Remove Frequently Used Emojis on iPhone & iPad

This guide shows you how to clear the “Frequently Used” emoji section on your iPhone or iPad keyboard. This section appears at the top of the emoji keyboard and automatically fills with emojis you use often. If you want a fresh start or simply find the suggestions distracting, you can reset it in a few taps. No special tools or technical skills are needed—just your device and a moment of time.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad with iOS 13 or later (the steps are similar on older versions).
• Access to the Settings app (the gear icon).
• Your device passcode or Face ID/Touch ID (for the reset step).

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. It’s the gray gear icon typically on your home screen.
2. Scroll down and tap “General.” This is usually near the top of the Settings list, below the search bar.
3. Scroll to the bottom and tap “Transfer or Reset iPhone” (on iOS 15 and later) or simply “Reset” (on iOS 14 and earlier).
4. Tap “Reset Keyboard Dictionary.” This option is specifically for clearing learned words and the frequently used emoji list. It does not delete your contacts, messages, or any personal data.
5. Enter your device passcode when prompted. If you use Face ID or Touch ID, you may be asked to authenticate that way instead.
6. Confirm by tapping “Reset Keyboard Dictionary” again in the pop-up that appears. This action is immediate and cannot be undone.
7. Wait a few seconds for the reset to complete. You won’t see a confirmation message, but the keyboard dictionary will be cleared.
8. Test the keyboard: open any app that uses the keyboard (like Messages or Notes), tap the emoji icon (the smiley face) to switch to the emoji keyboard. The “Frequently Used” section should now be empty or show only the default emojis (like the smiley face and heart).

Common Mistakes

• Choosing the wrong reset option: Some users accidentally tap “Reset All Settings” or “Erase All Content and Settings,” which are much more drastic. Always select “Reset Keyboard Dictionary” specifically.
• Expecting it to remove individual emojis: The reset clears the entire frequently used list. You cannot delete just one emoji from that section; it’s all or nothing.
• Forgetting that the list rebuilds: After resetting, the moment you use an emoji, it will start appearing in the frequently used section again. This is normal behavior—there’s no way to permanently disable the section.
• Not updating iOS: If your device runs an older iOS version, the menu names may differ slightly. Updating to the latest iOS (if your device supports it) ensures you see the exact options described here.

Tips

• Use the search bar in the emoji keyboard: Instead of scrolling through frequently used emojis, you can type a word (like “happy”) in the search field above the keyboard to find a specific emoji faster.
• Reset only when necessary: The frequently used section is meant to speed up your typing. If you reset it often, you’ll lose that convenience. Only reset when the suggestions feel cluttered or irrelevant.
• Consider turning off predictive emoji suggestions: If you don’t want emojis suggested while typing, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off “Predictive.” This doesn’t remove the frequently used section, but it reduces emoji pop-ups.
• Use the “Recently Used” section in the emoji picker: On newer iOS versions, there is a separate “Recently Used” section (with a clock icon) that shows the last few emojis you used. This is separate from the frequently used list and can be cleared by the same reset method.

Troubleshooting

If the frequently used emojis are still there after resetting:

• Wait a few minutes: Sometimes the keyboard cache takes a moment to refresh. Close the Settings app and reopen it, or restart your device.
• Restart your iPhone or iPad: Press and hold the power button (and volume up on Face ID models) until the slider appears, then slide to power off. Turn it back on after a few seconds and check again.
• Check if you reset the correct dictionary: Go back to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and tap “Reset Keyboard Dictionary” again. Make sure you didn’t tap “Reset Home Screen Layout” or another option by mistake.
• Ensure you’re looking at the right section: The frequently used emojis appear at the very top of the emoji keyboard, above the search bar. If you see a section labeled “Recently Used” (with a clock icon), that’s a different list—the reset clears both, but it may take a moment to update.
• If nothing works, try resetting all keyboard settings: Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary (same as above). If that fails, you can also go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle off “Emoji” under “Keyboards,” then toggle it back on. This forces the keyboard to reload.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting the keyboard dictionary delete my text shortcuts or autofill data?
No. It only clears the learned words and the frequently used emoji list. Your custom text replacements (Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement) and autofill data (like contacts and passwords) are unaffected.

Can I remove just one emoji from the frequently used section?
No, iOS does not allow individual removal. The only way is to reset the entire keyboard dictionary, which clears all frequently used emojis at once.

Why do frequently used emojis keep coming back?
Because the feature is designed to learn from your usage. Every time you use an emoji, it gets added to the list. To keep the list empty, you would need to avoid using emojis entirely, which isn’t practical. Resetting gives you a clean slate, but it will repopulate over time.

Does this also clear my typing predictions for words?
Yes, it clears the learned words that iOS uses for predictive text. So if you’ve taught your keyboard certain words or names, they will be forgotten. This is a side effect of the same reset.

Is there a way to hide the frequently used section entirely?
No, there is no built-in toggle to hide that section. It’s a permanent part of the emoji keyboard. The only control you have is to reset it, but it will reappear as you use emojis.

I reset the dictionary, but the emojis are still there after a restart. What else can I try?
If the issue persists, try going to Settings > General > Keyboard and removing the Emoji keyboard (tap “Edit” in the top right, then the minus sign next to Emoji, then “Remove”). Then add it back by tapping “Add New Keyboard” and selecting Emoji. This forces a full reload of the keyboard data.

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