Apple releases new emojis once or twice a year, usually in the fall
Apple adds new emojis to iPhones, iPads, and Macs through operating system updates. These emojis come from the Unicode Consortium, a standards body that decides which new symbols get added to devices worldwide. Apple designs its own versions of these emojis to match the look of its other icons and interface elements.
The most recent batch arrived with iOS 18 in September 2024. Apple added over 100 new emojis, including variations of existing ones. Before that, iOS 17 brought another set in 2023. If you have an older device, you may not see the newest emojis even if someone sends them to you — your phone will show a blank box or a generic symbol instead.
To get the new emojis, you need to update your device. Go to Settings, then General, then Software Update on an iPhone or iPad. On a Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Software Update. The update downloads and installs automatically once you restart.
Key Takeaways
- New emojis arrive through operating system updates, usually once or twice yearly, and you must update your device to see them.
- Apple designs its own look for each emoji to match its interface style, so Apple emojis look different from the same emoji on Android or Windows.
- If someone sends you a new emoji and your device is older, you will see a blank box instead of the actual image.
- The newest emojis from iOS 18 include new hand gestures, animals, food items, and objects that reflect current culture and technology.
What changed in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
iOS 18 added emojis for shaking hands in different skin tone combinations, a waving hand, and variations of the thumbs-up and thumbs-down gestures. Apple also added new animal emojis including a donkey, a moose, and a jellyfish. Food emojis expanded to include items like a pink macaroon, a pretzel, and a waffle.
Object emojis got updates too. There is now a grappling hook, a carpentry saw, and a shovel. Apple added emojis for a pink heart, a grey heart, and a brown heart alongside the existing red and yellow ones. Some emojis that existed before got redesigned to look more like Apple's current style — the changes are subtle but noticeable if you compare them side by side.
The update also included new profession and activity emojis. You can now find emojis for people in different jobs wearing safety gear, medical uniforms, and other work clothes. These come in multiple skin tone options so people can choose versions that represent them.
How to find and use the new emojis
On an iPhone or iPad, open any app where you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or any text field. Tap the emoji keyboard button, which looks like a smiley face. Swipe left and right through the emoji categories at the bottom to find what you want. The newest emojis usually appear in a "Recently Added" section at the start, or you can search by typing a word like "heart" or "animal" in the search box.
On a Mac, click in any text field and press Control-Command-Space to open the emoji picker. You can search by name or browse by category. The search works the same way — type what you are looking for and the matching emojis appear.
If you do not see an emoji you expect, check that your device is fully updated. Sometimes the emoji keyboard does not refresh until you restart the app or restart the device itself. If you still do not see it after restarting, your device may be running an older operating system version.
Why Apple emojis look different from Android and Windows emojis
Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other companies all design their own versions of the same emojis. The Unicode Consortium decides which emojis exist and gives them names and descriptions, but each company draws them differently. An apple emoji on an iPhone looks like a shiny red apple, while the same emoji on an Android phone might look flatter or more stylized.
This means when you send an emoji to someone with a different phone, they see Apple's version if they have an iPhone, and Google's version if they have an Android phone. The emoji means the same thing, but it looks different. This can sometimes cause confusion — what looks like a smiling face on your iPhone might look slightly different on a friend's Android device, though the meaning stays the same.
Apple updates its emoji designs periodically to keep them consistent with the rest of iOS and macOS. When you update your operating system, you get both new emojis and redesigned versions of old ones. These redesigns are usually small — a slightly different shade, a new angle, or a cleaner line — but they add up over time.
Checking which operating system version you have
To see which iOS or iPadOS version your device runs, go to Settings, then General, then About. Look for the line that says "Software Version" or just "Version." The number there tells you which version you have. iOS 18 is the current version as of late 2024.
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left corner, then About This Mac. Look for "System Version" or "macOS Version." If it says Sonoma or Sequoia, you have the latest versions that include the newest emojis.
If your device is several years old, it may not support the latest operating system. Check Apple's website for your device model to see which versions it can run. Older iPhones and iPads sometimes cannot update past a certain version, which means they will not get the newest emojis.
What happens when someone sends you an emoji you do not have
If someone with a newer device sends you an emoji that your older device does not have, you will see a blank box or a question mark symbol instead. The message still arrives — you just cannot see what the emoji looks like. The sender will know you received it, but you will not know what they sent.
This is one reason to keep your device updated. Updating ensures you can see all the emojis people send you and that people with older devices can see the emojis you send. It also keeps your device find, since operating system updates include security patches that protect against new threats.
When the next batch of emojis will arrive
Apple typically releases new emojis in the fall with the annual iOS update. The next batch will likely arrive in September 2025 with iOS 19. Between now and then, no new emojis will be added to your device unless you update to a new major operating system version.
The Unicode Consortium decides which emojis get added each year based on requests from people and organizations worldwide. They consider cultural relevance, diversity, and whether the emoji fills a gap in what already exists. You can see the full list of approved emojis on the Unicode website, though Apple's designs for them will not be public until the update releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to update to get the new emojis?
Yes. New emojis only appear after you update your operating system. If you do not update, you will not see them in your emoji keyboard, and you will see blank boxes when others send them to you. Updates are free and usually take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your device and internet speed.
Will updating to get new emojis slow down my phone?
No. Operating system updates sometimes make devices faster or keep them running at the same speed. The new emojis themselves take up almost no storage space. If your device feels slow after an update, restart it — that usually fixes temporary slowness caused by the update process itself.
Can I get new emojis without updating my whole operating system?
No. Emojis are part of the operating system, so you cannot get them separately. You must update iOS, iPadOS, or macOS to the version that includes them. You cannot choose to update only the emoji set.
What if I do not want the new emojis?
You cannot hide or remove new emojis once you update. They will appear in your emoji keyboard alongside the old ones. You can straightforward not use them — stick to the emojis you prefer. Updating is still worth doing for security patches and bug fixes, even if you do not care about new emojis.
Why do some emojis look different after I update?
Apple redesigns existing emojis periodically to match its current design style. These changes are usually subtle — slightly different colors, angles, or proportions. The emoji means the same thing, but it looks fresher and more consistent with Apple's other icons.