How to Use Slack-Style Emojis Almost Everywhere

Bird

30 Jun 2017

Email

1 min read

How to Use Slack-Style Emojis Almost Everywhere

Key Takeaways

    • Slack-style :emoji-shortcuts: can be used system-wide by adding text replacements on macOS or iOS.

    • macOS: System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements lets you map shortcuts like :shrug: to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

    • iPhone/iPad: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement offers the same feature across apps.

    • These shortcuts work in most writing environments, from email to notes to dev tools — instantly inserting emojis without hunting for the emoji picker.

    • Keyboard shortcut ⌃ + ⌘ + Space opens the emoji picker anytime if you don’t have a shortcut saved.

    • Developers can add emoji support directly into editors like Atom, Sublime, or JetBrains IDEs via plugins.

    • For fun, there’s even Emojicode, a fully emoji-based programming language.

Q&A Highlights

  • How do I create Slack-style emoji shortcuts on my Mac or iPhone?

    Add text replacements.

    • Mac: System Settings → Keyboard → Text Replacements → add :emoji: → 😄

    • iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → add your shortcut.

  • Does this work everywhere?

    Mostly yes — anywhere the OS respects text replacement (Mail, Notes, Messages, editors, browsers). A few apps may override it.

  • What if I want to use emojis that don’t have shortcuts?

    Use the emoji picker: ⌃ + ⌘ + Space on Mac or the emoji keyboard on iPhone.

  • Can I add emojis while coding?

    Yes. Plugins like:

    • Atom: autocomplete+emojis

    • Sublime: GithubEmoji

    • JetBrains: Emoji Support Plugin

  • Can you actually code with emojis?

    You can — thanks to Emojicode, a real, open-source, emoji-only programming language.

  • Why bother with emoji shortcuts?

    Faster expression, consistent tone across apps, and smoother workflows — especially if you’re used to Slack-style typing.

One of my favorite features is the emoji shortcut, which allows you to simply type :emoji-name: to insert the corresponding emoji. It makes it really easy to add emotion without hunting for the particular emoji you’re thinking of.

Anyone in the modern workplace is probably familiar with tools like Slack, a team-oriented chat platform for getting things done. One of my favorite features is the emoji shortcut, which allows you to simply type :emoji-name:  to insert the corresponding emoji. It makes it really easy to add emotion without hunting for the particular emoji you’re thinking of. After living in Slack for hours every day I found myself trying this shortcut in other apps, which disappointingly didn’t work. I’ve kept an ear to the ground for a solution to this very first-world problem…and finally found one!

Anyone in the modern workplace is probably familiar with tools like Slack, a team-oriented chat platform for getting things done. One of my favorite features is the emoji shortcut, which allows you to simply type :emoji-name:  to insert the corresponding emoji. It makes it really easy to add emotion without hunting for the particular emoji you’re thinking of. After living in Slack for hours every day I found myself trying this shortcut in other apps, which disappointingly didn’t work. I’ve kept an ear to the ground for a solution to this very first-world problem…and finally found one!

Anyone in the modern workplace is probably familiar with tools like Slack, a team-oriented chat platform for getting things done. One of my favorite features is the emoji shortcut, which allows you to simply type :emoji-name:  to insert the corresponding emoji. It makes it really easy to add emotion without hunting for the particular emoji you’re thinking of. After living in Slack for hours every day I found myself trying this shortcut in other apps, which disappointingly didn’t work. I’ve kept an ear to the ground for a solution to this very first-world problem…and finally found one!

But how??

At our last company holiday party, Aydrian mentioned that he had recently added an auto-correct match to his iPhone which replaced shrug  with `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`. I loved the idea, so when I got home, I added all my favorite Slack emoji shortcuts to my Mac auto-correct.

To do this on a Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text  and then add emoji shortcuts. For an iPhone its the same process, found in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement .

At our last company holiday party, Aydrian mentioned that he had recently added an auto-correct match to his iPhone which replaced shrug  with `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`. I loved the idea, so when I got home, I added all my favorite Slack emoji shortcuts to my Mac auto-correct.

To do this on a Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text  and then add emoji shortcuts. For an iPhone its the same process, found in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement .

At our last company holiday party, Aydrian mentioned that he had recently added an auto-correct match to his iPhone which replaced shrug  with `¯\_(ツ)_/¯`. I loved the idea, so when I got home, I added all my favorite Slack emoji shortcuts to my Mac auto-correct.

To do this on a Mac, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text  and then add emoji shortcuts. For an iPhone its the same process, found in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement .

But does it work ⁉️

I’m pretty happy with how it works. Check it out in action. ?

Video of sending slack emojis

Hopefully this trick will help you maintain your emoji skills everywhere. Sometimes you’ll want to use an emoji you haven’t added a shortcut for though ? You can keep your emoji-ing in high gear with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + cmd + space  ?

I’m pretty happy with how it works. Check it out in action. ?

Video of sending slack emojis

Hopefully this trick will help you maintain your emoji skills everywhere. Sometimes you’ll want to use an emoji you haven’t added a shortcut for though ? You can keep your emoji-ing in high gear with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + cmd + space  ?

I’m pretty happy with how it works. Check it out in action. ?

Video of sending slack emojis

Hopefully this trick will help you maintain your emoji skills everywhere. Sometimes you’ll want to use an emoji you haven’t added a shortcut for though ? You can keep your emoji-ing in high gear with the keyboard shortcut ctrl + cmd + space  ?

More love for emojis ❤️

Emojis in your code ?

While it might not be the best idea, it is possible to use emoji in your code and comments. More practically, if you’re like me and prefer writing in your code editor, being able to add emojis easily is a nice feature (I’m actually using it to write this blogpost – gettin’ meta). There are a ton of plugins that help with that. Here are a few that I’ve heard good things about:

Emojis as your code ?

On a slightly more whimsical front, there is an open source project named Emojicode which is an entirely emoji-based language. You should definitely give it a try.

Emojis in your code ?

While it might not be the best idea, it is possible to use emoji in your code and comments. More practically, if you’re like me and prefer writing in your code editor, being able to add emojis easily is a nice feature (I’m actually using it to write this blogpost – gettin’ meta). There are a ton of plugins that help with that. Here are a few that I’ve heard good things about:

Emojis as your code ?

On a slightly more whimsical front, there is an open source project named Emojicode which is an entirely emoji-based language. You should definitely give it a try.

Emojis in your code ?

While it might not be the best idea, it is possible to use emoji in your code and comments. More practically, if you’re like me and prefer writing in your code editor, being able to add emojis easily is a nice feature (I’m actually using it to write this blogpost – gettin’ meta). There are a ton of plugins that help with that. Here are a few that I’ve heard good things about:

Emojis as your code ?

On a slightly more whimsical front, there is an open source project named Emojicode which is an entirely emoji-based language. You should definitely give it a try.

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© 2025 Bird

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