There are a few common reasons why WhatsApp emojis may not be showing properly on your device:
Outdated Operating System
If you are using an older version of iOS or Android, your device may not support the newest emoji designs. WhatsApp regularly updates their emoji set, so staying up-to-date with OS upgrades is important.
Issues Downloading Emoji Fonts
WhatsApp emojis are rendered using special emoji fonts that must be downloaded to your device. If there are any issues downloading these emoji fonts, such as poor internet connection, the emojis may not show up properly.
Display Language Settings
The language settings on your device impact which emoji fonts are downloaded. Make sure your display language is set correctly in your device settings to match the emoji language you want to see.
Corrupt App Caches
Over time, the WhatsApp app can develop corrupt caches that affect how emojis are rendered. Try clearing the app cache and data to download a fresh set of data including emoji fonts.
Using Unsupported Emojis
If you are copying and pasting emojis from another platform that are not supported by WhatsApp, they may show up as missing or as different emojis. Make sure you are using emojis that are within WhatsApp’s supported emoji set.
Back Up and Reinstall WhatsApp
As a last resort, you can try backing up your WhatsApp messages and reinstalling WhatsApp completely. This will give you a clean slate and allow a full re-download of emoji fonts.
Update WhatsApp
Check that you are running the latest version of WhatsApp. New emoji fonts and designs are included in app updates. Go to your app store to ensure no updates are pending.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting your device settings, reinstalling WhatsApp, and maintaining an up-to-date OS are the main ways to resolve missing emoji issues. Confirm your phone meets emoji font requirements and does not have any corrupted files interfering with emoji rendering. With the right troubleshooting steps, your WhatsApp emojis can display correctly again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my WhatsApp emojis showing as boxes?
If WhatsApp emojis are showing as empty boxes or blocks, it typically means the emoji fonts failed to download properly to your device. Try reinstalling WhatsApp or updating your OS to download the fonts again.
How do I get the latest WhatsApp emojis?
Update to the latest version of WhatsApp and your operating system to get new emoji releases. New emojis are included in app updates and OS updates periodically.
Can I use emojis from other platforms in WhatsApp?
Usually not – WhatsApp has its own set of supported emojis. While other platforms may have similar emojis, copying and pasting unsupported emojis into WhatsApp tends to result in missing symbols.
What causes emoji fonts to become corrupted on WhatsApp?
Frequent WhatsApp crashing, interrupting emoji font downloads, and full storage preventing proper emoji installs can all lead to corrupted emoji fonts. Clearing the app cache and reinstalling WhatsApp resets the fonts.
How do I change the emoji style on WhatsApp?
You can’t change the emoji style directly within WhatsApp. The emoji style is determined by the version of Android or iOS your phone is running. Update your operating system to get access to newly redesigned emoji styles.
Can I use WhatsApp emojis on Instagram?
Yes, you can copy and paste WhatsApp emojis into Instagram and they will show up properly. Instagram has its own emoji set but it overlaps significantly with WhatsApp’s emoji support.
Why do my friends see different WhatsApp emojis?
If your friend sees different emoji designs than you, it means you are likely on different operating system versions. iOS and Android update their emoji sets separately, so emoji appearances vary cross-platform.
How often does WhatsApp update emojis?
Major emoji updates coincide with new iOS and Android releases, typically once or twice per year. More frequent minor WhatsApp updates may include a small handful of new emojis supported.
Can I use WhatsApp emojis on Twitter?
Yes, you can copy and paste emojis from WhatsApp into tweets on Twitter. There may be small variations in appearance but overall emoji support overlaps between the two platforms.
Is there a way to get back deleted WhatsApp emojis?
Unfortunately no, there is no way to retrieve deleted emojis in WhatsApp. Once an emoji is removed from a message, it’s gone for good. The only option is to re-insert any emojis manually that were deleted.
Emoji Usage Statistics
Emojis have become an incredibly popular way for people to express themselves and add visual flair to conversations. Here are some interesting statistics on how frequently emojis are used:
WhatsApp Emoji Statistics
| Over 60 million emojis are sent on WhatsApp every minute |
| The laughing emoji with tears is the most popular WhatsApp emoji |
| 93% of online users use emojis |
| The heart emoji is the 2nd most popular WhatsApp emoji |
Emoji Use By Generation
| Generation Z users send the most emojis, averaging over 65 emojis per text conversation. |
| Millennials send an average of 50 emojis per conversation. |
| Gen X send around 15 emojis on average per conversation. |
| Baby Boomers text with emojis the least frequently, at under 5 per conversation. |
Gender Differences in Emoji Use
| Women send an average of 11 more emojis per text than men. |
| The most used emoji among men is the laughing emoji. |
| Heart emojis are the most common emojis used by women. |
Global Emoji Use
| Over 10 billion emojis are sent on Facebook Messenger every day. |
| Emoji use is highest in Australia, where over 70% of texts contain an emoji. |
| Europe has the lowest emoji usage, with around 35% of texts containing an emoji. |
Emojis clearly dominate modern digital communication, especially among younger demographics. As new emojis are introduced and platforms optimize emoji font downloads, their popularity and usage continues to grow.