📭
Open Mailbox with Lowered Flag Emoji
Emoji Appearance
Apple
Apple Color Emoji
iOS (iPhone / iPad)Mac
Google
Noto Color Emoji
Android
Twitter / X
Twemoji
Windows
Fluent Emoji
Emoji Overview
📭 Meaning and Explanation
The 📭 emoji shows a traditional American-style mailbox with its door open and the flag in the down position.
This typically indicates that there is no new mail inside, or that mail has already been collected by the postal service.
It represents an empty mailbox, a completed mail delivery or collection, or a lack of new messages.
This emoji is commonly associated with checking for mail, the postal service, and the absence of new communications.
📭 How to Use
This emoji is commonly used to indicate an empty mailbox or a lack of new messages.
- To signify no new mail: Use it when checking your physical mailbox and finding nothing new.
- For digital inboxes: It can metaphorically represent an empty email inbox or a lack of new notifications.
- To confirm mail collection: Use it to show that outgoing mail has been picked up.
- To express waiting for mail: It can also be used when you are waiting for something, but it hasn't arrived yet.
📭 Cultural Background
| Region | Common Meaning | Additional Notes or Misunderstandings |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 North America | Empty mailbox, mail collected | Directly relates to the design of mailboxes common in the US. |
| 🌍 Global (Digital) | Empty inbox, no new messages | Understood metaphorically in digital communication for lack of new content. |
| 📬 Contrast with 📬 | Indicates absence of mail vs. presence of mail | Distinct from 📬 (open mailbox with raised flag), which means new mail. |
Common Misunderstandings of 📭
Unfamiliarity with mailbox design
Users outside of North America might not recognize the specific mailbox design or the significance of the flag.
Tip: If communicating with an international audience, clarify with text, e.g., "My mailbox is empty 📭."
Confusing with new mail
It's the opposite of the raised flag mailbox (📬), which indicates new mail.
Tip: Be careful not to confuse it with 📬. This emoji means no new mail or mail has been taken.