But emojis are being updated all the time, and you don’t want to get left behind. Fortunately, there are ways to add new emojis to your Android phone, make your own emojis, or even use the ones from iOS.
Here is how to update emojis on Android devices.
1. Update to the Latest Android Version
Each new version of Android brings new emojis. Android 11, for example, introduced 117 brand-new characters, while the more than 2,000 previously available emojis also got new designs in an additional Android emoji update. Always update your Android device since there’s a high chance it will also update your keyboard emojis.
Not sure if your Android device has received this update? Here’s what you can do:
In your phone’s menu, tap Settings, then go to About Phone. On some devices, you need to first pass through System. Then, tap the software version, which will tell you what Android update you are on. If you’re not on the latest one, proceed to the next step. Go to Settings once again. Tap About Phone and check if there is an available update. Then, tap the update button and hit Install. Make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi or any mobile internet connection. To check if the update was successful, go to any messenger app. While typing, try to look for something like the Ninja or the Black emoji on the Android version; both are new relatively new.
Of course, not every Android phone manufacturer is good with software updates, so this may not be available to you. Fortunately, there are other things you can try.
2. Use Emoji Kitchen
Google’s native keyboard app, Gboard, features the Emoji Kitchen, which makes it easy to get new emojis on Android. It allows users to generate mashups of their stickers. Here’s how you can create a new emoji using this too:
Open your preferred messaging app, such as Facebook Messenger. Next, tap on one of your contacts to start a conversation. Tap on the text bar to begin typing. Next, tap on the emoji button (the one with a smiley face) shown inside the keyboard and not near the message input area. Select the emoji of your choice to activate the Emoji Kitchen feature. From here, you can see possible emoji combinations on top of your keyboard. Swipe through the stickers and select the one you want to send.
Note that not all messaging apps will support the new Emoji Kitchen feature. Additionally, check out our guide explaining the meanings of various emoji faces.
3. Install a New Keyboard
Another approach you can use to get new emojis is to install a third-party Android emoji keyboard. Like the Emoji Keyboard, some of these apps even come with an icon dictionary, so you can easily check out the meaning of the emoji.
Moreover, the app also has a prediction feature and allows you to send stickers and GIFs to social media sites like Snapchat and Instagram.
Here is how you can install a third-party keyboard on your smartphone:
On your phone’s menu, tap Google Play. On the search bar above, type in the keyboard app of your choice. Next, tap Install. If the keyboard app is not compatible with your phone, you can try other options. Wait until the download is done.
Some of the best third-party keyboard apps you can choose from include:
Ginger (Free, in-app purchases available) Chrooma (Free, in-app purchases available) Fleksy (Free, in-app purchases available) Microsoft SwiftKey (Free)
These apps are great alternatives to Google’s keyboard app Gboard, which is installed on every phone. Some device manufacturers, including Samsung, also pre-install their own keyboards, so check those out too.
4. Make Your Own Custom Emoji
If you want your emojis to reflect your personality and taste, you can make your own customized emoji. The Google Play Store has dozens of emoji maker apps that you can install on your Android devices. You can even turn yourself into an emoji with Memoji.
To install an emoji maker on your phone, follow the same procedure as downloading your third-app keyboard. Bitmoji is one of the most popular custom emoji makers and also offers a huge library of stickers to customize.
Download: Bitmoji (Free)
If you’re new to this app, here’s how to get more emojis on Android.
After downloading the app, sign up with your email. If you already have an account, sign in using your credentials. You can also automatically register and log in using your Snapchat account. Next, select a gender for your Bitmoji avatar. You can also take a selfie and let the app generate an avatar that closely resembles the user or design one from scratch. You can even customize its clothing, hairstyle, skin color, and more. Once you’re satisfied with your avatar, tap Save in the upper-right corner of your screen. Then, select Keyboard to open the Bitmoji Keyboard tab. After which, tap Turn on Keyboard > Enable in Settings and toggle on Bitmoji Keyboard on the next page. Once enabled, Bitmoji will give you an option to use it as your primary keyboard. Tap Switch Keyboard and select Bitmoji from the pop-up.
Now you can choose from several emojis with your face on them to send to your friends or loved ones via social media.
5. Use a Font Editor
Apple’s iOS arguably has better emojis than Google’s Android. If you want to use iOS emojis on your Android device, use a font editor like zFont. You can download this app via Google Play Store.
Download: zFont (Free)
After downloading the app, here is how to update emojis on Android:
On the app’s home screen, scroll down to the Emoji section. From here, you can download emoji files used by different online platforms like Windows, Facebook, WhatsApp, or JoyPixel. Tap See all to view all available emoji packages on zFont. Choose any of the latest iOS versions and tap Download on the Font Preview page to save it on your device. After the download has ended, it will show a preview of the new emojis. Tap Apply and select an installation method. We’ll use via Theme, but you can pick any other option if it doesn’t work on your device. Lastly, go to your phone’s settings, then hit Theme manager. After which, apply the version which you just downloaded. Wait for a few minutes for the changes to apply.
Take note that font editors like zFont may not correctly show some fonts because of some compatibility issues. Additionally, the app has a lot of pop-up ads, and you can’t merge bitmap emoji fonts.
BONUS: Wait for Google to Add the New Emojis
Perhaps, the most straightforward way to get new emojis is to wait for Google to add them. Additionally, if you can’t resist and want to be the first to get the new emojis, you can download and install the beta version of the Gboard app.
Whichever method you choose, it’s quite easy to update your emojis. And installing a new keyboard comes with other benefits as well. Fortunately, it’s straightforward to change your keyboard too.
