How to Reset Emoji Keyboard on iPhone

If your iPhone’s emoji keyboard has gone missing, is not showing the emojis you expect, or is behaving oddly, resetting it can often fix the problem. This guide walks you through the steps to remove and re-add the emoji keyboard, which refreshes its settings and can resolve many common issues. No special tools or technical knowledge are needed—just your iPhone’s Settings app.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone with the latest iOS version installed (steps are based on iOS 17 and 18).
• A few minutes of time.
• Your passcode or Face ID/Touch ID, in case you need to confirm changes.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. It’s the gear icon on your home screen.
2. Tap “General”—it’s usually near the top of the Settings list.
3. Scroll down and tap “Keyboard”. This opens the keyboard settings page.
4. Tap “Keyboards” at the top of the Keyboard settings page. You’ll see a list of all the keyboards you have enabled, such as English, Emoji, and any third-party keyboards.
5. Find “Emoji” in the list. It’s usually listed with a small emoji icon. If you don’t see it, you may need to add it (see step 8).
6. Tap “Edit” in the top-right corner of the Keyboards screen. The list will enter edit mode, showing red minus buttons next to each keyboard.
7. Tap the red minus button next to “Emoji”, then tap “Delete” (or the red “Remove” button that appears). This removes the Emoji keyboard from your iPhone.
8. Tap “Done” in the top-right corner to exit edit mode.
9. Now re-add the Emoji keyboard: On the same Keyboards screen, tap “Add New Keyboard…” (or “Add Keyboard”).
10. Scroll through the list and tap “Emoji”. It will be added back to your keyboard list.
11. Exit Settings by swiping down from the top-left or pressing the Home button (if you have one).
12. Test the keyboard: Open any app that uses the keyboard, like Messages or Notes, and tap the globe icon (or the smiley face icon) at the bottom of the keyboard to switch to the Emoji keyboard. It should now work normally.

Common Mistakes

• Not actually deleting the keyboard: Some people just toggle the “Emoji” switch in the keyboard settings, which doesn’t fully reset it. You must remove it entirely using the Edit button.
• Deleting the wrong keyboard: Make sure you tap the minus sign next to “Emoji” and not your main language keyboard (like “English”). If you delete your main keyboard, you’ll have to add it back.
• Forgetting to re-add it: After deleting, you must add it back. If you don’t, the Emoji keyboard won’t appear at all.
• Not restarting after the reset: While not always necessary, a quick restart can help ensure the changes take full effect.

Tips

• Use the globe icon: After resetting, you may need to tap the globe icon (or the smiley face) on the keyboard to switch to Emoji. If you have multiple keyboards, you might need to tap it multiple times to cycle through them.
• Check keyboard order: If you want Emoji to appear first when you tap the globe, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Edit, then drag the Emoji keyboard to the top of the list.
• Reset All Settings (last resort): If the problem persists, you can go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This won’t delete your data, but it will reset all system settings including keyboard preferences. You’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and customize settings again.
• Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version, as Apple often fixes keyboard bugs in updates.

Troubleshooting

If the Emoji keyboard still isn’t working after the reset, try these steps in order:

1. Restart your iPhone: Hold the side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
2. Check if Emoji is enabled in the app: Some apps have their own keyboard settings. For example, in some third-party apps, you might need to enable the emoji keyboard within the app’s settings.
3. Remove all keyboards and add them back: Instead of just removing Emoji, remove all keyboards (including your main language keyboard) and then add them back in the order you want. This can clear up more stubborn glitches.
4. Reset the keyboard dictionary: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. This clears any custom words you’ve taught the keyboard, which can sometimes cause issues.
5. Check for restrictions: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps. Make sure “Keyboard” is allowed. If it’s blocked, the emoji keyboard won’t appear.
6. Contact Apple Support: If none of the above works, there may be a deeper software issue. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further diagnostics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my emoji keyboard disappear?

The emoji keyboard can disappear after an iOS update, a settings glitch, or if you accidentally removed it. It can also be hidden if you have a third-party keyboard that replaces it, or if restrictions are enabled.

Will resetting the emoji keyboard delete my custom emoji or stickers?

No, it won’t delete any custom emoji or stickers you’ve created. Those are stored separately in your iCloud or on your device. The reset only removes the keyboard itself, which you then re-add.

How do I get the emoji keyboard back if it’s not in the list?

If “Emoji” doesn’t appear in the list of keyboards, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and scroll down to find “Emoji”. If it’s still not there, check that you haven’t accidentally restricted it in Screen Time settings.

Can I reset just the emoji keyboard without removing other keyboards?

Yes, the steps above only remove and re-add the Emoji keyboard. Your other keyboards (like English or a third-party keyboard) remain untouched.

Why is my emoji keyboard showing a blank box or not showing emojis?

This is often due to a temporary glitch. The reset process described above usually fixes it. If not, try restarting your iPhone or resetting the keyboard dictionary.

Does resetting the keyboard affect my predictive text or autocorrect?

No, resetting the keyboard by removing and re-adding it does not affect your predictive text, autocorrect, or learned words. Those are tied to the keyboard dictionary, which is a separate setting.

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