Emojis Missing from iPad Keyboard? Fixes That Work

If your iPad keyboard has stopped showing emojis, the Emoji keyboard is almost always disabled in Settings or a software glitch is hiding it. You can usually restore it in under a minute by re-adding the Emoji keyboard in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, or by restarting your iPad.

Why Emojis Disappear from the iPad Keyboard

Apple’s iPadOS keyboard includes emojis as a separate keyboard layout, not a built-in button like on some Android devices. This means the emoji keyboard can be turned off, removed, or hidden without affecting the rest of your typing. Common causes include:

Accidentally deleting the Emoji keyboard in Settings.
A recent iOS update that reset keyboard settings.
Restoring from a backup that didn’t include the Emoji keyboard.
A temporary software glitch that hides the globe or smiley icon.
Using a third-party keyboard that doesn’t include an emoji key.

Unlike iPhones, iPads also have a hardware keyboard option (like the Magic Keyboard) which can hide the on-screen emoji button if the “Show emoji” setting is off.

How to Re-Add the Emoji Keyboard

The most direct fix is to re-add the Emoji keyboard in Settings. Here are the exact steps:

Open Settings on your iPad.
Tap General.
Tap Keyboard.
Tap Keyboards (at the top).
Tap Add New Keyboard.
Select Emoji from the list.

After adding it, open any app that uses the on-screen keyboard. You should now see a smiley face icon (or a globe icon) on the bottom row. Tap it to switch to emojis.

If the Emoji keyboard is already listed, try removing it and adding it again. Swipe left on the row for “Emoji” and tap Delete, then tap Add New Keyboard and select Emoji again.

Check Third-Party Keyboards

If you use Gboard, SwiftKey, or another third-party keyboard, the emoji button may be missing because that keyboard’s settings hide it. For example, Gboard has a “Emoji” key toggle in its own settings. To check:

Open the app where you type (like Notes).
Tap and hold the globe icon to switch back to the Apple keyboard.
If you don’t see a globe icon, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and make sure the Apple keyboard is first in the list.
If you want to keep using the third-party keyboard, open that keyboard’s settings (often via the keyboard’s own settings gear icon) and look for an “Emoji key” or “Show emoji” option.

Some third-party keyboards also require you to grant “Full Access” in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > [Keyboard Name] to enable all features, including emoji suggestions.

What to Do If the Emoji Button Is Still Missing

If re-adding the keyboard doesn’t work, try these troubleshooting steps in order:

Restart your iPad: Hold the Power button and either volume button until the slider appears, then slide to power off. Turn it back on after 30 seconds.
Force quit the app: Swipe up from the bottom and pause, then swipe up on the app you’re using to close it. Reopen it.
Check for a hardware keyboard: If you have a physical keyboard connected (like the Magic Keyboard), the on-screen keyboard may be hidden. Tap the down arrow on the physical keyboard to dismiss it, or press the globe key to bring up the on-screen keyboard.
Reset keyboard dictionary: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This won’t delete your data, but it will clear custom words and may fix glitches.
Update iPadOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any pending updates.

If none of these work, the issue may be a temporary bug in the current iPadOS version. Check Apple’s system status page or wait for the next update.

How to Switch Between Keyboards

Once the Emoji keyboard is active, switching is simple:

Tap the smiley face icon (on iPads with the standard keyboard).
Or tap the globe icon to cycle through all your keyboards. A small menu may appear if you have more than two.
On the Magic Keyboard, press the Globe key (🌐) to switch to the on-screen emoji keyboard.

If you have multiple keyboards, you can also press and hold the globe icon to see a list of all keyboards and jump directly to Emoji.

Why Emojis Might Be Hidden on the Magic Keyboard

When using a Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard Folio, the on-screen keyboard is often hidden entirely. To see emojis:

Tap the down arrow key on the physical keyboard to dismiss it and show the on-screen keyboard.
Then tap the smiley face on the on-screen keyboard.

Alternatively, press the Globe key on the physical keyboard to switch to the emoji keyboard directly. If that doesn’t work, check that “Show emoji” is enabled in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Emoji – there is no separate toggle, but if the Emoji keyboard is listed, it should work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my emojis disappear after an iPadOS update?

Sometimes an update can reset keyboard settings or change the order of keyboards. Re-add the Emoji keyboard in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard. If it’s already there, remove and re-add it.

Can I get emojis back without going to Settings?

If the Emoji keyboard is still installed, you can often bring it back by restarting the app or your iPad. If it’s been deleted, you must go to Settings to re-add it – there’s no shortcut.

Why is the emoji button missing only in some apps?

Some apps (like password fields or certain text fields) intentionally hide the emoji keyboard for security or formatting reasons. This is normal. Also, if you have a hardware keyboard connected, the on-screen keyboard may be hidden in all apps until you tap the down arrow.

What if I only see a globe icon and no smiley face?

The globe icon cycles through all keyboards. Tap it repeatedly until you see the emoji keyboard. If you have many keyboards, press and hold the globe to see a list and select Emoji directly.

Will resetting my iPad delete my data?

No, resetting the keyboard dictionary or settings does not delete your apps, photos, or documents. However, a full “Erase All Content and Settings” would, so only do that as a last resort after backing up.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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