What's new in iOS 18.4 emojis

iOS 18.4 adds 118 new emojis to your keyboard, most of them variations on existing ones rather than entirely new characters. Apple released these alongside the operating system update in March 2025. The new set includes different skin tones for existing emojis, new hand gestures, additional animals, and some profession and activity options that weren't available before.

These emojis work the same way as any other character on your device — they're just additional options in your emoji keyboard. You don't need to do anything to get them. When you update to iOS 18.4, they appear automatically in your emoji picker, sorted alongside the emojis you already use.

Key Takeaways

  • iOS 18.4 adds 118 new emojis automatically when you update, with no action required on your part.
  • Most new emojis are skin tone variations and combinations of existing characters rather than completely new designs.
  • New options include additional hand gestures, animals like the goose and jellyfish, and profession variants like the firefighter and teacher.
  • These emojis sync across your Apple devices if you use iCloud, so they appear on your Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch too.
  • Older devices and non-Apple phones may not display these new emojis correctly, showing a blank box or question mark instead.

How to find the new emojis on your keyboard

Open any app where you can type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or any text field. Tap the emoji button (usually a smiley face icon at the bottom of your keyboard). The emoji picker opens and shows your most recently used emojis at the top.

Scroll down or swipe left through the category tabs at the bottom to browse by type: smileys, animals, food, activities, travel, objects, symbols, and flags. The new emojis are mixed into these existing categories rather than grouped in a separate "new" section. If you're looking for a specific emoji, use the search box at the top of the picker — type a word like "goose" or "hand" and matching emojis appear when ready.

You can also access emojis by holding down a related emoji and seeing variations. For example, hold down the thumbs-up emoji to see different skin tone options, or hold down a hand gesture to see alternatives.

Which emojis are actually new

The 118 additions break down into a few categories. About 20 are entirely new characters — animals like the goose, jellyfish, and flamingo; objects like the gavel and mirror; and a few hand gestures. The rest are variations: different skin tones applied to existing emojis, combinations of existing characters (like a person with a specific profession), and regional or cultural options.

Some notable new additions include a person in a wheelchair, a person with a cane, a person with a service dog, a firefighter, a teacher, a farmer, and a construction worker. These profession emojis come in multiple skin tones. There are also new hand gestures like the hand with fingers splayed and the hand making a peace sign in different directions.

Animal additions include the goose, jellyfish, moose, and ostrich. Food options expanded slightly with a few regional dishes. The full list is available on Apple's official emoji reference page if you want to see every single addition before you update.

How these emojis sync across your devices

If you use iCloud and have multiple Apple devices signed into the same account, your emoji choices sync automatically. This means if you use a new emoji on your iPhone, it appears in your frequently used section on your Mac and iPad too. The emoji keyboard itself stays the same across devices — all your Apple hardware gets the same 118 new options when you update to iOS 18.4.

Your Apple Watch also receives the new emojis if it runs watchOS 11.4 or later. However, the watch's smaller screen means you see fewer emojis at once, and the search function works differently. Syncing happens through iCloud, so make sure you're signed into the same account on all your devices.

What happens when you send these emojis to Android or older iPhones

When you send a new iOS 18.4 emoji to someone with an Android phone or an older iPhone, their device may not display it correctly. Instead of seeing the emoji you sent, they might see a blank box, a question mark, or a generic placeholder. This happens because their device doesn't have the character data for that emoji yet.

The emoji itself still reaches them — it's not lost in transmission. But their phone can't render it visually. If they reply with an emoji, you'll see it correctly on your iPhone 18.4 device. This is a common issue whenever Apple or Google releases new emojis before the other platform catches up.

If you're regularly messaging someone on an older device, you might want to stick with older emojis to make sure they see what you intend. But for most conversations, especially within Apple's ecosystem, the new emojis display perfectly.

Storage and performance impact

Adding 118 new emojis takes almost no storage space on your device. Emojis are stored as font data, and the entire emoji library — all 3,600+ characters across all languages and variations — uses only a few megabytes. The iOS 18.4 update itself is larger, but the emoji additions are negligible.

Your phone's performance is not affected by having more emojis available. The emoji keyboard loads at the same speed whether you have 3,000 emojis or 4,000. Searching for emojis remains when ready because the search function indexes them efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to update to iOS 18.4 to get the new emojis?

Yes. The new emojis only appear on devices running iOS 18.4 or later. If you stay on an older version of iOS, you won't see them in your keyboard. You can update through Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone.

Can I delete the new emojis if I don't want them?

No, you can't remove individual emojis from your keyboard. They're part of the system font and can't be uninstalled. You straightforward don't use them — they take up no space and don't clutter your frequently used section unless you tap them.

Will the new emojis work on my Mac or iPad?

Yes, if your Mac runs macOS 15.4 or later and your iPad runs iPadOS 18.4 or later. The emoji keyboard on these devices updates at the same time as your iPhone. If your Mac or iPad is older, it won't display the new emojis even if your iPhone has them.

Why do some new emojis look different on my iPhone than on my friend's Android phone?

Apple designs its emojis differently than Google or Samsung. Even when both platforms have the same emoji character, they render it with their own artistic style. A goose looks like an Apple goose on your iPhone and a Google goose on an Android phone, but it's the same underlying character.

Can I use these new emojis in my passwords or usernames?

It depends on the service. Most websites and apps don't allow emojis in passwords for security reasons. Some social media platforms allow emojis in usernames, but not all. Try entering the emoji where you want to use it — the service will either accept it or show an error message.