While the Emoji keyboard is not new to the iPhone, it seemed as if it was disabled in iPhone OS 4.0 .
For those of you developers big into the Emoji keyboard, here is how to regain the Emoji keyboard while still using iPhone OS 4.0 :
1- Run your Emoji app; exit app when prompted ( I used Emoji Free for this procedure )
2- Go to the Settings application
3- Go to General
4- Go to International
5- Go to Keyboards
6- Select Add New Keyboard
7- Scroll down to the “Emoji” keyboard. Voila! Now you have your Emojicons back for use in email, SMS and more. Enjoy!
Notes:
-Does not work if you go to the Keyboard settings selection directly.
-Reset your device after this procedure in order to properly regain Emoji.
-You cannot delete the Emoji keyboard after conducting this procedure.
Jose Gutierrez is a San Diego-based Submariner who loves technology, specifically anything Apple. When he’s not jailbreaking or unlocking a device, you can find him on Facebook. Follow Jose on Twitter.
35 responses to “Enable the Emoji Keyboard in iPhone OS 4.0 [How To]”
That’s what the emoji app says to do too but you say ‘voila’ and it’s there – it’s not there with OS4. so we need the step between ‘select new keyboard’ and ‘voila’ cos I scrolled down and the only keyboard starting with E is Estonian.
Anyone else got a more thorough solution?
i can get the emoji keyboard but when i go to text it’s not there…but i accidentally found it when typing something in the app store…why isn’t it there for texting?
I got it to work. I did what Jose Gutierrez wrote above, but it didn’t work. to get it to work, run the app og reboot your iphone. Then I did as Jose Gutierrez wrote above and the emoji can be found.
I dont think its working with IOS 4.3. All I get is the Emoji app and when you hit enable emoji I get sent to the app store for emoji plus.
thanks everyone for your help. itunes refunded me the app fee but i didn’t care about that. i want my emoticons! so much less tapping than words and they convey so much more. still need a solution to get around the iphone OS4.3…
done the re-boot – emoji keyboard still must be crouching behind tiger or hidden behind dragon. most frustrating. think it’s an iphone S glitch that needs to be technically medicated so i might have to go to Apple HQ and get them to sort software. bummer.
For all you saying it’s not there… Look further… It’s under Japanese language selections :)
Also… be sure to use the emoji free! (With exclamation point) That’s the one I used and it worked as described.
I just had to re-boot as well then it shows up.
I’m using iOS 4.3 I install “Emoji Free!” and it worked perfectly as described
I have the same problem!!! The emoji is not located in my keyboard!!
Can i add new images to the Emoji keyboard or is set.
guys just turn off your iphone after opening emoji for the first time then open it again and do what he said
 thanks dude, but it’s still working without a re-start :)
I got a new iPhone (3GS) and I was able to get my emoji icons on my facebook, but not with texting. I went back into Apps, and installed Emoji Free, and it worked! Thanks for you help!
My gf told me that you could add emoji without a download. Me being an educator who constantly reads could not settle with believing her. I read and researched and tried the following: Settings>General>International Keyboard>Add New Keyboard…>Added Both Japanese…Restarted a few times and nothing happened. She kept telling me it just pops up and says emoji. I started this 2 days ago. Today day 3 it literally popped up as an option under Estonian. SO Wierd, I don’t understand but that is just what happens…Please Post your results.
oooh ok here i feel so stupid. what you do is click the emoji free! app button and wait for a bit until a screen shows up asking you if you’re ready to install, click yes, do as it tells you to after it’s installed, ‘voila’
I just did this on my iPhone 4 w/ iOS 4.4.3 and was able to add the Emoji keyboard. Thanks! It should be as easy as that.
i have the same problem …no emoji to ‘voila’Â pls advice! i went thru hundredsss timesss still no emoji to b seen!
At first, My iPhone3GS (4.3) would not show emoji even after I had enabled it in Emoji Free! and Spell Number, but after I rebooted it “Emoji” was right there under Keyboards. Thanks you very much for your help!
Guys..I installed emoji..had trouble with appearing in the keyboard menu.. i powered my phone off fully and restarted it.. it appeared in the menu after that..thanks for the help below..
I can get the keyboard – well it is listed in my international key setting but it is not showing up when i am in WhatsApp chat or anywhere else. I have powered off my iphone twice…what am I doing wrong?
Yep I also have that problem ‘voila’
I restarted more then TWO TIMES, but the result was the same! There was no emoji in additional keyboard
I use iOS 4.3.3. It doesn’t work!
lol :D
I feel like throwing my ipad2 away. It’s really frustrated
Congrate, but mine is sucked!
previously my emoji keyboard is working well.. after ‘reseting all’ my iphone 4 (OS 4.3), i downloaded the app again.. but cannot find ’emoji’ in the new keyboard list.. restarting the iphone also doesn’t work.. pls advice…
I installed Emoji Free!
Run the app
Reboot the iphone (4.3.2)
Run the app again..
It´s working for me…
You really need to reset iphone before emoji is available as a choice in  genera > keyboard > international Keyboard.
Perfect, I went to Keyboard instead of going to International first and then to Keyboard. Emoji was on the list so I was able to click on it and get it working again. Thanks for your help!
I first got the free Emoji app, thought the keyboard idea was neat so hit the Enable Emoji button and paid the $.99. I followed the instructions and voila! I had the keyboard. But I discovered that my emails sent boxes to Outlook. So I paid the $1.99 for Emoji Mailer. It also sends boxes to Outlook even though it advertised otherwise. I wrote a snitty review, adding a few unhappy and angry Emojicons. But I notice that these appear as boxes on their website while the Emojicons of other commenters show up just fine. So, with my iphone 4s, I am able to use the Emojicons, but no one receives them, not even apple. Thoughts?
Thanks a mill!
It really did work thank you for your help…..