Objects · Emoji 0.7

⛓️Chains Emoji

Generally, the ⛓️ emoji means a strong connection or bond. People use it to show they feel linked to someone or something.

The ⛓️ emoji shows a chain of linked metal.

Download PNG / SVG
Unicode
U+26D3 U+FE0F
Released
2014
Shortcode
:chains:
Skin tones
No
U+26D3 U+FE0FYour device
⛓️

01 — Meaning

What does the ⛓️ Chains emoji mean?

In plain english
Generally, the ⛓️ emoji means a strong connection or bond. People use it to show they feel linked to someone or something. It’s often used in texts to represent loyalty and commitment. ⛓️ sits in goth emojis, where it is listed next to everything used the same way. It also turns up in tokio hotel emojis, object emojis and black emojis.
Where it comes from
The ⛓️ emoji shows a chain of linked metal. People use it to represent connection, loyalty, or restriction. It can signal a strong bond between people, like a romantic relationship or friendship. You might see it used when talking about commitment, security, or even something feeling a little heavy or complicated. It’s often used to express a feeling of being tied to someone or something.
Also known as

One character, many names — these are the wordings people actually type, all 1 of them.

chain emoji

People also look for it as chain emoji.

02 — Platforms

Chains emoji on iPhone, Android, WhatsApp and X

Vendors keep repainting this one. Counting the archived versions further down, the chains has been drawn in 3 ways.

Chains emoji on Apple
AppleiPhone, iPad, macOS
Chains emoji on Google
GoogleAndroid, Gmail, Chrome
Chains emoji on Twitter / X
Twitter / XX, Discord, Twemoji apps
Chains emoji on OpenMoji
OpenMojiOpen-source, design systems
Chains emoji on Samsung
SamsungGalaxy, One UI
Chains emoji on Microsoft
MicrosoftWindows, Teams, Fluent
Chains emoji on WhatsApp
WhatsAppWhatsApp on Android
Chains emoji on JoyPixels
JoyPixelsSlack, Discord themes

See the whole set the way each system draws it — iPhone emojis, Android emojis, WhatsApp emojis and Discord emojis.

03 — Copy & codes

Chains emoji copy and paste

Everything here is the same character in different notation — including the shortcode chat apps know it by, :chains:.

All emoji copy and paste →

In your code

Pick the notation your language wants. They all resolve to the chains, code point U+26D3.

04 — How to type

How to type the ⛓️ Chains emoji

Where the emoji key lives on each system — and the codes for when there is no picker at all.

iPhone & iPad
Tap the smiley or globe key at the bottom-left of the keyboard, then search “chains”. No emoji key? Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Emoji.
Android
On Gboard tap the smiley key, or long-press the Enter or comma key. On Samsung Keyboard the emoji button sits behind the gear icon.
Windows & Mac
Windows: press Win + . for the emoji panel. Mac: Control + Command + Space. Then type “chains”.
Slack & Discord
Type the shortcode :chains: and it converts to ⛓️ as you send. The full set is on the Discord emoji page.
Websites & code
In HTML use ⛓️, in CSS \26D3\FE0F, in JavaScript \u{26D3}\u{FE0F}.
No picker to hand? The online emoji keyboard works in any browser, and every character on the site is listed on emoji copy and paste.

05 — Download

Chains emoji PNG and SVG

Grab the chains 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 →
Download Chains emoji, Apple style Apple PNG · 160px Download Chains emoji, Google style Google PNG · 160px Download Chains emoji, Twitter / X style Twitter / X SVG vector Download Chains emoji, OpenMoji style OpenMoji SVG vector Download Chains emoji, Samsung style Samsung PNG · 64px Download Chains emoji, Microsoft style Microsoft PNG · 64px Download Chains emoji, WhatsApp style WhatsApp PNG · 64px Download Chains emoji, JoyPixels style JoyPixels PNG · 64px

06 — Combinations

Chains emoji combinations

Ready-made combos built around chains for bios, captions and comments. Tap to copy.

All combinations →
Cool chains combos
Flex chains combos
Aesthetic chains combos
Cute chains combos
Dark chains combos
Party chains combos
Love chains combos
Mood chains combos
Unhinged chains combos
Soft chains combos
Late night chains combos
Summer chains combos
Gaming chains combos
Y2K chains combos

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

Who sent the chains and what came before it change the reading more than the emoji itself does.

