What an emoji keyboard is and why you might want one
An emoji keyboard is a second input method on your phone or computer that lets you type emojis — the small pictures and symbols — without switching between apps or hunting through menus. Instead of opening your messages app and tapping a smiley-face button, you can type directly from your keyboard the same way you type letters. Most devices come with emoji support built in, but the keyboard itself is usually turned off by default, which is why you have to add it.
The process differs depending on whether you use an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. Each operating system stores emoji keyboards in a different place and calls them by different names. Once you turn it on, the keyboard stays available — you do not have to reinstall it each time you want to use it.
Key Takeaways
- iPhones and iPads have emoji keyboards built in; you turn them on in Settings under Keyboard, then add a new keyboard and select Emoji.
- Android phones vary by manufacturer, but most let you add emoji keyboards through Settings, Languages and Input, or Keyboard Settings depending on your phone model.
- Windows computers do not have a separate emoji keyboard — you open the emoji picker with Windows key + period (.) or Windows key + semicolon (;).
- Mac computers have an emoji picker you open with Control + Command + Space, which works in any app without adding a keyboard.
- Once added or enabled, emoji keyboards stay available until you remove them, and you switch between keyboards using a globe icon or dedicated key.
How to add an emoji keyboard on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app and scroll down to find Keyboard. Tap it, then tap Keyboards (the second option in that menu). You will see a list of keyboards you already have — usually English and possibly others. At the bottom of the list, tap Add New Keyboard.
A list of available keyboards appears. Scroll down until you see Emoji and tap it. The emoji keyboard is now added to your device. When you open any app that lets you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or a web search box — you will see a globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard. Tap it to cycle through your keyboards, and the emoji keyboard will appear as an option. Once you switch to it, you can type emojis the same way you type letters, using a search bar or browsing by category.
How to add an emoji keyboard on Android
The steps vary slightly depending on your phone manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others each organize settings differently), but the general path is the same. Open Settings and look for Languages and Input, System Languages, or Keyboard Settings — the exact name depends on your phone. Tap it.
Look for an option called Virtual Keyboard, On-Screen Keyboard, or the name of your keyboard app (such as Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, or SwiftKey). Tap that option. You should see a list of available keyboards or keyboard features. Find Emoji or Emoji Keyboard and toggle it on, or tap it to enable it. Some Android phones come with emoji support already built into the main keyboard, so you may not need a separate emoji keyboard — try opening any text field and looking for an emoji button (usually a smiley face) on your keyboard first.
How to use the emoji picker on Windows
Windows does not use a separate emoji keyboard the way iPhones and Android phones do. Instead, it has an emoji picker — a small window that opens on top of whatever you are doing. To open it, press Windows key + period (.) or Windows key + semicolon (;). Both shortcuts work the same way.
A window appears showing emoji organized by category. You can search for a specific emoji by typing its name (for example, type "smile" to find smiling faces), or browse by clicking the category tabs at the top. Click any emoji to insert it into whatever text field you were using. The picker closes automatically after you select an emoji, and you can reopen it with the same keyboard shortcut whenever you need it.
How to use the emoji picker on Mac
Mac computers have a built-in emoji picker similar to Windows, but it opens with a different shortcut. Press Control + Command + Space (hold Control and Command, then press Space). A window appears showing emoji organized by category, with a search bar at the top.
You can search by typing the emoji name — for example, type "heart" to find all heart emojis — or click the category icons on the left side to browse. Click any emoji to insert it into your text. The picker closes after you select an emoji. You can also add an emoji keyboard to your Mac the same way you would on an iPhone: go to System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, then add Emoji as a keyboard. This gives you the option to switch to a full emoji keyboard instead of using the picker.
Switching between keyboards once emoji is added
After you add an emoji keyboard on iPhone, iPad, or Android, you will see a globe icon (or sometimes a keyboard icon) at the bottom of your keyboard when you are typing. Tap or press that icon to cycle through all your keyboards. Each tap switches to the next one — so if you have English, Spanish, and Emoji keyboards, tapping the globe cycles through all three. The emoji keyboard works like a regular keyboard: you can search for emojis by typing, or tap category buttons to browse by type (smileys, animals, food, symbols, and so on).
If you want to remove an emoji keyboard later, the process is the same as adding it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Keyboard > Keyboards, find Emoji in the list, tap Edit, then tap the red minus sign. On Android, go back to your keyboard settings and toggle the emoji keyboard off or remove it from your list of active keyboards.
What to do if you cannot find the emoji keyboard option
On iPhone or iPad, make sure you are in the right menu. The keyboard list appears under Settings > Keyboard > Keyboards, not under Settings > General. If you see Emoji in the list but it is grayed out, your device may not support it — this is rare on modern iPhones, but older models running very old iOS versions sometimes lack emoji support.
On Android, the location of keyboard settings varies widely. If you cannot find it under Languages and Input, try searching your Settings app for "keyboard" using the search bar at the top. If your phone has multiple keyboard apps installed (Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, SwiftKey), you may need to open each one separately to see if emoji is an option. Some budget Android phones do not include emoji keyboards, but you can read a third-party keyboard app from the Google Play Store that includes emoji support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for an emoji keyboard?
No. The emoji keyboards built into iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and computers are free and come with the operating system. Some third-party keyboard apps on Android charge money or show ads, but the standard emoji keyboards do not.
Will adding an emoji keyboard slow down my phone or computer?
No. An emoji keyboard is just another input method stored on your device — it takes up minimal space and does not run in the background. Switching between keyboards is when ready.
Can I use emoji on a Chromebook?
Yes. Chromebooks use a similar emoji picker to Windows and Mac. Press Ctrl + . (period) to open it, or search for "emoji" in your Chromebook settings to add an emoji keyboard.
What if my emoji keyboard shows question marks instead of pictures?
This usually means your device or app does not support the newest emoji. Update your operating system and the app you are using to the latest version. Older devices sometimes cannot display very new emojis, but they will still send correctly to other people.
Can I customize which emojis appear on my keyboard?
Most built-in emoji keyboards do not let you customize the full list, but you can search for specific emojis by name, and most keyboards remember your frequently used emojis and show them first for quick access.