Why Does :) Turn Into an Emoji in Word or Outlook?
Microsoft Word and Outlook can use AutoCorrect to replace a typed emoticon such as :) or :-) with a smiley emoji. To keep the text version once, press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac immediately after the conversion. To stop that specific replacement permanently, open AutoCorrect, search for the punctuation entry, and delete only that entry.
Do not turn off every AutoCorrect feature unless that is what you actually want. Removing the single smiley entry preserves other useful corrections, while disabling Replace text as you type stops a much wider set of replacements.
Choose the fix that matches the problem
Keep this one emoticon as text
Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac immediately after AutoCorrect changes :) into an emoji.
Stop only the smiley replacement
Find :) or :-) in the AutoCorrect list and remove that entry.
Stop all text replacements
Use this broader option only when you do not want other AutoCorrect replacements either.
Fix a box or old black-and-white face
A box can point to a missing or damaged emoji font; a black-and-white result can be legacy Office behavior.
Why Word and Outlook change typed punctuation
Microsoft documents this as an AutoCorrect replacement. In supported desktop versions, typing :) or :-) can produce the color smiley emoji 😊. The typed characters are an emoticon; the replacement is a Unicode emoji character. They may look similar in a sentence, but they are not stored as the same text.
| Item | Example | What it contains | Why the difference matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typed emoticon | :) | A colon and a closing parenthesis | It stays plain keyboard text when AutoCorrect does not replace it. |
| Converted emoji | 😊 | A Unicode emoji character | Its artwork can vary by operating system, font, and app. |
| Legacy symbol | Black-and-white smiley | An older Wingdings-based character in legacy behavior | It can look different from a current color emoji and may not transfer cleanly to other software. |
Undo one conversion without changing any settings
If you usually want AutoCorrect but need one literal emoticon, the quickest method is to undo only the most recent replacement.
- Type the emoticon, such as :).
- Wait for Word or Outlook to convert it.
- Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac immediately.
- Continue typing after the original punctuation returns.
This leaves the AutoCorrect rule available for future documents and messages. It is the least disruptive option when the problem occurs only occasionally.
Remove the smiley AutoCorrect entry in Word for Windows
- Open Word.
- Go to File > Options > Proofing.
- Select AutoCorrect Options.
- Open the AutoCorrect tab.
- In the Replace box, type :).
- Select the matching entry in the list.
- Select Delete, then confirm the dialog.
- Repeat the check for :-) if both forms are listed.
Deleting the entry is narrower than clearing Replace text as you type. Common spelling corrections and other saved replacements can remain active.
Remove the entry in Word for Mac
- Open Word and choose Word > Preferences.
- Open AutoCorrect.
- Locate the replacement entry for :) or :-).
- Select it and use the minus button to remove it.
- Close the settings and test in a new line of text.
Microsoft notes that the AutoCorrect list is shared by Office programs that support the feature. Removing an entry in Word can therefore affect another supported Office program that uses the same list.
Check the result in both Word and Outlook.
If you use both applications, test the same emoticon in each one after changing the entry. A change intended for Word may also alter Outlook's supported AutoCorrect behavior.
Remove the entry in Outlook for Windows
In desktop Outlook versions that provide the classic Options menus, Microsoft documents this route:
- Go to File > Options > Mail.
- Select Editor Options.
- Choose Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
- In the Replace box, type the unwanted emoticon.
- Select the matching entry and choose Delete.
If your Outlook interface does not contain File > Options, this classic-desktop route does not apply. Use Ctrl+Z on Windows for the immediate conversion, and consult the controls for your particular Outlook version. Do not assume that changing a Word desktop entry changes new Outlook or an Outlook web session.
Outlook for Mac and legacy Outlook for Mac
Microsoft separates current and legacy Outlook for Mac controls. Current Outlook for Mac provides text-replacement controls under Outlook > Settings > Spelling & Typing. Legacy Outlook for Mac uses Outlook > Settings > AutoCorrect and the Replace text as you type setting.
Microsoft also states that new Outlook for Mac does not support adding or removing individual AutoCorrect entries. If the individual entry controls are absent, do not follow instructions for legacy Outlook as though the same screen must exist.
Word for the web and Outlook on the web
Word for the web can automatically convert several typed emoticons and offers a smaller set of AutoCorrect controls than desktop Word. It lets you reach AutoCorrect options from Review > Editor > AutoCorrect Options, but Microsoft says the web version cannot add or remove individual entries from the AutoCorrect list.
