How to Emote in Fortnite: Guide for PC, Console, and Mobile

Fortnite emotes are purely cosmetic animations that let you show personality during matches, whether that’s dancing after a clutch win, reacting to a funny moment, or just messing around with friends. They range from simple gestures to full music-based dances and special interactive emotes that have become a big part of Fortnite’s identity over the years.

Emotes are activated through a dedicated menu or keybinds depending on your platform, and using one briefly pauses your character so the animation can play. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to emote in Fortnite on every platform and explain the main ways you can unlock new emotes to grow your collection.

How to Use Emote in Fortnite

Using emotes in Fortnite is quick once you know where to look, and the process is nearly identical across platforms. Emotes are accessed through a radial menu that shows a selection of your currently equipped animations, letting you trigger them at any point during a match.

On PC, hold the B key to bring up the emote wheel, then move your mouse over the emote you want and either click it or release the key to activate it. On consoles like PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, hold Down on the D-Pad to open the wheel, use the right stick to highlight an emote, and let go of the D-Pad to play it. For mobile players, tap and hold the emote icon on your screen, then select the animation you want from the menu that appears.

Once activated, your character pauses and performs the full animation. Most emotes can be stopped instantly by moving, jumping, or taking another action. Some special emotes work a bit differently: traversal emotes allow you to move while emoting, and join-in emotes let nearby players jump into the same animation, making them perfect for squad moments or post-win celebrations.

How to Get Emotes in Fortnite

Getting new emotes in Fortnite isn’t limited to just buying them outright, and over time you can build a huge collection without spending much. Epic offers several different ways to unlock emotes, depending on how you play and which passes you own.

Here are the main ways players unlock emotes in Fortnite:
• Seasonal Battle Pass rewards earned by leveling up during the season
• Item Shop emotes that rotate daily and can be purchased with V-Bucks
• LEGO Pass, OG Pass, and Music Pass emotes included with a Fortnite Crew subscription
• Limited-time event passes tied to special crossovers or seasonal events
• Free quests and challenges that occasionally reward emotes
• Gifted emotes sent by friends through the gifting system
• Built-in emotes that come automatically with certain skins and don’t need to be equipped separately

For most players, the Battle Pass offers the best value, packing multiple emotes into a single season for one purchase. The Item Shop is ideal if you’re hunting for a specific emote, with prices usually ranging from 200 to 800 V-Bucks depending on rarity and animation type. Over time, mixing these methods lets you grow your emote library without relying on just one source.

FAQs

How do you emote in Fortnite during a match?

You emote by opening the emote wheel in-game and selecting an emote. On PC, hold the B key, on console hold Down on the D-Pad, and on mobile tap the emote icon, then choose the animation you want.

Can you cancel an emote in Fortnite?

Yes. Most emotes can be canceled instantly by moving, jumping, or performing another action. Some traversal emotes allow movement while playing.

Are Fortnite emotes pay-to-win?

No. Emotes are purely cosmetic and do not provide any gameplay advantage during matches.

What are joinable emotes in Fortnite?

Joinable emotes let nearby players interact and perform the same animation together, even if they don’t own the emote themselves.

Can you get free emotes in Fortnite?

Yes. Free emotes are sometimes available through Battle Pass tiers, limited-time events, seasonal challenges, or special promotions.

Conclusion

Emoting in Fortnite is a simple but fun way to add personality to every match, whether you’re celebrating a win, teaming up with friends, or just having fun in the lobby. Once you understand how the emote wheel works on your platform and where emotes come from, using them becomes second nature. With options ranging from classic dances to joinable and traversal emotes, Fortnite gives players plenty of ways to express themselves without affecting gameplay. As Epic continues to add new passes, events, and collaborations, your emote collection can keep growing, making every match feel a little more personal and entertaining.