Emojis have become an essential way of expressing ourselves online. Those little images convey emotions and ideas in a fun, visual way. While the standard emojis available on our devices cover a wide range, many people like to get more creative with their emoji game. One popular emoji customization is adding different backgrounds behind the little faces. Backgrounds can enhance the emoji’s meaning or just provide some aesthetic flair. But how exactly can you get emojis with backgrounds? There are a few different methods, depending on what device and platform you’re using.
Enabling Emoji Backgrounds on iPhone
If you have an iPhone, you’re in luck. iOS has robust support for customized emojis. You can easily add backgrounds to the emojis in your texts and social media posts. Here’s how:
Use Memoji Stickers
Memoji is Apple’s personalized emoji feature. You can create a Memoji avatar that looks just like you. Apple automatically generates sticker packs using your Memoji. These stickers come with a range of backgrounds, like gradients, patterns, and colors.
To get Memoji sticker packs:
- Open the Messages app and tap the Memoji sticker icon (looks like a robot face)
- Tap the “+” icon to create your Memoji if you haven’t already
- Tap the Memoji stickers tab
- Swipe through the packs and tap “Add” to add them to your keyboard
Now when you’re messaging friends, you can tap the Memoji sticker icon and select a sticker with a fun background!
Use Third-Party Apps
In addition to Memoji, there are third-party iOS apps that offer customized emoji stickers. Some popular options include:
- Bitmoji
- MojiPop
- Emoji>
- WOWI
These apps allow you to create an avatar and access sticker packs with different emoji poses, expressions, and backgrounds. You can share the sticker packs through Messages.
Enabling Emoji Backgrounds on Android
Android users have a couple options for getting emojis with backgrounds:
Use Emoji Kitchen
Emoji Kitchen is a Gboard feature that lets you combine emojis together into stickers. Many of the combinations come with colorful backgrounds.
To access Emoji Kitchen:
- Install Gboard if you don’t already have it
- Open Gboard while typing in any app
- Tap the emoji icon and type an emoji
- Swipe through the suggestions to see emoji mashups with backgrounds
Use Third-Party Apps
Some popular third-party apps for Android include:
- Bitmoji
- emoji>
- Personal Stickers
- WOWI
Like on iOS, these apps allow you to create a personalized avatar and use emoji stickers with backgrounds.
Enabling Emoji Backgrounds on Windows
Users running Windows 10 or 11 have a couple avenues for emoji backgrounds:
Use Emoji Panel
The built-in Emoji Panel in Windows offers some emoji stickers with backgrounds.
To access:
- Open the Start menu and search “Emoji Panel”
- Click on an emoji option that says “Stickers” underneath
- Scroll through the pages to view sticker options
Use Third-Party Apps
There are fewer third-party emoji apps available for Windows, but the following provide stickers:
- Emoji>
- WOWI
These function similarly to the iOS and Android versions.
Enabling Emoji Backgrounds on Mac
Mac also has limited native support for stickers, so third-party apps are your best option:
Use Memoji Stickers
You can create personalized Memoji stickers right within Messages. Access these by clicking the Memoji icon in the message compose bar.
Use Third-Party Apps
On Mac, you can use:
- Bitmoji
- WOWI
- emoji>
To share stickers from these apps, you’ll need to copy and paste them into messages.
Enabling Emoji Backgrounds on Social Media
Many social media platforms allow users to send emoji stickers and backgrounds during chats or in posts/comments. Here are some popular options:
- Use the Stickers option when chatting
- Comment with the @[Page Name] and select a background sticker
- Use the Instagram Stickers in Stories
- Send an Instagram Direct with stickers
Snapchat
- Add creative Snapchat Stickers to Snaps
- Use stickers in Chat
- iOS app only – use Memoji stickers in DMs
- Tap Stickers when chatting and swipe through options
Third-Party Emoji Apps Overview
Here is an overview of some of the most popular third-party emoji apps that offer backgrounds:
| App | Platforms | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bitmoji | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Free |
| WOWI | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Free |
| Emoji> | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows | Free |
| MojiPop | iOS | Free |
| Personal Stickers | Android | Paid |
Tips for Using Emojis with Backgrounds
Here are some tips to take your emoji background game to the next level:
- Mix and match emojis from different apps for maximum variety.
- Pay attention to the color scheme. Coordinate the background color with the emoji you choose.
- Use emojis with backgrounds sparingly. They can lose their impact if overused.
- Be consistent across platforms. Pick one main emoji style for your “brand.”
- Use backgrounds intentionally. Match the color to the emotion you want to convey.
- Edit photos creatively. Apps like WOWI and Emoji> allow you to put emojis on photo backgrounds.
Conclusion
Emoji backgrounds are a fun way to upgrade your digital communication. While iOS offers the most robust built-in support, Android and Windows users still have options. Third-party apps provide sticker packs on any device. So go ahead and give your emojis an artsy backdrop! Just don’t overdo it – a little background goes a long way. With the right creative flair, you can make your online messages pop.