Samsung phones let you stack and blend emojis using the built-in emoji kitchen feature

Samsung devices running Android 11 or later include Emoji Kitchen, a feature that combines two emojis into a single blended image. When you long-press an emoji in the keyboard, Samsung shows you compatible emoji pairs and the new designs they create together. The combined emoji appears as a sticker you can send in messages, not as a permanent change to your keyboard.

This feature works in any app where you type — Messages, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, and others. The combined emojis are generated on your device and sent as images, so the person receiving your message sees the blended emoji even if their phone doesn't have Emoji Kitchen.

Key Takeaways

  • Emoji Kitchen works on Samsung phones and tablets running Android 11 or later by long-pressing any emoji in your keyboard.
  • Not every emoji pair combines — Samsung shows only the compatible matches when you long-press.
  • Combined emojis are sent as sticker images, so recipients see them regardless of their phone type or Android version.
  • The feature works in any messaging or typing app, including third-party apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.
  • You can save combined emojis as stickers to your keyboard for faster reuse in future messages.

Open your keyboard and find the emoji button

Launch any messaging or typing app on your Samsung device — Messages, Gmail, WhatsApp, or any other app where you compose text. Tap the text field to open your keyboard. Look for the emoji button, which is usually a smiley face icon on the bottom row of your keyboard. On Samsung's default keyboard, it sits to the left of the space bar.

Tap the emoji button to switch from letters to emojis. You'll see a grid of emoji categories at the bottom — recent, smileys, nature, food, travel, activities, objects, and symbols. Start in whichever category has the emoji you want to combine.

Long-press the first emoji to see combination options

Find the emoji you want to use as your base — for example, a smiley face, heart, or animal. Press and hold your finger on that emoji for about one second. A popup menu will appear showing that emoji and any compatible matches it can combine with.

The popup displays the original emoji on the left and shows two to four combined versions to the right. Each combined emoji is a new design created by blending the two originals. Scroll through the options if more than four combinations exist. If an emoji has no compatible matches, the popup straightforward shows the emoji itself with no combinations available.

Tap the combined emoji you want to send

Once the popup appears with your combination options, tap the blended emoji you want to use. The combined emoji will insert into your message as a sticker image. You can now send your message as usual, and the recipient will see the blended emoji exactly as you created it.

If you change your mind, tap elsewhere to close the popup and try a different emoji. You can combine as many emoji pairs as you want in a single message — there's no limit to how many combined emojis you can include.

Save combined emojis to your sticker collection for reuse

When a combined emoji popup appears, you'll see a small plus icon or save button near the combined emoji. Tap this button to add the blended emoji to your saved stickers. The next time you want to use that same combination, you can find it in your sticker section without having to recreate it.

To access your saved stickers, tap the emoji button on your keyboard and look for a sticker or star icon among the category tabs at the bottom. Your saved combined emojis will appear there alongside any other stickers you've saved. This saves time if you have favorite combinations you use often.

Troubleshooting when combinations don't appear

If you long-press an emoji and no combinations show up, that emoji straightforward doesn't have compatible matches in Samsung's Emoji Kitchen database. Try a different emoji — popular ones like hearts, faces, and animals have the most combinations available. Emojis from newer Android updates may also have more options than older ones.

If Emoji Kitchen isn't working at all, check that your Samsung device runs Android 11 or later. Go to Settings, then About Phone, and look for the Android version number. If you're on Android 10 or earlier, Emoji Kitchen won't be available. Also confirm you're using Samsung's default keyboard — third-party keyboards like Gboard have their own emoji combination features with different names and slightly different steps.

Using combined emojis in different apps

Combined emojis work in any app where you can type and send messages. This includes Messages, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Discord, and most other communication apps. The combined emoji is sent as an image file, so it displays correctly even if the recipient uses an iPhone, older Android phone, or any other device.

Some apps may display the combined emoji slightly differently depending on their design, but the blended image will always be recognizable. If you're sending to someone on a very old device, they may see it as a generic sticker icon rather than the full emoji, but this is rare with modern phones and tablets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read anything to use Emoji Kitchen?

No. Emoji Kitchen is built into Samsung devices running Android 11 or later. It works automatically when you long-press an emoji — there's nothing to read or turn on.

Can I combine more than two emojis at once?

Emoji Kitchen combines exactly two emojis per sticker. You can include multiple combined emojis in a single message, but each one is a pair. If you want a more complex design, you would need to send several combined emojis together.

Will the person I'm texting see the combined emoji the same way I do?

Yes. Combined emojis are sent as sticker images, not as text, so they appear identical on any device. The recipient sees exactly what you created, whether they have an iPhone, older Android phone, or any other device.

What if I'm using a different keyboard, like Gboard?

Gboard has its own emoji combination feature called Emoji Kitchen, but the steps are slightly different. Long-press an emoji in Gboard, and if combinations exist, you'll see them in a similar popup. The process is nearly identical, though the button locations may vary slightly.

Can I undo a combined emoji I already sent?

No. Once you send a message with a combined emoji, it's sent as a sticker image and can't be edited or removed. You would need to delete the entire message and resend it without the combined emoji.