D works but :d does not), while emoji shortcodes enclosed in colons (e.g., :smile:) are case-insensitive.

Emoji categories

Emojis are organized into the following categories, which appear as section headers in the picker when browsing without a search query:

• People — Faces, hand gestures, and people
• Animals & Nature — Animals, plants, and nature scenes
• Food & Drink — Food, beverages, and utensils
• Activities — Sports, arts, and events
• Travel & Places — Vehicles, buildings, and landmarks
• Objects — Everyday items, tools, and technology
• Symbols — Signs, arrows, and symbols
• Flags — Country and regional flags

How to disable emoji shortcodes

If you prefer not to trigger emoji suggestions when typing :, you can disable the feature:

1. Open Settings, then go to Preferences > Notes.
2. Uncheck the Emoji shortcodes option.

When disabled, typing : will behave as regular text input and will not open the emoji picker or convert shortcodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I use emoji shortcodes?

You can use emoji shortcodes in both the note title and the note body. The emoji picker and inline shortcode conversion work in both areas.

Do emoji shortcodes work inside code blocks?

No. To preserve your code formatting, the emoji picker and inline shortcode conversion are disabled inside code blocks.

Can I use emoji shortcodes on all platforms?

Emoji shortcodes are available on desktop and web. You can easily add emojis on mobile from the keyboard.

What if the emoji I'm looking for doesn't appear?

Try alternative names or keywords. Many emojis have multiple aliases. For example, the 🤣 emoji can be found with :rofl, :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing, or :rollingonthefloorlaughing. If your search returns no results, the picker will display a "No results" message.

How is this different from the system emoji keyboard?

Emoji shortcodes let you insert emojis without leaving the keyboard or opening a system dialog. You can type the shortcode inline as part of your normal writing flow. The system emoji keyboard (e.g., accessed via Ctrl+. on Windows or Cmd+Ctrl+Space on Mac) still works as usual if you prefer it.

Can I use emoji shortcodes alongside slash commands?

Yes. Emoji shortcodes (:) work independently from slash commands (/) and the @ command (@). You can use all three in the same note.

Updated March 19, 2026 11:11