Try the text-style version and a plain symbol font. Some apps still choose emoji, so exact control is not always possible.
Technical note: Use a text-presentation sequence when one exists, choose a monochrome-capable font, and test the destination. Some applications override presentation requests, so the result cannot always be forced with pasted text alone.Reviewed by CoolSymbol.now Editorial · August 2, 2026What you need to know
Variation Selector-15 requests text presentation and Variation Selector-16 requests emoji presentation for eligible characters.
Rendering software may ignore a selector, apply an emoji font automatically or remove variation selectors while saving.
A black text heart and a red emoji heart may be related but can be different sequences.
See real examples in heart symbols and sun symbols. For the full lesson, read Why Symbols Look Different Across Fonts and Devices.
01
Variation selectors express a preference
Some characters can show as plain text or as a colour emoji. An invisible selector decides which. U+FE0E asks for text. U+FE0F asks for emoji.
Support varies. An app can ignore the request and use its own rule.
02
The app still has influence
If you need the plain form, pick a character that has no emoji version at all. That is more reliable than asking for one.
- Try the text variant
- Try a different supported symbol
- Use an SVG or image when exact presentation is mandatory
03
Do not confuse color with identity
Test the result in the exact app. The same text can look different in a browser, a chat window and a document.
04
What the variation selectors do
Some characters default to emoji and some default to text. Adding a selector to one that already defaults the way you want changes nothing. Check the default first and save yourself the extra character.
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Sources and further reading
This answer was reviewed against current Unicode terminology and the practical guidance below.
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Related symbol collections
More collections supported by this answer
These links are grouped by purpose so you can move from the general answer to the exact inventory you need.