Adding emojis to LinkedIn messages allows you to express tone and emotion in your communications on the platform. Emojis can help convey meaning and intent that may otherwise be lost in text-only messages. While LinkedIn’s messaging does not have a built-in emoji keyboard, there are a few simple workarounds that allow you to include these expressive icons in your conversations.
Copy and Paste Emojis
The easiest way to add emojis to your LinkedIn messages is to copy and paste them from another source. You can copy emojis from sites like GetEmoji.com or Emojipedia.org, or mobile apps that have emoji keyboards.
To copy an emoji:
- Find the emoji you want to use on a website or app that has emojis.
- Copy the emoji character – often you can just highlight it and copy.
- Go to LinkedIn and paste the emoji into your message box.
This will insert the emoji icon directly into your message. The recipient will see the colorful icon just as you pasted it.
Use Emoji Keyboards
Another option is to use a third party emoji keyboard that works across platforms and devices. These allow you to open an emoji picker to select icons to paste into any app, including LinkedIn.
Some top emoji keyboards include:
- Emoji Keyboard by Crazy Panda
- Gboard by Google
- SwiftKey by Microsoft
- Bitmoji by Snapchat
To use an emoji keyboard:
- Download the emoji keyboard app to your device.
- Enable the keyboard in your device settings or app.
- When typing in LinkedIn, switch to the emoji keyboard.
- Select the emoji you want to add and it will paste into your message.
Add Emojis on Desktop
Adding emojis on a desktop computer takes a few more steps but can still be done!
Windows
On Windows 10 or 11:
- Open the start menu and search for “On-Screen Keyboard”
- Launch the On-Screen Keyboard app
- Click the emoji button in the on-screen keyboard
- Select the emoji you want and it will be copied to your clipboard
- Paste the emoji into your LinkedIn message
Mac
On a Mac:
- Go to Edit > Emoji & Symbols in the app menu bar
- Double click an emoji to select it
- The emoji will be copied to clipboard automatically
- Paste the emoji into your LinkedIn message
Use Emoji Shortcodes
You can also manually type emoji shortcodes, which are codes made up of colons that represent different emojis.
For example:
- 🙂 displays 😊
- :heart_eyes: displays 😍
- :thumbsup: displays 👍
To find the shortcodes for different emojis visit: Emoji Cheat Sheet
Simply type the shortcode into your LinkedIn message to display the corresponding emoji icon.
Use Emojis with Caution
While emojis can lighten the tone of messages, overusing them or using inappropriate ones in a professional context can reflect poorly.
Things to keep in mind when using emojis on LinkedIn:
- Use them sparingly in professional conversations.
- Avoid emojis that may be open to misinterpretation.
- Don’t overdo it – one or two per message is plenty.
- Make sure the emoji matches the tone and context.
Used properly, an emoji here and there can help convey tone and intent. Just be careful not to go overboard when messaging colleagues and connections.
Troubleshooting Emojis on LinkedIn
In some cases, emojis may not appear correctly on LinkedIn for you or your recipients. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure you and your recipients have the latest version of LinkedIn.
- Try a different emoji – some may not render properly.
- Copy and paste the emoji again if it appears as a box or symbol.
- On desktop, switch browsers or try incognito/private browsing mode.
- On mobile, force close and re-open the LinkedIn app.
If emojis still do not appear correctly, it’s best to avoid using them in that conversation to prevent confusion.
LinkedIn’s Emoji Support
LinkedIn officially supports emojis and they can be used across the platform, including:
- Messages
- Comments
- Posts
However, some parts of LinkedIn have limited or no emoji support, such as:
- Headline
- Job titles and descriptions
- Education descriptions
- Recommendations
So be careful using emojis in these fields as they may not display properly or could cause formatting issues.
Future Emoji Support
While LinkedIn currently relies on users manually adding emojis, they may build in native emoji support in the future.
Having a built-in emoji keyboard could streamline the experience and prevent issues with emojis not rendering properly. It would also make emoji insertion much faster and easier than copy-pasting or using shortcodes.
Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Slack, and other apps have already incorporated native emoji keyboards and pickers. With emojis being widely used in digital communication, LinkedIn may follow suit down the road.
For now, LinkedIn users can continue using the various workarounds to add emojis to messages. While not as seamless as native support, these methods allow you to express yourself with emojis on LinkedIn today.