Why Can't I See Emojis on My Android Device?

Emojis make conversations fun and creative. However, you may have seen instances where emojis don’t show up right or just appear as question marks or empty boxes. Don’t worry. In this detailed guide, we will look into the reasons for this issue and give you effective answers to make sure you can see the Emojis back on your Android device.

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Why Can’t I See Emojis on Android?

Texting is a great way to connect with your family and friends. Although, it is more fun with the use of emojis. But sometimes you might not be able to see them.

Some of the possible reasons could be:

Outdated Android OS
Missing emoji fonts
Lack of Unicode support on the device
App Specific Issues

Let’s discuss different methods to fix this problem.

Method 1: Update Your Android Device

Make sure that your Android device runs on the recent software update. Updates for software often fix bugs that may have caused such issues and can also add support for new emoji versions.

Open the Settings app and tap on About Device.
Now, tap on Software Update and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the update.

Note: Your device should have the right font files to show the newest emojis after the update is finished.

Method 2: Update Keyboard App

Make sure that your keyboard app is updated and supports the most recent versions of the emoji if updating your Android device doesn’t fix the problem.

Open the Google Play Store app.
Type Gboard or SwiftKey into the search bar to find your keyboard app.
If there is an update, tap the Update button next to the app’s name.
Once the update is done, open the keyboard app and see if the problem with showing emojis is fixed.

If there isn’t an update for your keyboard app or the problem keeps happening, you might want to try a different keyboard app that supports emojis better.

Method 3: Clear Cache and Data for Messaging Apps

Message apps’ saved data or temporary files can sometimes make it hard to see emoji. If these apps are giving you trouble, clearing their cache and data might help fix it.

Open the Settings app. tap on Apps, and then tap on App Management.
Find the chat app where the emojis aren’t showing up right and tap on it like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or other.
Tap on Storage usage and select Clear cache.
Relaunch the chat app and see if the problem with showing emojis is fixed.

Method 4: Check Your Device’s Language Settings

Sometimes, problems with how emojis are shown are caused by the language settings on your computer. Emojis might not work right in some languages, which could cause show issues.

Open Settings, tap on Additional Settings, and then Language and region.
Set your device’s main language to a language that can use emojis, like English (US), or English (UK), or try changing it to one that lets you use emojis.

Method 5: Use an Emoji Keyboard App

If none of those methods work, you can try using an app that is just for emoji keyboards. These apps are made to give you the best emojis. Some of the most popular emoji keyboard apps include Emoji Keyboard – Themes, Fonts, and Emoji Keyboard by Smart Technologies Apps.

Also Read: 10 Best GIF Keyboard Apps for Android

Method 6: Factory Reset Your Android Device

If none of these work, you might need a factory reset your Android device as a last option. This will return your device to its original factory settings and could fix any software problems causing the emoji show issues.

Note: If you do a factory restart on your device, all of its data, settings, and apps will be erased. Before you move on to the next step, make sure you have a copy or backup of any important data.

Open the Settings app and go to Additional Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Backup and Reset.
Tap on Reset Phone, followed by Erase all data.
After the reset is done, set up your device and see if the problem with showing emojis is fixed.