By default, WordPress automatically converts text smileys to graphic images. In this post I showed how to Use smilies/smileys in wordpress posts
Use smilies/smileys in wordpress posts
Smileys, also known as “emoticons,” are glyphs used to convey emotions in your writing. They are a great way to brighten up posts. 
By default, WordPress automatically converts text smileys to graphic images. When you type 😉 in your post you see when you preview or publish your post.
If you turn off graphic smileys, whatever you type in plain text will remain, and be displayed, as plain text.
- Go to your Admin Panel
- Select Settings -> Writing
- In the Formatting section, uncheck the box for “Convert emoticons like 🙂 and 😛 to graphics on display“
Turning off emoticons means that when you type 😉 in a post you will see 😉 when you preview or publish your post. So it doesn’t stop you from using emoticons as plain text. 
What Text Do I Type to Make Smileys?
Smiley images and the text used to produce them*:
| icon | text | text | full text | icon | full text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🙂 | 🙂 | 🙂 |  |
😆 |
 |
😀 | 😀 | 😀 |  |
😳 |
 |
🙁 | 🙁 | 🙁 |  |
😥 |
 |
😮 | 😮 | 😮 |  |
👿 |
 |
😯 | 😯 | 😯 |  |
😈 |
 |
😕 | 😕 | 😕 |  |
🙄 |
 |
8) | 😎 | 😎 |  |
❗ |
 |
😡 | 😡 | 😡 |  |
❓ |
 |
😛 | 😛 | 😛 |  |
💡 |
 |
😐 | 😐 | 😐 |  |
➡ |
|
😉 | 😉 | 😉 |  |
 |
* In some instances, multiple text options are available to display the same smiley.
Note: The smiley or emoticon image graphics are found in the /wp-includes/images/smilies directory.
