⏸ pause button Emoji - Copy & Paste Free
pause buttonEmoji
What Does the ⏸ pause button Emoji Mean?
Two thick vertical bars sitting side by side inside a square or standing alone, copied straight off tape decks and video players. The pause button emoji means stop for a moment without stopping for good. People use it to hold a conversation, freeze a plan, or ask someone to wait before continuing. The implication is always that play resumes later.
At a Glance
| Name | ⏸ pause button |
|---|---|
| Unicode Codepoint | U+23F8 |
| Category | Symbols |
| Introduced | Unicode 7.0 · iOS 9.1+ |
| Also Known As | pause_button |
Last updated: September 2026
pause button on Different Platforms
This emoji may look different across platforms. Here is how pause button emoji appears on popular platforms:
Download this emoji as a free PNG image, no sign-up. The PNG link appears under the open-licensed sets (Google, Twitter/X and OpenMoji).
About pause button Emoji
Usage: Group chats use it to call a timeout mid argument. Project managers post it on a ticket that is parked, not killed. It shows up in captions about taking a break from dating, work, or a hobby, and plenty of UI mockups borrow it as shorthand for a media control when a real icon font is not available.
It joined the media control set in Unicode 7.0, released in 2014. The double bar itself predates computing by decades, having come from reel to reel and cassette hardware, and nobody has pinned down which manufacturer drew it first.
What Does the ⏸ pause button Emoji Mean?
The ⏸ emoji is part of the Symbols category. It is commonly used in digital communication to visually represent pause button.
First introduced in Unicode 7.0, this emoji has become a staple in everyday messaging across platforms including iOS, Android, WhatsApp, and social media.
You may also find this emoji by searching for its alternative names: pause_button.
Word Associations
People often pair the ⏸ pause button emoji with these words and ideas:
pause button Emoji in Other Languages
How to say the ⏸ pause button emoji name around the world:
| English | ⏸pause button |
|---|---|
| Español | ⏸botón pausa |
| Français | ⏸bouton pause |
| Deutsch | ⏸Pause-Taste |
| 日本語 | ⏸一時停止ボタン |
| 中文 | ⏸暂停按钮 |
| हिन्दी | ⏸पॉज़ बटन |
| العربية | ⏸زر الإيقاف المؤقت |
Emoji names are based on the Unicode CLDR short names for each language.
Platform Support
This emoji is supported on iOS 9.1+, Android, Windows, macOS, and all major social media platforms including WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Facebook, and TikTok.
How to Copy ⏸
Simply click the "Copy" button above to copy ⏸ pause button emoji to your clipboard. You can then paste it anywhere - in text messages, social media posts, emails, or documents. Works on all devices and platforms!
Technical Details
Use these code snippets to add the ⏸ pause button emoji in your projects:
U+23F8⏸⏸content: '\23F8';"\u{23F8}""\U000023F8""\u23F8""\u23F8""\u{23F8}""\u{23F8}"Use these codes to insert the pause button emoji in HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Perfect for web developers and designers.
⏸ pause button Emoji in Real Chats
Here's how people use the ⏸ pause button emoji in everyday messages, captions and comments:
- “pause button? Say less ⏸”: a quick reaction that works in any DM or group chat.
- “This is such a Symbols moment ⏸”: perfect for texts, Stories and captions.
- “⏸⏸⏸”: stack the pause button emoji for extra emphasis and vibes.
Guides worth reading
- Check marks, arrows and star symbolsThe plain text versions that work in spreadsheets and slides.
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- How number emoji actually workEach keycap is three characters, and the 67 meme put them everywhere.
⏸ Usage Examples
Here are some practical ways to use the ⏸ pause button emoji in your messages:
- ⏸ hold on, say that again
- Taking the rest of the week off. Inbox on ⏸ until Monday.
- job hunt is ⏸ not ⏹ fyi
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ⏸ always show as a black square?
No. Some platforms draw the two bars on their own with no surrounding square, and others use a rounded button shape. The emoji presentation selector also affects whether it renders in color or as plain monochrome text.
What is the difference between ⏸ and ⏯?
⏯ merges a play triangle with the pause bars into one toggle icon, the kind a single hardware key uses. ⏸ is only the pause state, so it reads as a deliberate hold rather than a switch.
When is ⏸ better than just saying wait?
In a fast moving thread it stops the scroll visually, which plain text rarely does. People also use it to pause without sounding rude, since an icon lands softer than an instruction typed out in full.