What You Can Change About iPhone Emojis
iPhone lets you change two things about emojis: the skin tone of people-based emojis, and the emoji style itself if you switch to a different keyboard language. You cannot change the overall emoji design to a completely different set (like Android's style) while staying in English, but you can adjust skin tones on the fly and access different emoji designs through language settings.
The skin tone change is the most common adjustment. When you hold your finger on any emoji showing a person or body part, a menu pops up with five skin tone options plus a yellow default. This works in Messages, Mail, Notes, and any app where you can type.
The emoji style change requires switching your keyboard language temporarily. If you add a keyboard for a different language — say, Japanese or Chinese — that language's emoji set becomes available. You can type in that language's emojis, then switch back to English without losing the ability to use them.
Key Takeaways
- Hold your finger on any person emoji to see five skin tone options plus the original yellow; release to select your choice.
- The skin tone you pick for one emoji does not automatically explore to all emojis — you choose the tone each time you use a new person emoji.
- To access a different emoji design style, add a second keyboard language in Settings, then switch between keyboards while typing.
- Emoji styles vary by language; Japanese, Chinese, and Korean keyboards each show their own emoji designs alongside the standard set.
How to Change Skin Tone on Any Person Emoji
Open any app where you can type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or a social media app. Tap the emoji keyboard button (usually a smiley face icon at the bottom of your keyboard). Find the person emoji you want to use and hold your finger on it for about one second. Do not tap and release; press and hold.
A menu will appear showing five skin tone variations plus the original yellow emoji at the top. The five options are light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. Slide your finger to the tone you want, then release. The emoji will be inserted with that skin tone. If you use the same emoji again later, you will need to hold and select the tone again — iPhone does not remember your choice for future uses.
This works for any emoji showing skin, including hands, faces, people in activities, and body parts. Emojis that are not skin-based — animals, objects, symbols — will not show a skin tone menu when you hold them.
Adding a Second Keyboard to Access Different Emoji Styles
Go to Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap General, then tap Keyboard. Tap Keyboards (the first option in the list). Tap Add New Keyboard at the bottom. A list of languages appears.
Choose any language other than English — Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean all have distinct emoji designs. Tap the language name. You will see a list of keyboard options for that language; select the main one (usually just the language name without extra details). Tap Done.
You now have a second keyboard. When you are typing and want to use emojis from that language's set, tap and hold the globe icon at the bottom left of your keyboard (or swipe left on the space bar) to switch keyboards. The emoji keyboard will now show that language's emoji style. Switch back to English the same way when you are done.
Understanding Emoji Style Differences by Language
Each language keyboard in iPhone comes with its own emoji design. English uses Apple's standard emoji set — rounded, colorful, and consistent across all categories. Japanese emojis tend to be slightly more detailed and expressive. Simplified Chinese emojis have a different color palette and line weight. Traditional Chinese and Korean also have their own visual style.
The differences are subtle but noticeable once you switch. A smiley face in English looks slightly different from a smiley face in Japanese. The emoji categories and search function work the same way in every language keyboard, so switching is just about accessing a different visual design.
You can use emojis from multiple language keyboards in the same message. Type some text in English with English emojis, switch to Japanese, add a few Japanese-style emojis, then switch back. The recipient will see all the emojis you used, regardless of which keyboard you were on when you typed them.
Removing a Keyboard You No Longer Need
If you added a language keyboard and want to remove it, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap Edit in the top right corner. Find the keyboard you want to remove and tap the red minus sign next to it. Tap Delete to confirm. Tap Done when finished.
Removing a keyboard does not delete any messages or emojis you already sent. It only removes the keyboard from your typing options going forward.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake is tapping an emoji instead of holding it. A single tap inserts the emoji in its default form (usually yellow). You must hold your finger on it for the skin tone menu to appear. If you tap by accident, just delete the emoji and try again with a longer press.
Another mistake is expecting your skin tone choice to stick. iPhone does not save your preference for future uses of the same emoji. If you use a medium skin tone for a waving hand, the next time you use a waving hand emoji, it will default to yellow unless you hold and select again. This is by design — it lets you use different tones in the same message without extra steps.
A third mistake is adding too many language keyboards. Each one appears in your keyboard switcher, so having five languages can make switching slower. Add only the languages whose emoji styles you actually want to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a default skin tone so I do not have to choose every time?
No. iPhone does not have a setting to lock a skin tone preference across all emojis. You choose the tone each time you use a person emoji. Some third-party keyboards offer this feature, but the built-in iPhone keyboard does not.
Will the person I message see the same emoji style I see?
Not always. If you send a Japanese-style emoji to someone with an older iPhone or Android phone, they may see Apple's standard emoji instead. The emoji itself (the concept) stays the same, but the visual design depends on the recipient's device and software version.
Can I change emoji size or make them bigger?
No. Emoji size is fixed in the keyboard and cannot be adjusted. You can make text larger by changing your font size in Settings, which will make emojis appear slightly larger alongside the text, but the emoji design itself does not scale independently.
What if I hold on an emoji and nothing happens?
Make sure you are holding long enough — about one full second. If the menu still does not appear, the emoji may not have skin tone options (like animal or object emojis). Try holding on a face or hand emoji instead. If nothing works, restart your iPhone and try again.
Do I need to remove the English keyboard to add a new one?
No. You can keep English and add as many other language keyboards as you want. You will just need to switch between them using the globe icon or space bar swipe.