How to Add Emojis to Text Messages

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. Sign Up. *

There are two ways to add iPhone emojis to your text messages: using the emoji keyboard and using predictive text. Both methods require you to have the iPhone emoji keyboard enabled. Once you've done this, you'll be able to choose from a huge array of emojis, including the popular heart emoji, shrug emoji, facepalm emoji, and even clown emoji! Let's learn how.

Jump To:

• How to Enable the iPhone Emoji Keyboard
• How to Add an Emoji to a Text
• FAQ

How to Enable the iPhone Emoji Keyboard

Before you can send emoji messages, you need to make sure your emoji keyboard is enabled.  To do this:

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

1. In the Settings app, tap General.
   
   
2. Tap Keyboard.
   
   
3. Tap Keyboards.
   
   
4. If Emoji is not already in the list of available keyboards, tap Add New Keyboard.
   
   
5. Tap Emoji. If you can't find it in the list, you can tap the Search bar up top.
   
   
6. Now, you'll see that the Emoji keyboard has been added to your Keyboards list.
   
   

For more cool ways to get the most out of emojis for iOS, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

How to Add an Emoji to a Text

Now you add iPhone emojis to your text messages in either of two ways. To message an emoji:

1. Open the Messages app.
   
   
2. In a message thread, tap the text input field.
   
   
3. Tap on the emoji icon on the lower left of the screen.
   
   
4. Tap on the emoji of your choice to insert it into the text field.
   
   
5. Tap the Search field to find a specific emoji.
   
   
6. Tap back into the text box if you want to continue typing, or move on to the next step.
   
   
7. Tap the Send icon.
   
   

You can also use the emoji search bar add emoji in text messages by simply typing into the text field. For example:

1. Type, “Want to go to dinner?” and a dish of food, a spoon and fork, and a place setting emoji pop up as options.
2. To replace the word with the emoji: Tap the emoji.
   
   
3. To keep the word and add the emoji after it: type the word followed by a space, and then tap the emoji.
   
   

That's it! Now you know how to enable your emoji keyboard and use emojis two different ways.