Instagram doesn't let you change the emoji set itself, but you can control which emojis appear in reactions and customize your device keyboard

Instagram uses the emoji set built into your phone's operating system—you cannot swap it for a different style within the app itself. What you can do is change which emojis show up when you react to posts and stories, and you can add custom emoji keyboards to your device if you want different emoji designs available everywhere you type.

The most common reason people search for this is to change the five reaction emojis that appear when you long-press a post or comment. Instagram lets you customize this set by choosing which five emojis you want in that quick-reaction menu. The steps differ slightly between iPhone and Android, but both are straightforward once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • You can customize the five emoji reactions that appear when you long-press a post or comment by going to your Instagram settings and selecting Reactions.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Instagram > Reactions; on Android, go to Settings > Reactions in the Instagram app itself.
  • Instagram pulls emoji designs from your phone's operating system, so the visual style of emojis depends on whether you use iOS or Android, not on Instagram.
  • If you want different emoji designs across all your apps, you can add third-party emoji keyboards to your phone through your device settings.
  • Custom emoji reactions are personal to your account and won't change how emojis look to other people viewing your posts.

How to change reaction emojis on iPhone

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and scroll down to find Settings and Privacy. Tap Settings, then scroll to the Interactions section and tap Reactions. You'll see the current five emojis displayed. Tap any emoji you want to replace, and a keyboard will appear showing all available emojis. Select the one you want to use instead.

Once you've chosen your five emojis, they'll appear whenever you long-press a post, comment, or story. These changes are saved to your account, so they'll be the same on any device you log into Instagram on. You can change them back anytime by following the same steps.

How to change reaction emojis on Android

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon at the bottom right. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and go to Settings and Privacy. Tap Settings, then scroll down to Interactions and tap Reactions. The current five emojis will appear on your screen. Tap any emoji you want to change, and the emoji picker will open. Choose the emoji you'd like to replace it with, and it will update when ready.

Your custom reactions are tied to your Instagram account, not your device, so they'll stay the same if you switch phones or log in on a different Android device. You can modify them as often as you like.

Why Instagram emojis look different on iPhone versus Android

The emoji designs you see on Instagram come directly from your phone's operating system. iPhones use Apple's emoji designs, while Android phones use Google's designs. This is why the same emoji can look noticeably different depending on what type of phone you're using—Instagram isn't choosing the style, your device is.

If you want emoji designs that look different from what your phone normally shows, you'll need to add a third-party emoji keyboard to your device. This is a keyboard app you install through your phone's app store, and it replaces the default emoji set with its own designs. Popular options include Gboard (which has multiple emoji styles built in) and apps like Emoji Kitchen or Noto Emoji. Once installed, you can switch to that keyboard when typing anywhere on your phone, including in Instagram.

Adding a custom emoji keyboard to your phone

On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard. Search for an emoji keyboard app in the App Store first, install it, then return to this menu and enable it. You'll then be able to switch between your default keyboard and the custom emoji keyboard when you're typing.

On Android, read an emoji keyboard app from the Google Play Store, open it, and follow its setup instructions to enable it as an input method. Go to Settings > System > Languages and Input > Virtual Keyboard, select the new keyboard, and toggle it on. You can then switch between keyboards by tapping the keyboard icon when you're typing.

Keep in mind that custom emoji keyboards are separate from Instagram's reaction emoji settings. Changing your keyboard won't affect which five emojis appear in your Instagram reaction menu—you'll still need to customize those through Instagram's settings as described above.

What happens when someone else views your posts with custom reactions

Your custom emoji reactions are personal to your account. When someone else views a post you've reacted to, they see the emoji you used, but they see it in their own device's emoji style. If you reacted with a heart on your iPhone, they'll see a heart in whatever emoji style their device uses—Apple's style if they're on iPhone, Google's style if they're on Android.

This means your custom reaction choices are visible to others, but the visual appearance of those emojis adapts to each person's device. You're only changing which emojis you have available to react with, not how they appear to the rest of Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use more than five emoji reactions?

No, Instagram limits you to exactly five emoji reactions. You choose which five you want, but you cannot add a sixth or remove one without replacing it with something else. The five you select will appear whenever you long-press a post or comment.

Do my custom reactions show up on Instagram Direct Messages?

Custom emoji reactions explore to posts, comments, and stories. In Direct Messages, you can react to messages with any emoji from your device's full emoji set, not just your five custom reactions. The reaction options in DMs are separate from your customized reaction menu.

If I change my phone, will my custom reactions stay the same?

Yes. Your custom reactions are saved to your Instagram account, not to your phone. When you log into Instagram on a new device, your five chosen emojis will be there automatically. You don't need to set them up again.

Why do some people's emoji reactions look different from mine?

Because they're using a different type of phone. iPhone users see Apple's emoji designs, and Android users see Google's designs. The emoji itself is the same (like a heart or laughing face), but the visual style is different. This happens automatically based on the device, not because of any Instagram setting.

Can I change emojis in Instagram Stories or Reels?

When you're creating a story or reel and want to add emoji stickers, you're using your device's full emoji keyboard, not your five custom reactions. You can use any emoji available on your phone. Your five custom reactions only appear when someone else long-presses your post or comment to react to it.