Outlook on the web also does not provide the same individual AutoCorrect entry management as supported desktop versions. When you need a permanent, entry-specific change, Microsoft directs users to a desktop Office application that supports editing the list.
Web limitation:
If you only need the literal emoticon once, undo the conversion immediately. Do not disable every replacement merely because the web version lacks a button for deleting one entry.
Which typed faces can AutoCorrect convert?
Microsoft's current support table shows that Word and Outlook do not convert every text face in exactly the same way. Availability can also differ by version, so use this as a troubleshooting reference rather than a promise that every build will replace every sequence.
| Typed text | Typical emoji result | Listed for Word | Listed for Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| :) or :-) | 😊 | Yes | Yes |
| :| or :-| | 😐 | Yes | Yes |
| :( or :-( | ☹️ | Yes | Yes |
| ;) or ;-) | 😉 | Yes | Yes |
| :D, :p, :o, <3, or </3 | Grin, tongue, surprise, heart, or broken heart | Not all are listed | Listed in Microsoft's current table |
Why the smiley becomes a box
Microsoft says a punctuation sequence that changes into a box instead of an emoji can indicate that the Segoe UI Emoji font is missing or damaged on Windows. The font is included with Windows 8 and later. Microsoft's documented repair path is the Windows System File Checker, not downloading an unknown emoji font from a third-party website.
- Test the same emoji in another current Office document.
- Update Windows and Office.
- Check whether ordinary text and older emojis display normally.
- Use Microsoft's System File Checker guidance if a Windows system font may be damaged.
- Avoid installing unverified font packs or keyboard extensions.
If boxes or question marks also appear outside Word and Outlook, use Why Does an Emoji Show as a Box or Question Mark? to separate a font problem from unsupported characters, damaged text, and broken emoji sequences.
Why the smiley is black and white
Microsoft explains that older Office versions and Windows 7 used a Wingdings character for some smiley replacements. That legacy character is black and white, while current behavior uses a Unicode emoji rendered through an emoji-capable font.
A black-and-white face is therefore not always a failed conversion. Check the Office version, Windows version, and the character's font before replacing the text repeatedly. If the document must work across old systems, keeping the literal emoticon can be more predictable than depending on one visual style.
For the broader Unicode case, including variation selectors and symbols that can request either text or emoji presentation, see Why Is My Emoji Black and White?.
Do not disable all AutoCorrect unless you mean to
Specific fix
Delete only the :) entry.
Other spelling corrections and saved replacements remain available.
Broad fix
Clear Replace text as you type.
This can stop many other AutoCorrect entries, not only emoji conversion.
If your goal is to preserve programming text, ASCII art, transcription, or a literal text face, removing one entry is usually the more targeted choice. If you want no text substitutions at all, then turning off the broader setting is appropriate.
Restore the smiley replacement later
If you change your mind, return to the AutoCorrect tab and add the entry again. Enter the emoticon in the Replace field, insert the desired emoji in the With field, and choose Add. Test the result in a new document before relying on it in both Word and Outlook.
Where Mojitap helps
Mojitap can help you find and copy a standard Unicode emoji when you want the emoji intentionally. It cannot change Microsoft Office AutoCorrect settings, repair Windows fonts, or force Word and Outlook versions to share identical replacement behavior.
Final check
- Use Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac when you only need to undo one conversion.
- Delete the specific AutoCorrect entry when you want a permanent narrow fix.
- Turn off Replace text as you type only when you want broader AutoCorrect changes.
- Remember that supported Office programs can share the AutoCorrect list.
- Do not expect web, current Mac, legacy Mac, and Windows menus to be identical.
- Treat a box as a font or rendering problem, not simply an unwanted replacement.
- Check for legacy Wingdings behavior when the result is black and white.
- Keep important meaning in words when the document will be shared across different systems.
Official references
This guide was reviewed on August 28, 2026. Microsoft can change Office menus, supported versions, and AutoCorrect behavior in later updates.
- Microsoft Support: AutoCorrect emojis in documents and email
- Microsoft Support: Turn AutoCorrect on or off in Word
- Microsoft Support: Add or remove AutoCorrect entries in Word
- Microsoft Support: Add or remove AutoCorrect entries in Outlook
- Microsoft Support: Turn AutoCorrect on or off in Outlook for Mac
- Microsoft Support: Use emojis in Word for the web
Related Mojitap guides
Use Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac for a one-time correction, remove the specific AutoCorrect entry for a lasting narrow change, and disable all replacement only when that broader behavior is unwanted. If the result is a box or an old black-and-white symbol, troubleshoot the font and Office version rather than repeatedly deleting and retyping the punctuation.