Useful Windows 11 Widget

Useful Windows 11 Widget: a reader asks…

I use a Windows 11 computer and am constantly searching for emojis to add to my emails, documents, etc. Is there a handy way to get these?

Actually, it is quite easy. You can press the Windows logo key and the period key to open the emoji panel at any time. That Windows logo key can be labeled something else on some keyboards; it’s the one at the bottom-left, between the Ctrl and Alt keys (sometimes called Start, Opt, or Fn on laptops). Not only does it give you instant access to emojis, but it also gives you access to GIFs and symbols. It’s quite a handy little widget that lets you insert any number of things into whatever you’re typing, and it works whether you’re typing on a webpage or in a document. Basically, any place you can type on the keyboard.

If you can’t easily remember this key combination, you can also add an icon to your notification tray. Go to Settings (right-click Start, then Settings), click Personalization (left-side menu), and look in the section labeled “System tray icons”. The first entry is “Emoji and more” with a drop-down box containing three choices. Pick either the “While typing” or “Always” option, and that icon will show at the bottom-right of your screen. Click the icon to bring up the emoji panel wherever you’re typing.

The emoji panel has a search box so you can find the right emoji to express what you want. It also keeps track of emojis you’ve used previously, so your favorites are quickly accessible. With the panel showing, just click on an emoji (or GIF, kaomoji, or symbol), and the item will be inserted at the point where your cursor is blinking. Pretty easy, huh?

And for you Mac users, the emoji panel is called the Character Viewer, and it can be called up in several ways. The quickest way is to press or tap the Fn and E keys. Or you can press Ctrl + Cmd + Space. Or the Mail and Messages apps show a smiley face emoji icon you can tap to add an emoji quickly. For me, the fastest is to press the Fn and E keys, then immediately type an emoji word (like “Heart” or “Smiley Face”) to open the Character viewer with matching emojis.