Skull and Crossbones emoji meaning
People use it to mark a toxic or risky situation, warn about poison or danger, or say they are 'dead' from laughing or embarrassment, similar to 💀 but more intense. Example: 'that fall almost killed me ☠️' or 'this group chat is toxic ☠️'.
The official Unicode name for ☠️ is skull and crossbones. It belongs to the smileys & emotion group and the negative subgroup. Keyboards and search boxes find it with keywords such as bone, crossbones, dead, death, face, monster, skull.
It was added in Emoji 1, so it displays on every current phone, computer and browser.
How to get ☠️ on iPhone and iPad
- Tap the emoji key (the smiley face) or the globe key on the keyboard.
- Tap Search Emoji at the bottom and type skull and crossbones.
- Tap ☠️ to insert it.
If the emoji keyboard is missing, turn it on in Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Emoji.
How to get ☠️ on Android
On Gboard, tap the emoji button next to the space bar, then use the search bar at the top and type "skull and crossbones". On Samsung Keyboard, tap the emoji icon and use the search field the same way. Or copy ☠️ from this page and paste it.
How to type ☠️ on Windows
- Click where you want the emoji.
- Press Win+. (the Windows key and the period key) to open the emoji panel.
- Type "skull and crossbones" and click ☠️.
The panel remembers recently used emoji, so it will be one click away next time.
How to type ☠️ on a Mac
Press Control+⌘+Space to open the emoji picker, type "skull and crossbones" and double-click ☠️. On a MacBook with a Touch Bar, or on recent macOS versions, the fn or globe key also opens the picker.
☠️ in Word and Google Docs
Both accept emoji as normal text. On Windows use Win+., on Mac use Control+⌘+Space, or paste ☠️ from this page. In Google Docs you can also go to Insert → Emoji. In Word, Insert → Symbol lists emoji under the Segoe UI Emoji font.
☠️ in HTML, CSS and code
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HTML decimal | ☠️ |
| HTML hex | ☠️ |
CSS content | "\2620\FE0F" |
| JavaScript | "\u{2620}\u{FE0F}" |
| Python | "\u2620\uFE0F" |
| URL encoded | %E2%98%A0%EF%B8%8F |
| Shortcode (GitHub, Slack, Discord) | :skull_and_crossbones: |
Because ☠️ is standard Unicode, you can paste it straight into any UTF-8 file. The escapes are for when the file encoding is uncertain or the emoji must be entered in code.
Frequently asked questions
What does the skull and crossbones emoji mean? +
A skull with crossbones representing danger, poison, or literal death, often used to mean something or someone is 'dead' (figuratively). Its official Unicode name is "skull and crossbones".
What does ☠️ mean in texting? +
It usually means something is extremely funny, embarrassing, or deadly serious, used for dramatic effect rather than literal death.
Is ☠️ different from 💀? +
Yes, 💀 is a plain skull often used casually for laughing or being 'dead', while ☠️ adds crossbones to signal real danger or poison, giving it a more serious or intense tone.
How do I get the skull and crossbones emoji on my keyboard? +
On iPhone, open the emoji keyboard and search "skull and crossbones". On Android, tap the emoji key on Gboard and search the same. On Windows press Win + . (period), and on Mac press Control + Command + Space, then type the name. Or simply copy ☠️ from this page.
What is the Unicode for ☠️? +
The skull and crossbones emoji is U+2620. In HTML use ☠️.
Why does ☠️ look different on other phones? +
Every platform draws its own artwork for the same emoji character. Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft each have their own design, so ☠️ looks slightly different but means the same thing everywhere.