How to Input Smiley Icons on Skype

Skype emoticons add humor to your text chats.

Smiley icons or emoticons let you punctuate your Skype text chats with small animated graphics. You can click the "Emoticons" button in the text chat window and click the smiley you want to use from the pop-up panel. You can also input a text string to display the emoticon in your text message. For example, you might type "(dance)" to show a small character dancing or "(f)" to show a growing flower.

Instructions

1. Open Skype and log into your Skype account.

2. Right-click a contact and click "Start Chat."

3. Type the text string in the chat window for the smiley or emoticon you want to send through chat and press "Enter." For example, type ":D" if you want to send a laughing smiley or "(party)" to send a smiley with a party hat and noisemaker.

Tips & Warnings

• You can click the "Emoticon" button and hover the mouse over the smiley icons to see the name of the icon and the text shortcut to display the icon, or click the icon to insert it in the chat window.

• Skype has hidden smiley icons that are not present in the emoticon panel, including "(headbang)" and "(rock)". You can only access these emoticons if you type the text shortcut for them.

References

• Skype: Skype for Mac OS X --- Skype Features
• Skype: Sending Instant Messages
• FactoryJoe: Skype Emoticons Cheatsheet v1.2.5

Resources

• Skype: Download Skype 5.5 for Windows