Windows 11 users will soon gain access to the updated Emoji 16.0, which includes new symbols like the Fingerprint and Harp. Microsoft has initiated testing for this emoji set in its Beta and Dev Channels, following a previous attempt in September 2025 that was postponed. The Unicode 16 standard, which encompasses these new emojis, was made public in September 2024.
Microsoft's blog post confirmed the rollout to Insiders, emphasizing the culturally relevant design of the new emojis. This update aims to ensure that all software on Windows 11 can display the new icons without errors, addressing previous discrepancies seen with emoji compatibility.
In addition to the emoji update, Microsoft is enhancing the Windows Settings app with a new panel for camera settings, applicable only to supported devices like the Logitech BRIO webcam. Improvements are also being made to address visual performance issues and bugs related to taskbar behavior and desktop icons. These updates are expected to reach the stable version of Windows 11 after resolving any existing issues.