Symbols · Emoji 0.7
⏸️Pause Button Emoji
It usually means “pause” or “stop.” People often use it when they want to signal a break in a conversation or to indicate something is on hold.
The ⏸️ emoji looks like a pause button.
- Unicode
- U+23F8 U+FE0F
- Released
- 2014
- Shortcode
- :double_
vertical_ bar: - Skin tones
- No
01 — Meaning
What does the ⏸️ Pause Button emoji mean?
One character, many names — these are the wordings people actually type, all 5 of them.
02 — Platforms
Pause Button emoji on iPhone, Android, WhatsApp and X
The character you send is always U+23F8. The picture is not: it is redrawn by each system, and the designs below number 8.
See the whole set the way each system draws it — iPhone emojis, Android emojis, WhatsApp emojis and Discord emojis.
03 — Copy & codes
Pause Button emoji copy and paste
Everything here is the same character in different notation — including the shortcode chat apps know it by, :double_vertical_bar:.
All emoji copy and paste →In your code
Pick the notation your language wants. They all resolve to the pause button, code point U+23F8.
04 — How to type
How to type the ⏸️ Pause Button emoji
Every system hides the emoji key somewhere else. Here is where, plus the raw codes for U+23F8 when there is no key at all.
05 — Download
Pause Button emoji PNG and SVG
Grab the pause button as transparent PNG or SVG. Each system ships its own drawing, and the licence stays with the vendor, all 8 of them.
Emoji PNG library →
Apple
Microsoft
06 — Combinations
Pause Button emoji combinations
Ready-made combos built around pause button for bios, captions and comments. Tap to copy.
All combinations →Want two emojis fused into one sticker instead of set side by side? Emoji Kitchen does that for every pair Google has drawn, and there are more ready-made pairs in emoji combinations and aesthetic emoji combos.
07 — In conversation
What ⏸️ means from a girl or a guy
The same character carries a different intent depending on the sender and the message before it.
08 — Apps
What ⏸️ means on TikTok, WhatsApp and Discord
The character is the same everywhere, but the artwork and the reading of it change from app to app.
10 — Difference
⏸️ vs ⏯️ — what is the difference?
Two emojis that get mixed up constantly. They are different characters with different names.
Unicode name: Pause Button
Code: U+23F8 U+FE0F · added 2014
Shortcode: :double_vertical_bar:
It usually means “pause” or “stop.”
Unicode name: Play Or Pause Button
Code: U+23EF U+FE0F · added 2015
Shortcode: :black_right_pointing_triangle_with_double_vertical_bar:
Generally, it just means “play” or “pause.”
11 — History
Where the ⏸️ Pause Button emoji came from
Approved as part of Emoji 0.7, the pause button has been on phones for years now — counting from its release, 12.
Same character every time — U+23F8 U+FE0F never changed. Only the drawing did, and only because each vendor redraws its own set. Someone on an older phone still sees the older picture.
Pause Button was approved as U+23F8 U+FE0F and shipped in Emoji 0.7 (2014). Phones usually get new artwork about a year after approval, in a system update.
Every vendor keeps its own artwork, so ⏸️ is redrawn by Apple, Google, Twitter / X, OpenMoji, Samsung, Microsoft, WhatsApp, JoyPixels. The character you send never changes — only the picture does.
12 — FAQ