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How to Get Emojis on Xperia XZ

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to enable and use emojis on your Sony Xperia XZ, whether you want the built-in ones or a wider set from third-party keyboards. You’ll learn how to switch keyboards, install emoji packs, and fix common issues where emojis don’t appear.

What You’ll Need

  • Your Xperia XZ (any Android version, but steps assume Android 7–8, which the XZ shipped with)
  • A stable internet connection to download keyboard apps or emoji packs
  • Enough storage space for the keyboard app (usually under 100 MB)

Step-by-Step

  1. Check if emojis are already available. Open any app that uses text input (like Messages or WhatsApp). Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard. Look for a smiley face icon on the keyboard bar. If you see it, tap it to access the built-in emoji set. If not, continue to the next step.
  2. Switch to the default Sony keyboard (if you’re using a third-party one). Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard. Select the keyboard you want (e.g., “Sony Keyboard”). If it’s not listed, tap “Manage keyboards” and enable it. Then, when typing, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap “Select keyboard” to choose it.
  3. Enable the emoji key on the Sony keyboard. With the Sony keyboard active, tap the smiley face icon (usually next to the space bar). If you don’t see it, long-press the “Enter” key or the comma key to see if an emoji option appears. On some versions, you need to go to Keyboard settings > Appearance > Emoji key and turn it on.
  4. Install a third-party keyboard with more emojis (optional). Open the Google Play Store and search for “Gboard” or “SwiftKey”. Install one of these (they are free and reliable). After installation, open the app and follow the setup wizard to enable it. It will usually ask you to go to Settings to activate it.
  5. Activate the new keyboard. Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Manage keyboards. Toggle on the new keyboard (e.g., Gboard). Then, when typing, swipe down from the top and select the new keyboard from the notification bar.
  6. Use emojis from the new keyboard. Open any text field, tap the smiley face icon on the new keyboard. You’ll see a full emoji set. You can also search for emojis by typing a word (like “happy”) and selecting the emoji suggestion.
  7. Update your system (if emojis still don’t show). Go to Settings > About phone > Software updates. Install any available updates. Sony released Android 8.0 for the XZ, which includes a newer emoji set. If you’re on an older version, updating will add more emoji characters.

Common Mistakes

  • Not enabling the keyboard in system settings. Installing a keyboard app doesn’t automatically make it active. You must go to Settings and toggle it on.
  • Using an old app that doesn’t support newer emojis. If you’re texting in an app that hasn’t been updated, it may not display newer emoji characters. Update your messaging apps.
  • Confusing the “emoji” button with a “sticker” button. On some keyboards, the smiley icon leads to stickers or GIFs. Look for a dedicated emoji icon (often a smiley face with a grid).
  • Forgetting to restart after a system update. After updating Android, a restart is often required for the new emoji font to load properly.

Tips

  • If you want the exact same emojis as on other Android phones, install Gboard. It uses Google’s emoji set, which is the most standard.
  • You can quickly switch between keyboards by swiping down from the top of the screen and tapping “Select keyboard” – no need to go into Settings every time.
  • On the Sony keyboard, press and hold the emoji icon to quickly jump to a specific emoji category (like smileys, animals, food).
  • If you type a word like “heart”, many keyboards will show a heart emoji in the prediction bar – tap it to insert the emoji.
  • Some apps (like WhatsApp) have their own built-in emoji picker. Even if your keyboard doesn’t show emojis, you can tap the smiley icon inside the app.

Troubleshooting

  • Emojis appear as blank boxes or squares. This means your device doesn’t have the font for those characters. Update your system (Settings > About phone > Software updates). If no update is available, install a keyboard like Gboard that includes its own emoji font.
  • The emoji key is missing from the Sony keyboard. Go to Keyboard settings (long-press the comma key, then the gear icon). Look for “Emoji key” or “Emoji switch” and enable it. If you can’t find it, try resetting the keyboard settings to default.
  • Third-party keyboard won’t activate. Make sure you followed the activation steps exactly. Go to Settings > System > Languages & input > Virtual keyboard > Manage keyboards, and toggle the new keyboard on. Then, when typing, swipe down from the top and select it. If it still doesn’t work, restart your phone.
  • Emojis are black and white (monochrome). This is rare on the XZ. It usually happens if you’re using a custom theme that replaces the emoji font. Switch back to the default theme (Settings > Themes) to fix it.
  • Emojis work in some apps but not others. The app itself may not support emojis. For example, some older email apps don’t. Update the app or use a different one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Xperia XZ have emojis by default? Yes, it comes with a set of emojis on the Sony keyboard. You can access them by tapping the smiley face icon. If you don’t see it, enable it in keyboard settings.

Can I get the iPhone emojis on my Xperia XZ? Yes, you can install a keyboard like “Emoji Fonts” or use a custom font, but the easiest way is to install a keyboard that mimics the Apple emoji style. Search the Play Store for “Apple emoji keyboard” – but note that these may not be as polished as the official ones.

How do I update the emoji set on my Xperia XZ? The emoji set is part of the Android system. You update it by installing system updates from Sony. Go to Settings > About phone > Software updates. If no update is available, you can install a keyboard that includes its own emoji font (like Gboard).

Why do some emojis show as a question mark? This happens when the sender uses an emoji that is newer than what your phone supports. Updating your system or using a keyboard with a newer emoji font will fix it.

Can I use emojis in any app? Most apps support emojis, but some older or specialized apps may not. If you see a blank square, the app doesn’t support that character. Try updating the app.

Will installing a third-party keyboard slow down my phone? No, modern keyboards like Gboard and SwiftKey are lightweight and won’t noticeably affect performance. If you experience lag, you can uninstall it and go back to the Sony keyboard.

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