How to Use Emoji Keyboard on iPhone SE

This guide shows you how to add and use the emoji keyboard on your iPhone SE, so you can quickly insert emojis into messages, notes, and social media posts. You’ll learn how to enable the keyboard, switch to it, and use its search and quick-access features. No special tools are needed—just your iPhone and a few taps in Settings.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone SE (any generation) running iOS 13 or later (the steps are similar on older versions).
Your Apple ID password or Face ID/Touch ID if you need to make changes to Settings (usually not required for keyboard changes).

Step-by-Step

Open the Settings app on your iPhone SE. It’s the gear icon on your home screen.
Tap “General” – it’s usually near the top of the list.
Scroll down and tap “Keyboard” – then tap “Keyboards” at the top of the next screen.
Tap “Add New Keyboard…” – you’ll see a list of available keyboards. Scroll down and tap “Emoji” (it may have a smiley face icon).
Confirm that Emoji appears in your list – after adding, you’ll see “Emoji” in the list of active keyboards. You can reorder them by tapping Edit and dragging, but it’s not necessary.
Open any app that uses the keyboard – for example, Messages, Notes, or Safari.
Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard – then tap the globe or smiley icon at the bottom left of the keyboard (near the 123 key). This switches between your keyboards.
Tap the emoji you want to insert – it will appear in your text. You can switch back to the regular keyboard by tapping the globe icon again.
Use the search bar (if available) – when the emoji keyboard is open, you’ll see a search field at the top. Type a word like “happy” or “pizza” to find relevant emojis quickly.
Use the frequently used section – the first row of the emoji keyboard shows your most recently used emojis, so you can tap them without searching.

Common Mistakes

Not adding the Emoji keyboard at all – if you don’t see the globe icon, you haven’t added the Emoji keyboard in Settings. Go back and follow steps 1-4.
Tapping the wrong icon – the globe icon might be on the left or right side of the space bar, depending on your other keyboards. It looks like a small globe or a smiley face.
Expecting emojis to work in all apps – some older apps may not support the emoji keyboard. If you can’t insert an emoji, try a different app.
Forgetting to switch back – if you’re stuck on the emoji keyboard, tap the globe icon again to return to your regular keyboard.

Tips

Use the search bar – instead of scrolling through dozens of emoji, type a keyword to find the one you need instantly.
Customize your keyboard order – in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit and drag Emoji to the top if you want it to be the default when you tap the globe.
Use predictive emoji – when typing, the QuickType bar above the keyboard may suggest emojis that match your words. Tap them to insert without switching keyboards.
Skin tone variations – tap and hold on many emoji (like people or hands) to see skin tone options.
Keyboard shortcuts – if you use certain emojis often, you can create a text replacement in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. For example, set “lol” to insert 😂.

Troubleshooting

No globe icon appears – Make sure you’ve added the Emoji keyboard in Settings. If you have only one keyboard (e.g., English), the globe icon may not show. Add Emoji, and it will appear.
Emoji keyboard is not in the list – If you don’t see “Emoji” in the list of keyboards, try restarting your iPhone (press and hold the side button and volume button, then slide to power off). Then go back to Settings and add it again.
Emojis appear as boxes or question marks – This happens when the app or recipient’s device doesn’t support the emoji. Try updating the app or your iOS version, and note that older devices may not display newer emojis.
Can’t switch back to the regular keyboard – Tap the globe icon repeatedly to cycle through your keyboards. If you have more than two, keep tapping until you see the one you want.
Search bar is missing – The search bar only appears when the emoji keyboard is active and the app supports it. If you don’t see it, scroll up or tap the “…” icon if present.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find the Emoji keyboard in Settings?
The Emoji keyboard is built into iOS, so it should always be available. If it’s not, make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check.

How do I remove the Emoji keyboard?
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap Edit, then tap the red minus icon next to Emoji and confirm. This removes it from the keyboard list.

Can I use emojis in any app?
Most apps that allow text input support emojis, but some older or specialized apps might not. If you can’t insert an emoji, try a different app or update the app.

How do I get the skin tone options for emojis?
Tap and hold on an emoji that shows a person or hand. A small menu will appear with different skin tone variations. Release your finger on the one you want.

Why are some emojis missing on my iPhone SE?
Newer emojis are added with iOS updates. If you don’t see them, update your iPhone to the latest iOS version. Also, some emojis may not be supported by older app versions.

Can I type emojis faster?
Yes, use the search bar to type a keyword, or use text replacements. For example, create a shortcut like “smile” that automatically inserts 😊. You can set this up in Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.

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

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