What does 💡 Light Bulb mean?
A glowing light bulb, the cartoon sign that someone just had an idea. Senders use it for flashes of inspiration, suggestions, tips and “today I learned” moments, and it turns up constantly in brainstorming chats, study notes and productivity threads. It can also be literal, about electricity, lamps or a burned-out bulb. Pairing it with 🧠 underlines a smart plan, while ✨ adds extra sparkle.
💡 Light Bulb is an emoji from the Objects category (cameras, film & lights), added in Emoji 0.6 in 2010. People use it in messages about comic, electric and idea.
Example messages
💡 Light Bulb on Apple, Google, Microsoft & more
The code is the same everywhere, but every company draws its own artwork. This is how Light Bulb looks on each platform.
More cameras, film & lights emojis
See all 16 →Light Bulb emoji: questions & answers
How do I copy and paste the Light Bulb emoji?
Press the Copy button at the top of this page and 💡 is copied to your clipboard. Then paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V, Cmd+V or a long press on your phone. In Slack, Discord and GitHub you can also type the shortcode :bulb:.
When was the Light Bulb emoji added?
💡 Light Bulb was added in Emoji 0.6, released in 2010. It is supported on all current versions of iOS, Android, Windows and macOS.
Why does 💡 look different on my phone?
Every platform draws its own artwork for Light Bulb. The underlying code (U+1F4A1) is the same everywhere, so the person you send it to always gets the same emoji, just in their device’s style. Compare the designs in the platform section above.