Emoji is a fun, expressive way to add more personality to your text conversations. It has become an integral part of our daily lives and we use it in almost all social media platforms, messaging and chatting apps. The popularity of emojis has grown so much that the Oxford English Dictionary named "emoji" its word of the year in 2015. However, sometimes adding emojis on Android can be a bit frustrating because your keyboard does not have the necessary emojis. In this blog, we will guide you through different methods to add an emoji keyboard on Android.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Add An Emoji Keyboard on Android
If you are a heavy user of emojis, you might have noticed that some of your favorite emojis are missing from your Android device’s keyboard. This happens because different mobile manufacturers customize the keyboard and the add-on emojis included in it. Additionally, some Android users are unhappy with the default emojis available on their device and find them dull and unattractive. You can solve both of these problems by adding an emoji keyboard with a wider range of emojis, providing you with more options to express yourself.
Method 1: Via Google Keyboard
Google has included a vast collection of emojis in their Google Keyboard, which comes pre-installed on most Android devices. Here are the steps to follow in order to use this keyboard:
Step 1: Open any app that you use to type messages.
Step 2: Tap on the textbox area and keyboard will appear.
Step 3: Press and hold the space bar on your keyboard until a pop-up menu appears.
Step 4: Tap the gear icon to access Google Keyboard settings.
Step 5: Tap on ‘Languages’ and then ‘Add keyboard.’
Step 6: Scroll down and select ‘Emoji.’
You have successfully added the emoji keyboard to your device. To switch between the keyboard with regular letters and the one with emojis, tap on the keyboard icon. It is normally located next to the microphone icon.
Pros: Google keyboard is available on most Android devices, so you probably will not have to download anything extra. It is a simple and straightforward process to select the emoji keyboard. And Google Keyboard also offers various customization options including gesture typing, voice typing, and more.
Cons: The Google Keyboard only provides the basic emojis, and you might miss some popular emojis that are available on other keyboards.
Method 2: Using Gboard
Gboard is a popular keyboard app developed by Google that offers a wide variety of emojis. Follow these steps to install the Gboard keyboard on your phone:
Step 1: Download Gboard from the Google Play Store and install it.
Step 2: Once installation is complete, open any app that you use to type messages.
Step 3: Tap on the textbox area and your keyboard will appear.
Step 4: Tap the gear icon on the keyboard to go to the Settings of Gboard.
Step 5: Tap on ‘Languages’ and then ‘Add keyboard.’
Step 6: Tap on the Gboard keyboard to enable it on your device.
Pros: Gboard provides a wider variety of emojis than the Google Keyboard, and the keyboard is customizable with different colors, themes, and backgrounds. You also get features like glide typing, voice typing, and the ability to search for anything on the keyboard.
Cons: You will need to download an additional app and give it some extra permissions to use.
Method 3: Installing a Third-Party Keyboard
Apart from Google Keyboard and Gboard, there are many other third-party keyboards available that offer an extensive variety of emojis. Some of the popular options include Swiftkey, Bitmoji, Fleksy, and Chrooma keyboard. Follow these steps to install any of these keyboards:
Step 1: Download and install the app on your Android device.
Step 2: Go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘Languages and input.’
Step 3: Select the keyboard that you have installed from the list of options.
Step 4: Enable permissions (such as ‘Allow full access’) that the keyboard requires.
Step 5: Go to any app that you use to type messages and select the keyboard from the list of options.
Pros: These keyboards offer vast collections of emojis along with other features like customization options, voice typing, auto-correct and more.
Cons: Some of these keyboards are not free, and you may need to purchase a subscription to access all the features.
Method 4: Using WhatsApp Stickers
WhatsApp stickers are a new way of expressing yourself. It has a different look than ASCII emojis and is a fun way to add some personality to your messages. Here are the steps to follow to use WhatsApp Stickers:
Step 1: Open WhatsApp and go to the chat where you want to use stickers.
Step 2: Tap on the smiley icon to open the emoji library.
Step 3: Tap on the ‘+’ icon on the right-hand side.
Step 4: Go to the ‘Get More Stickers’ section or browse through the ‘WhatsApp’ section and download any sticker packs.
Step 5: Once the sticker pack is downloaded, tap on the smiley icon again to access them.
Pros: WhatsApp stickers are easy to use and add a fun element to conversations. There are a lot of sticker categories available, and you can also create your own custom stickers and upload them into the app.
Cons: Stickers might take some time to download, and once downloaded they might consume too much space on your phone.
What to Do If You Can’t Add An Emoji Keyboard on Android
In some cases, adding the emoji keyboard may not work or you may experience issues while trying to install it. It could be because your phone is running an outdated version of Android or because your device has restrictions that prevent you from installing third-party apps. Here are some fixes to try:
– Update your device to the latest Android version.
– Clear the cache of the keyboard app from the phone’s settings.
– Uninstall any app that you think is conflicting with your keyboard.
– Check if your device has any restrictions that prevent you from adding keyboards or features.
Bonus Tips
1. If you are typing in a language other than English, try to download keyboards that support that language.
2. Regularly update your keyboard app to get the latest version of emojis, security patches, and bug fixes.
3. Change your keyboard settings to use emojis as suggestions for words, so that you can use them with a single tap.
FAQs
Q1: What if none of the above methods work?
A: In rare cases, none of the above methods may work. If that’s the case, you may need to reset your device to its factory settings and start fresh.
Q2: How do I access emojis on Android?
A: To access emojis on Android, tap on the smiley icon in any app that allows typing texts. This will open your keyboard with the emojis available.
Q3: How do I remove emojis from my keyboard?
A: You can disable any keyboard language or option by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Open Settings on your phone.
Step 2: Tap ‘Language and input.’
Step 3: Tap the keyboard you want to change.
Step 4: Disable any option or language that you want to remove from your keyboard.
Q4: Can I manually add emojis to my Android keyboard?
A: Unfortunately, manually adding new emojis to the Android keyboard is not possible. However, you can use third-party apps or keyboards to access more emojis.
Q5: Do all Android devices have emojis?
A: Yes, all Android devices have emojis, but the number of emojis and the way they are accessed may vary with different Android versions and phone manufacturers.
Final Thoughts
Adding more emojis on your Android keyboard will enable you to communicate better and add more personality to your messages. It may seem like a small thing, but it can have a great impact on how you express yourself. Follow these easy methods and enjoy a wider collection of emojis on your Android device.