From a girl
When a girl sends you ⛓️, it often means she feels a deep connection with you. She might be expressing romantic feelings, or simply a very strong friendship. It can also sometimes be used playfully, but generally, it’s a signal of emotional investment.
From a guy
If a guy sends you ⛓️, it can mean a lot of things. It could be a gesture of loyalty or commitment, especially if you’re in a relationship. Sometimes, it’s used to represent a feeling of being trapped or restricted, depending on the context of the conversation.
How to reply
If someone sends you ⛓️, you could reply with: “Always ⛓️,” “You’re my ⛓️,” “Totally ⛓️,” or “Feeling the ⛓️.”
Used in a sentence

08 — Apps

What ⛓️ means on TikTok, WhatsApp and Discord

Chat apps do not change U+26D3, they change what it looks like and what people take it to mean.

TikTok & Instagram
Generally, the ⛓️ emoji means a strong connection or bond. People use it to show they feel linked to someone or something. In comments and captions it is read the same way — the tone comes from what it sits next to.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp draws ⛓️ with Apple-style artwork on every phone, so it looks identical for both sides. A message with only ⛓️ in it is shown enlarged.
Discord & Slack
Both accept the shortcode :chains:. Discord renders Twemoji, so ⛓️ looks different there than on your phone.
Outlook & email
Outlook has no emoji picker on desktop — press Win + . or Control + Command + Space inside the message body, or paste ⛓️ from the copy button above.

10 — History

Where the ⛓️ Chains emoji came from

It arrived with the 0.7 release of the standard, which dates the chains to 2014.

AppleiOS
Chains emoji, Apple, iOS 16.4
iOS 16.4
Chains emoji, Apple, iOS 17.4
iOS 17.4
Chains emoji, Apple, iOS 18.4
iOS 18.4
Chains emoji, Apple, iOS 26
iOS 26
GoogleAndroid
Chains emoji, Google, Blob, 2017
Blob, 2017
Chains emoji, Google, Redesign, 2017
Redesign, 2017
Chains emoji, Google, Android 2018
Android 2018
Chains emoji, Google, Android 2020
Android 2020
Twitter / XTwemoji
Chains emoji, Twitter / X, Twemoji 14
Twemoji 14
Chains emoji, Twitter / X, Twemoji 15
Twemoji 15
Chains emoji, Twitter / X, Twemoji 16
Twemoji 16
Chains emoji, Twitter / X, Twemoji 17
Twemoji 17

Same character every time — U+26D3 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.

2014
Added to the standard

Chains was approved as U+26D3 U+FE0F and shipped in Emoji 0.7 (2014). Phones usually get new artwork about a year after approval, in a system update.

Today
Drawn 8 different ways

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.

11 — FAQ

Chains emoji — questions people actually ask

What does the ⛓️ Chains emoji mean?
Generally, the ⛓️ emoji means a strong connection or bond. People use it to show they feel linked to someone or something. It’s often used in texts to represent loyalty and commitment.
What does ⛓️ mean from a girl?
When a girl sends you ⛓️, it often means she feels a deep connection with you. She might be expressing romantic feelings, or simply a very strong friendship. It can also sometimes be used playfully, but generally, it’s a signal of emotional investment.
What does ⛓️ mean from a guy?
If a guy sends you ⛓️, it can mean a lot of things. It could be a gesture of loyalty or commitment, especially if you’re in a relationship. Sometimes, it’s used to represent a feeling of being trapped or restricted, depending on the context of the conversation.
How do you reply to the ⛓️ emoji?
If someone sends you ⛓️, you could reply with: “Always ⛓️,” “You’re my ⛓️,” “Totally ⛓️,” or “Feeling the ⛓️.”
What else is the ⛓️ emoji called?
Chains is the official Unicode name, but people search for it as “chain emoji” and more. They all refer to the same character, U+26D3 U+FE0F.
What is the Unicode code for ⛓️?
The Chains emoji is U+26D3 U+FE0F, added in Emoji 0.7 (2014). In HTML you can write it as ⛓️, and in CSS as \26D3\FE0F.
How do I copy and paste the ⛓️ emoji?
Tap the copy button at the top of this page — ⛓️ goes straight to your clipboard and pastes into Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Discord or any text field. You can also copy its shortcode :chains: for Slack and Discord.
Does ⛓️ look the same on every phone?
No. Chains is drawn separately by each vendor — Apple, Google, Twitter / X, OpenMoji, Samsung, Microsoft, WhatsApp and JoyPixels all ship their own artwork for U+26D3. The character you send is identical; only the picture changes.