Adding emojis in Premiere Pro enhances video engagement and helps convey emotions effectively. While Premiere Pro doesn't have a built-in emoji library, you can easily insert emojis using 3 proven methods: importing emoji images, using text-based symbols, or adding animated stickers.
This guide walks you through each method with step-by-step instructions. We'll also compare Premiere Pro's approach with Filmora's one-click emoji tools to help you choose the best workflow for your needs.

Part 1. Methods to Add Emoji in Premiere Pro
Before we discuss a detailed guide on using Adobe Premiere Pro for inserting emojis in videos, let's have a quick overview of the methods. The following table discusses the methods used in this Adobe tool for adding emojis to films:

| Method | Description | Best For |
| Text-Based Emoji | Insert emojis directly using the system emoji keyboard on Mac or Windows. | Quick additions and simple visual expressions within text or captions. |
| Image-Based Emoji | Import PNG or SVG emoji files for full control over size, position, and animation. | Professional projects needing design flexibility and precise placement. |
| Third-Party Plugins | Use external plugins to add animated or custom-styled emojis. | Advanced users aiming for dynamic, motion-based emoji effects |
Part 2. How to Add Emoji in Premiere Pro: Platform-Specific Steps for Adding Emoji
Adding emojis Premiere Pro enhances visual storytelling by conveying emotions and tone instantly. It involves creative choices like balancing size, placement, and timing for natural integration. Whether text-based or image-based, emojis add personality, humor, and relatability. They make videos more expressive and engaging to diverse audiences on social media platforms.
Method 1. Add Text-Based Emojis
The older versions of Premiere Pro did not have an emoji feature. Versions after 24.2 have emoticons as a built-in utility. Mac users can select a desired color, position, and size for the emoji. On the contrary, Windows does not have a colored emoji option; you only get a black and white emoticon. Follow these Mac and Windows instructions on how to add emojis in Premiere Pro:
Mac
- After dragging the video to the timeline, create a text layer by clicking "CMD + T" on the timeline.
- You can select the "T" inside the "Program" window to open a text box.
- Once the text box is created, double-click on it to type the text.
- Enter the "CTRL + OPT + Space" keys and open the emoji keyboard within the text box.
- Select an emoji from the window and add it how you want.
- Alternatively, enter the "Edit" tab and select the "Emoji & Symbols" option.
- In the next window, insert an emoji and use the drag-and-drop technique to fetch the emoji.
- Select the desired font settings in the "Essential Graphics" section.
Windows
Instructions. Include Text-Based Emoticons in Premiere Pro
- To begin with, create a text layer in your Premiere Pro Windows by pressing the "Win + ." keys.
- When the emojis window opens, select a suitable option and apply it to the video.
- Use the "Essential Graphics" section to set the size and position.
Method 2. Add Image-Based Emojis
This is the conventional method of adding Premiere emojis when the built-in feature was not introduced. It is more like importing an image that has an emoji in it, and not importing an emoji itself. Users can make changes to this image using the dedicated Effect Controls panel.
How to Add Image-Based Emojis on Mac
- Open an emoji-to-image generating tool to convert an emoticon into a picture.
- Now, download the image and import it into the tool.
- Using the "Effect Controls" tab, adjust the size, color, and position of the emoticon.

Adding Image-Based Emojis on Windows
- To start, open an emoji-to-image tool online and convert an emoji to an image.
- One done, download the image and import it into Premiere Pro.
- Lastly, adjust the position and size of the emoticon using the "Effect Controls" section on the left.

Part 3. Add Emojis Easily with Filmora (A Simpler Alternative to Premiere Pro)
Once you've understood how to insert emojis in Premiere Pro, it is evident that it takes a few manual steps for locating the emoji keyword or assets within it. However, for a faster and more efficient workflow, Wondershare Filmora provides built-in options for adding emojis, stickers, and icons within videos, without the need of any plugins or hidden shortcuts.

🎨Like these emojis? You can find them all in Filmora — just download it and start creating!
Why Choose Filmora for Emoji Editing
Filmora simplifies the process by integrating emoji and sticker tools into one workspace. You can also take advantage of its AI-powered tools for creative effects and automation.
- Emoji Library: Offers an extensive library of adjustable and editable emojis under the stickers tab.
- AI Sticker Generator: Generates automated AI stickers according to your text prompt and desired style.
- AI Captions and Emoji: Detects the text in your videos and generates relevant emojis alongside the captions for mobile users.
- Motion Tracking: Tracks the motion of an object in your video and links it to an emoji to make the emoticon move with the object.
Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Emojis and Stickers in Filmora
When using the desktop version, there are multiple ways of integrating engaging emojis. Besides adding Premiere emojis on PC, users can also do so in the designated mobile app by Filmora. The following section features detailed guides on adding emojis to the Filmora PC and the app:
Method 1. Quick Add - Stickers & Emojis Made Simple
Filmora has a diverse range of built-in resources organized into over 35 categories. You can add multiple emojis in a single frame using the layers-based editing utility. To find the hottest emoticon collection, you can visit the Trending section. Go through the following steps to learn how to use this method for sticker incorporation:
- Click New Project, then Import your video and drag it to the timeline.
- Go to the Stickers tab → select Emoji.
- Browse over 35 categories and choose your desired emoji.
- Drag the emoji to your timeline.
- Resize, reposition, and adjust opacity or shadow from the properties panel.
- Select the emoji → AI Tools → enable Motion Tracking.
- Use the box to track a moving object in your video, and the emoji will follow automatically.
Method 2: AI Sticker Generator - Turn Ideas Into Custom Emojis
Users who want to work smartly with videos can use the AI Sticker Generator. This tool offers various styles to give your emojis a personal touch. You can give an elaborate prompt to get a personal AI emoji.

🔥 All these stickers are powered by Filmora AI — you can create your own unique stickers by using different prompts and styles.
The following steps feature a detailed guide on how to make emoji in Filmora:
- Enter the "Stickers" tab from the top toolbar and enter the "AI Sticker" panel from the left.
- Using the text field, enter a prompt and choose a style from the designated menu.
- Once the sticker is generated, add it to the timeline and adjust its size and position.
- To make the sticker your own, select it from the timeline to access the right panel.
- Here, enable the "Background" toggle and enter your desired specifications.
Creative Tip: Auto Emojis in AI Captions - Smarter Reactions With AI
For a fun twist, Filmora App can automatically generate emojis along with captions using its AI Captions feature. This is perfect for social media videos where you want to make the message more engaging.
- To begin with, select the "AI Captions" tab and access the next interface.
- From the "AI Packaging" tab, enable the "AI Emoji" toggle to activate the generation of automated emoticons.
- Tap the "Add Captions" button to find the captioned video in the following interface.
- As you navigate towards the export window, select the "Export" button to save the results.
Conclusion
To conclude the discussion, this article was a detailed guide on adding an emoji in Premiere Pro using the text-based and image-based methods. After exploring the complexity of this functionality and the limitations of emoji availability, we discussed Filmora. This platform is a superior choice for adding emoticons, as it offers both mobile-based and desktop-based solutions.

