Whether you’re brand new to using an iPhone or just getting acquainted with the rich features of iOS, one tiny but powerful feature that can enhance your messaging experience is the use of emojis. The iPhone emoji keyboard offers a colorful and expressive way to communicate emotions, reactions, and even complex ideas—all without typing a single word!
TL;DR
iPhone emojis are a fun and creative way to express yourself in messages, social media posts, and emails. With thousands of icons ranging from facial expressions to objects and symbols, emojis add personality to digital communication. This guide walks you through enabling the emoji keyboard, exploring different emoji categories, and making the most out of emoji features like Memojis, emoji predictions, and skin tone variations. Perfect for iOS beginners looking to level up their texting game!
What Are Emojis?
Emojis are tiny digital images or icons used to express ideas or emotions, originally developed in Japan. Over time, emojis have evolved into a universal visual language used across texting platforms, social media, and email. On the iPhone, these icons are accessible via the emoji keyboard and fully integrated into the operating system (iOS).
How to Enable the Emoji Keyboard
Before you can start injecting colorful symbols into your messages, you’ll need to ensure your emoji keyboard is enabled. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on General.
- Select Keyboard > Keyboards.
- Tap Add New Keyboard.
- Select Emoji from the list.
Once activated, you can access the emoji keyboard by tapping the smiley face icon (or globe icon) on the bottom left of your keyboard while typing.
Navigating the Emoji Keyboard
The emoji keyboard is divided into different categories, making it easy to find what you’re looking for. Here’s a breakdown of some main categories and what they contain:
- Smileys & People – Happy faces, expressive characters, and gesture-based emojis.
- Animals & Nature – Dogs, cats, flowers, trees, and other flora and fauna.
- Food & Drink – Fruits, meals, beverages, and desserts.
- Activity – Sports equipment, hobbies, and celebration-themed emojis like party poppers.
- Travel & Places – Transportation icons, landmarks, and destinations.
- Objects – Everyday items like phones, light bulbs, and tools.
- Symbols – Arrows, hearts, stars, and other common symbolic icons.
- Flags – National and regional flags from around the world.
Swipe left or right across the bottom bar to browse categories quickly. You can also see your most recently used emojis under the clock icon.
Emoji Suggestions and Predictions
One of the smarter features of iOS is emoji prediction. As you type, the keyboard may suggest emojis related to specific words. For example, typing “birthday” might trigger 🎂 or 🎉 as suggestions.
Additionally, after typing a message, you can tap a word and see if an emoji is suggested for that word. If so, the word will turn orange, and tapping it replaces it with the appropriate emoji.
Customizing Emojis: Skin Tones and Genders
Many people emojis offer customization options like different skin tones and genders. To change the appearance of an emoji:
- Tap and hold the emoji you want to customize.
- Select your preferred variation from the pop-up menu.
This personalization helps make emojis representative of your identity.
Memojis and Animojis
Want to take your emoji game to the next level? iOS also offers Memojis—personalized Animoji-style avatars that mimic your expressions and voice. You can use them in Messages and FaceTime, or create emoji-like stickers for texting.
To create your own Memoji:
- Open the Messages app and start a new message.
- Tap the Emoji Monkey icon (next to the App Store icon).
- Select + to start building your personalized Memoji.
Choose your skin tone, hairstyle, eye shape, and other features until it matches your personality.
Emoji Search Feature
If you’re looking for a specific emoji, you don’t have to scroll endlessly. iOS offers an emoji search bar (available in recent updates):
- Tap the emoji button on the keyboard.
- Swipe down to reveal the Search Emoji bar.
- Type a keyword like “pizza” or “happy” to find relevant emojis instantly.
This is especially helpful when you’re unsure which category an emoji might fall under.
Using Emoji in Different Apps
On your iPhone, emojis aren’t limited to the Messages app. You can use them anywhere the keyboard appears, including:
- Emails – Add a professional smile or a friendly wave in work-related messages.
- Social Media – Spice up Instagram captions, tweets, and Facebook comments.
- Notes App – Use emojis to visually mark bullet points or create to-do lists with character.
- Calendar Events – Add emojis as event titles to visually identify appointments.
Tips for Emoji Etiquette
While emojis add flair to conversations, it’s essential to use them appropriately depending on the context:
- Know your audience – Avoid overusing emojis in professional settings.
- Be clear – Don’t overdo it to the point where your message becomes hard to read.
- Stay current – Emoji meanings can evolve. For example, the 🙃 (upside-down smile) is often used sarcastically.
Stay Updated with New Emojis
Apple regularly adds new emojis with iOS updates, so make sure your phone is running the latest version to access the newest expressions. Some recently added emojis include inclusive icons like pregnant persons, diverse handshakes, and new facial expressions.
To check for updates:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General > Software Update.
- Follow the prompts to install if an update is available.
Fun Ideas for Using Emojis Creatively
If you’re feeling inspired, here are a few fun ways to use emojis beyond standard messaging:
- Emoji art – Create pictures or patterns using a combination of emojis.
- Emoji quizzes – Challenge friends to guess movie titles or phrases made entirely of emojis.
- Decorative text – Use emojis to underline or frame your messages.
Conclusion
Emojis are more than just cute add-ons to your text—they’re powerful communication tools that add emotion, creativity, and clarity to your digital conversations. iOS offers one of the most versatile and visually appealing emoji ecosystems in the mobile world. As you explore the endless possibilities on your iPhone, you’ll find yourself texting more vividly and expressively than ever before.
So go ahead—open that emoji keyboard and bring your messages to life!