Emoticons

MSN Messenger emoticons are small smiley faces and icons you can drop into a chat by typing a short keyboard shortcut. Type the code, hit space, and Messenger Classic converts it into the matching emoticon. Below is the full reference — classic smileys, love symbols, everyday objects and the hidden codes most people never knew existed.

These shortcuts never appeared in the official MSN emoticon picker, but typing the code still works in any conversation.

The most iconic MSN Messenger shortcut is the heart. To send a heart on MSN, type (L) — an open parenthesis, the letter L, and a closing parenthesis — then press space or send the message. Messenger Classic instantly converts it into a red beating heart ❤️, exactly like the original Windows Live Messenger.

The (L) code first appeared in MSN Messenger 6 in 2003 and stayed unchanged through every version up to Windows Live Messenger 2011. Its companion is (U), the broken heart 💔, used when a conversation took a turn. Both codes are case-insensitive: (l) works just as well as (L).

Beyond the classic red heart, Messenger Classic supports the full family of love shortcuts: (K) for a kiss 💋,(F) for a red rose 🌹, and(W) for a wilted rose 🥀. Chain them in a single message — (L)(K)(F)— to recreate the most over-the-top MSN status updates of the 2000s.

Open any conversation, type the code from the tables above (for example(L) for a red heart), and the emoticon appears as you send the message. Codes are case-insensitive, so(h) and(H) produce the same cool smiley. You can chain several shortcuts in a single message.