
Add below code to theme’s functions.php file.
add_filter( 'option_use_smilies', '__return_false' );
Is there any other way?
Yes.
- Download plugin Crunchy Optimizer.
- Enable toggle: Prevent WordPress from auto converting old ASCII Smilies to Unicode Emojis (;-) to 😉).

That’s it. And you are all set.

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Here is a list of all the emoticons that convert to emoji:
🙂 | :) |
😉 | ;) |
😀 | :D |
XD | XD |
:/ | |
😮 | :o |
😛 | :P |
😡 | >:( |
o_O | |
😎 | 8-) |
^^' | |
❤ | <3 |
😕 | :? |
🐱 | =^-^= |
👿 | :evil: |
😈 | :twisted: |
:mrgreen: | |
😳 | :oops: |
🙄 | :roll: |
💡 | :idea: |
❗ | :!: |
❓ | :?: |
🐻 | :bear: |
⭐ | :star: |
➡ | :arrow: |