You can turn off emoticons and emojis in Outlook primarily by adjusting the AutoCorrect settings that automatically convert punctuation into graphical symbols. This process helps maintain a professional tone in your communications.
Disabling AutoCorrect for Punctuation to Emoji Conversion
Outlook uses an AutoCorrect feature that can automatically replace specific punctuation sequences (like :) or :() with corresponding emoji characters. To stop this, you'll need to modify these AutoCorrect rules.
Step-by-Step Guide for Desktop Outlook (Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, 2016, etc.)
Follow these steps to prevent Outlook from automatically converting punctuation to emojis:
- Open Outlook and start a New Email message. (You don't need to send it; this just activates the editor.)
- Click on the File tab in the top-left corner.
- Select Options from the menu on the left.
- In the Outlook Options dialog box, choose Mail from the left pane.
- Click on the Editor Options... button, located under the "Compose messages" section.
- In the Editor Options dialog, select Proofing from the left pane.
- Click the AutoCorrect Options... button.
- Ensure the AutoCorrect tab is selected at the top.
- To stop specific punctuation from changing to an emoji:
- In the Replace box, type the punctuation that is being converted (e.g.,
:),:(). - Look for the corresponding entry in the list below where your punctuation is replaced by an emoji.
- Select that specific entry and click Delete.
- Repeat this for any other punctuation-to-emoji conversions you wish to remove (e.g.,
;)for winking face,:/for confused face).
- In the Replace box, type the punctuation that is being converted (e.g.,
- Click OK on all open dialog boxes to save your changes and close them.
This action will prevent Outlook from automatically converting those specific punctuation sequences into emojis going forward.
What if I only want to undo a single conversion?
If you've just typed punctuation that immediately turned into an emoji, you can quickly undo that specific autocorrection. As you type, if punctuation changes to an emoji, immediately press Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac). This will revert the emoji back to the punctuation you originally typed without changing your AutoCorrect settings permanently.
Managing Emoji Settings in Outlook on the Web (Outlook.com)
For users of Outlook on the web, the settings for emojis might be slightly different. While direct punctuation-to-emoji AutoCorrect is less common here, you might have options related to text predictions or suggested emojis.
- Log in to your Outlook.com account.
- Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.
- Select View all Outlook settings at the bottom of the quick settings pane.
- Go to Mail > Compose and reply.
- Look for options related to "Emoji" or "Text predictions." Some versions might have a checkbox like "Show emoji suggestions" or similar. Uncheck this if present.
- Click Save.
Understanding Outlook's AutoCorrect Feature
AutoCorrect is a powerful tool designed to fix common typos and grammatical errors, but it also includes rules for converting text into symbols or emojis. While convenient for some, it can be disruptive in formal communication.
Common Punctuation-to-Emoji AutoCorrects
Below is a table showing examples of common punctuation sequences that Outlook's AutoCorrect often converts into emojis:
| Punctuation | Common Emoji Conversion |
|---|---|
:) |
đ (Smiling Face) |
:( |
âšī¸ (Frowning Face) |
;) |
đ (Winking Face) |
:P |
đ (Face with Tongue) |
:/ |
đ (Confused Face) |
:'( |
đĸ (Crying Face) |
By following the steps to delete these specific AutoCorrect entries, you gain full control over how your text appears.
Why Turn Off Emoticons?
Turning off emoticons and emojis can be beneficial for several reasons:
- Professionalism: In business correspondence, formal reports, or academic papers, emojis can be perceived as unprofessional or inappropriate.
- Clarity: Emojis can sometimes be misinterpreted, leading to miscommunication. Using plain text ensures your message is conveyed precisely.
- Consistency: Maintaining a consistent visual style in your documents and emails is easier without unexpected emoji insertions.
- Accessibility: Some screen readers or older email clients may not display emojis correctly, making your content less accessible.
Pro Tips for Professional Communication
- Review before sending: Always proofread your emails before hitting send, especially for formal communications, to catch any unintended emojis or AutoCorrect changes.
- Use plain text mode (if necessary): For extremely sensitive or formal emails, consider composing in plain text mode, which disables most rich text formatting, including emojis. You can typically find this option under the "Format Text" tab in a new Outlook message.
- Customize AutoCorrect carefully: While disabling emoji conversions, review other AutoCorrect entries to ensure they serve your needs and don't introduce unwanted changes.
By managing these settings, you ensure your Outlook communications remain professional, clear, and exactly as intended.
