It appears Microsoft thinks there’s a strong demand among Windows 11 users for easier ways to insert emojis. Although a shortcut for the emoji panel already exists — pressing Windows key + Period or Windows key + Semicolon — Microsoft seems to be taking it further by considering an emoji panel right on the taskbar. This would provide instant, on-screen access to emojis without needing to remember keyboard shortcuts.
According to Windows Latest, the UI settings for this feature have already shown up in some leaks. The setting is labeled “Emojis and more” and would place an icon in the taskbar to pull up the emoji panel on demand. While Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed this feature, the leaked strings hint that it’s actively being tested within Windows 11. The feature would certainly be convenient for anyone who frequently uses emojis and finds it challenging to remember shortcut commands.
If Microsoft indeed follows through, this addition could benefit users who regularly express themselves with emojis across apps and messages. And even for those who don’t, the taskbar shortcut could make accessing the emoji panel simpler, given that there are so many other Windows key shortcuts to keep track of. However, as Microsoft hasn’t confirmed an exact release timeline, it’s unclear how soon we’ll see this new taskbar feature come to Windows 11 users.
