So you’ve seen the πŸ”’ (lock) emoji come up in a message or social media postβ€”but what does it mean? As it turns out, the πŸ”’ (lock) emoji can mean a few different things, so we’re here to help you learn everything you need to know about this emoji. We’ll show you what it can mean, how to use it in a sentence, and how to pair it with other emojis to get your message across!

Section 1 of 4:

What does the πŸ”’ (lock) emoji mean?

  1. 1
    The lock emoji can refer to a real-life lock. When someone describes a building, structure, or piece of technology that is locked, they may use the πŸ”’ emoji to symbolize it. They could also be referring to something with restricted access.[1]
    • β€œDid you πŸ”’ the garage?”
    • β€œMy Facebook account is πŸ”’ and I forgot the password! πŸ˜«β€
  2. 2
    The lock emoji can also signify a secret. After all, secrets are meant to be kept under metaphorical lock and key! When someone uses πŸ”’, they’re saying that they intend to keep the secret.
    • β€œShe made me promise not to tell! πŸ”’β€
    • β€œRemember not to mention the party to mom! It’s a πŸ”’.”
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  3. 3
    The lock also means a β€œtaken” relationship status. On social apps, πŸ”’ means that a person is in a solid and happy relationship with someone else. You know that person isn’t available for dating when you see a closed lock.
    • β€œHappy to report that I’m officially taken. πŸ”’πŸ˜Šβ€
    • β€œJust updated my dating profile! πŸ”’β€
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use the πŸ”’(Lock) Emoji

  1. 1
    Use the lock emoji to share (or keep) secrets. When you want someone to know that you’ll keep their secret faithfully, you can use the lock emoji to tell them so. Alternatively, you can use the emoji to explain to someone that you can’t share certain information.
    • β€œYour secret is πŸ”’ with me!”
    • β€œI have something to tell you…but you have to keep it πŸ”’β€
  2. 2
    The lock emoji can be a placeholder. Emojis are fantastic shortcuts when you don’t want to type out the whole word. Rather than typing β€œlock” or β€œlocked,” you could just type πŸ”’ to make your text more playful.
    • β€œHelp! Got πŸ”’ out of the house!!”
    • β€œWent and πŸ”’ all the doors after watching that true crime show. πŸ˜…β€
  3. 3
    Describe a secure situation or location with the lock emoji. Just as πŸ”’ means β€œsecure” on websites and software, you can use it to explain that something is safe and protected or on lockdown. While it typically refers to internet technology, πŸ”’ can indicate any kind of security.[2]
    • β€œCan you make sure the site is πŸ”’ before we use it?”
    • β€œAll πŸ”’ over here! No need to worry.”
    • β€œIt’s unbelievably cold here, so we’re on πŸ”’ till the weather clears up!”
  4. 4
    You can use the lock emoji to talk about your relationship. It’s natural to want the world to know when you’ve forged a healthy, lasting bond with someone! The πŸ”’ emoji can help you express your commitment to the relationship.
    • β€œIt’s our anniversary today! 2 years and going strong. πŸ”’β€οΈβ€
    • β€œIf you know it’s true love, then it’s time to πŸ”’ it down! πŸ’β€
    • β€œMy relationship status: πŸ”’πŸ˜β€
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Section 3 of 4:

πŸ”’ (Lock) Emoji Pairings

Section 4 of 4:

Related Emojis

  1. There are emojis similar to the lock that you can use. They can be placed alongside πŸ”’ or replace it to give the message a slightly different meaning.[4] For example:
    • The πŸ”“ (open lock) emoji can refer to a lock being opened in real life or someone single.
    • The πŸ” (lock with pen) emoji can either mean something is secure on the internet, or it can mean that a conversation is supposed to be private.
    • The πŸ” (lock with key) emoji is used to indicate internet security or two people who belong together in a relationship.[5]
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About This Article

Glenn Carreau
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Glenn Carreau is a wikiHow Staff Writer, currently based in Los Angeles. With over four years of experience writing for several online publications, she has covered topics ranging from world history to the entertainment industry. Glenn graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago, earning a B.A. in Interactive Arts and Media and a minor in Professional Writing. Today, Glenn continues to feed her lifelong love of learning while serving wikiHow's many readers. This article has been viewed 32,211 times.
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Co-authors: 7
Updated: March 16, 2022
Views:Β 32,211
Categories: Emoticons and Emojis
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