Quickly Insert Emojis in macOS 27 Using the Colon Trick

Inserting emojis on your Mac can be done quickly with a simple trick! If you’re using macOS 27 or later, you can enable a Terminal command that allows you to type a colon (:) followed by the emoji’s name to automatically insert the emoji.

How to Enable the Colon Trick

To get started, open Terminal on your Mac. You can find Terminal in the Utilities folder within Applications or search for it using Spotlight. Once you have it open, you’ll need to enter a specific command to allow this feature:

defaults write com.apple.symbolichotkeys AppleSymbolicHotKeys -dict-add 32 '{enabled = 1; value = { characters = ":"; modifiers = {}; }; }'

After running the command, restart your Mac for the changes to take effect.

Using the Colon Trick

Once enabled, you can use this trick anywhere that supports text input. Simply type a colon followed by the name of the emoji. For example, typing :smile: will insert a ? emoji. Here are some popular emoji codes you can use:

• :heart: for ??
• :thumbsup: for ?
• :star: for ?

Benefits of Using Emojis

Using emojis in your messages, documents, or social media posts can enhance communication by adding emotional context and making it more engaging. Whether you’re expressing joy, affection, or excitement, emojis can help convey your feelings effectively.

Additional Tips

Here are a few tips to make the most out of using emojis with the colon trick:

• Try different variations of emoji names to see if there are other compatible symbols.
• Keep frequently used emojis in mind for quick access.

For more details on Windows and other tips and tricks for your Apple devices, visit Apple Support.

For more tips on using your devices effectively, check out our iPhone tips.