How to Get Emojis on Huawei P9

This guide shows you how to enable and use emojis on your Huawei P9, covering the built-in keyboard, Google Keyboard (Gboard), and other methods. You’ll learn how to access the emoji picker, switch between emoji styles, and troubleshoot common issues.

What You’ll Need

Your Huawei P9 with a working internet connection (for downloading keyboards if needed)
A Google account (optional, for installing Gboard from the Play Store)
About 5 minutes of time

Step-by-Step

Open any app that uses text input – for example, Messages, WhatsApp, or a note-taking app. Tap on a text field to bring up the keyboard.
Find the emoji key on your current keyboard – On the default Huawei keyboard (called “Huawei Swype” or “Android Keyboard”), look for a smiley face icon (often on the bottom row, next to the space bar). Tap it to open the emoji panel.
Browse and select emojis – The panel shows a grid of emojis. Swipe left or right to see different categories (e.g., smileys, animals, food, activities). Tap any emoji to insert it into your text.
If you don’t see the emoji key – Some keyboard versions hide it behind a long-press. Press and hold the “?123” key or the comma key; a small popup may appear with an emoji icon. If not, proceed to install Gboard.
Install Gboard (Google Keyboard) for a better emoji experience – Open the Play Store app, search for “Gboard”, and tap Install. Once installed, go to Settings > System > Language & input > Virtual keyboard > Manage keyboards, and toggle on “Gboard”. Then select “Gboard” as the current keyboard.
Use Gboard’s emoji picker – With Gboard active, tap the smiley face icon on the top row (left of the space bar). This opens a full emoji panel with a search bar. You can search for emojis by keyword (e.g., “happy”, “cat”).
Switch between emoji styles (if available) – Some devices allow you to change the emoji font style via system settings. On the P9, go to Settings > Display > Font style (this may vary by EMUI version). If you see “Emoji style”, you can choose between Android and iOS-style emojis. If not, the system uses the default Android emoji set.
Use emojis in social media and messaging apps – In apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, emojis are also accessible via a dedicated icon within the app’s own keyboard. For example, WhatsApp has a smiley icon next to the text input field.

Common Mistakes

Not enabling Gboard after installing – Installing Gboard doesn’t automatically make it your keyboard. You must go to Settings > System > Language & input > Virtual keyboard > Manage keyboards and toggle it on, then select it.
Looking for emojis in the wrong place – The emoji key is not always a smiley; it can be a globe icon or a “smiley with a +” sign. On some keyboards, it’s under the “?123” key.
Assuming all apps support emojis – Some older apps or text fields may not display emojis correctly. If you send an emoji and it appears as a blank box, the receiving app or device doesn’t support that emoji.
Forgetting to update the keyboard – An outdated keyboard may lack newer emojis. Check the Play Store for updates for Gboard or your default keyboard.

Tips

Use emoji search in Gboard – Instead of scrolling through hundreds of emojis, tap the search icon in the emoji panel and type a word like “pizza” or “heart”.
Create emoji shortcuts – In Gboard, go to Settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary, and add shortcuts. For example, type “lol” to auto-replace with 😂.
Use emojis in the quick settings – Some EMUI versions allow you to add an emoji to your contact name or in the “About phone” section, but this is not recommended as it can cause display issues.
Keep your system updated – Huawei periodically releases updates that may include new emoji characters. Check Settings > System > Software update.

Troubleshooting

Emoji key not appearing on the default keyboard: If you don’t see any emoji icon, try rotating the phone to landscape mode – some keyboards show the emoji key only in landscape. If that doesn’t work, install Gboard as described above.

Emojis show as blank boxes or squares: This usually means the emoji you’re trying to use is not supported by your system version. Update your phone’s software (Settings > System > Software update) to get the latest emoji set. Also, make sure the app you’re using is updated.

Gboard not showing in the keyboard list: After installing, go to Settings > System > Language & input > Virtual keyboard > Manage keyboards. If Gboard is listed but grayed out, tap it to enable. If it’s not listed, restart your phone and check again.

Emojis appear but are black and white (or missing colors): This can happen if you’ve enabled a high-contrast text setting. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Text and display, and turn off any “High contrast text” option.

Keyboard crashes when opening emoji panel: Clear the keyboard app’s cache: go to Settings > Apps > (select your keyboard) > Storage > Clear cache. If the issue persists, uninstall and reinstall Gboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the Huawei P9 support emojis out of the box?
A: Yes, the P9 runs Android and includes a default emoji set. You can access them via the keyboard’s emoji key.

Q: Can I get the iOS-style emojis on my P9?
A: Yes, some EMUI versions allow you to change the emoji style in Settings > Display > Font style. If that option isn’t available, you can install a third-party launcher or keyboard that uses iOS-style emojis, but that’s more complex.

Q: Why do some emojis appear as a box with an X?
A: That indicates the emoji is not supported by your device’s current software. Update your phone to the latest version to add newer emoji characters.

Q: How do I insert emojis in a text message?
A: Open the messaging app, tap the text field, and then tap the smiley icon on your keyboard. If you’re using Gboard, it’s the smiley face on the top row.

Q: Can I use emojis in file names or folder names?
A: Yes, you can type emojis in file names using the keyboard, but be aware that some apps may not display them correctly, and they can cause issues when sharing files.

Q: Is there a way to type emojis faster?
A: Yes, use Gboard’s emoji search feature, or create text shortcuts in the dictionary settings.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

More cards in this drawer

The whole Numbers and Powers drawer →