Opening the emoji tray on your device allows you to easily insert emojis into messages, documents, and more. The process for accessing the emoji tray depends on what type of device you’re using. This article will provide step-by-step instructions for opening the emoji tray on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac devices.
Opening the Emoji Tray on iOS
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad running iOS, opening the emoji tray is simple:
- Navigate to any app where you can enter text, such as Messages, Notes, Mail, etc.
- Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the emoji icon on the bottom left of the keyboard. This looks like a smiley face icon.
Tapping the emoji icon will bring up the emoji tray over the keyboard. You can then tap on any emoji to insert it into your text. The emoji tray also contains tabs along the bottom that let you access different categories of emojis.
You can also access the emoji tray from the iOS keyboard by swiping to the left from the numbers (123) key. This will reveal the emoji icon.
Customizing the iOS Emoji Tray
You can customize which emojis show up in your iOS emoji tray for quick access:
- Open the Settings app and tap General > Keyboard.
- Tap Keyboards > Edit.
- Tap the “+” icon to add new keyboards or rearrange your existing keyboards.
- To add emojis you use frequently to the top level, tap Emoji and select “Frequently Used.”
This will make your most-used emojis accessible right from the main emoji tray screen.
Opening the Emoji Tray on Android
The process for accessing emojis on Android devices is very similar to iOS:
- Open any app where you can enter text.
- Tap inside the text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the emoji icon on the bottom left of the keyboard. This looks like a smiley face.
Tapping the emoji icon will display the emoji tray over the keyboard. You can tap any emoji to insert it. There are also tabs along the bottom for different emoji categories.
On some Android keyboards, you may need to long press the enter key to bring up the emoji tray. The emoji icon will still be visible on the keyboard to indicate this.
Customizing the Android Emoji Tray
To customize the Android emoji tray:
- Open your device’s Settings app and tap System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard.
- Tap the gear icon next to your keyboard app.
- Look for options like “Emoji order” or “Frequently used emojis” to customize your tray.
This allows you to reorder emojis and prioritize those you use most often at the top of the tray.
Opening Emojis on Windows
For Windows 10 and 11, here is how to bring up emojis:
- Click inside any text field, such as a document, email, or text box.
- Press the Windows key + . (period) on your keyboard.
This will open up the emoji panel, which sits to the right of your text field. You can click on an emoji to insert it. There are multiple tabs across the top for finding different emoji categories.
Customizing the Windows Emoji Panel
To customize the emoji panel in Windows:
- Open Settings and go to Time & Language > Language.
- Click “Advanced keyboard settings.”
- Under “Use this panel to insert emoji,” click Customize.
- Here you can add or remove emojis from the panel.
Opening the Emoji Viewer on Mac
On Mac computers, the Emoji Viewer makes finding and inserting emojis easy:
- Click inside any text field to bring up the cursor.
- Press Control + Command + Space on your keyboard. This opens the Emoji Viewer.
- Click an emoji in the viewer to insert it.
The Emoji Viewer has different emoji categories across the top that you can click through. You can leave the viewer open as you type to quickly add emojis.
Customizing the Mac Emoji Viewer
To customize the Emoji Viewer on a Mac:
- Click the Edit button at the bottom of the Emoji Viewer window.
- Drag emojis between categories to reorder them.
- Click the + icon to add more emojis to the viewer.
- Drag unused emojis to the trash can to remove them.
This lets you organize your most used emojis for easy access in the viewer.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re having trouble getting the emoji tray or panel to open on your device, try the following troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure your operating system and apps are updated to the latest versions.
- Close and re-open the app you’re trying to use emojis in.
- On Android, try switching to a different keyboard app like Gboard or SwiftKey.
- On Windows, press Win + . again to re-open the emoji panel if it closes.
- On Mac, make sure you’re pressing Control + Command + Space to open the viewer.
- Check your keyboard settings to ensure emoji access is enabled.
- For stuck or missing emojis, restart your device.
Using Emojis
Once you’ve opened the emoji tray or panel, using emojis is simple! Here are some tips:
- Tap or click an emoji to insert it into your text.
- Many emojis have alternative skin tone options – press and hold to access these.
- Use the category tabs to find different types of emojis like smileys, animals, food, etc.
- Frequently used emojis may show up in the recents or front tab for quick access.
- The search bar can help you find specific emojis by keyword.
- Use emojis to add visual flair and fun to your messages, posts, emails, and more!
Conclusion
Accessing and using emojis is easy once you know the basic steps for your device. Opening the emoji tray or panel only takes a couple quick taps or button presses. Customizing your frequently used emojis can save time and make inserting them into messages even smoother. With the wide range of emojis available today, you can find the perfect icons to express emotions and enrich your communications.