The Ultimate Guide to Emoji Keyboard 2018: Tips & TricksEmoji keyboards in 2018 were more than novelty add-ons — they became essential tools for personal expression, faster typing, and visual communication. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about emoji keyboards from that year: how they worked, what features mattered, how to customize them, and practical tips to get the most out of your emoji typing experience.
Why emoji keyboards mattered in 2018
By 2018, smartphones and messaging apps had made emoji a universal language. Emoji keyboards integrated thousands of pictograms directly into typing flows, enabling:
- Faster nonverbal responses without switching apps.
- Richer emotional nuance than plain text.
- Easier access to GIFs, stickers, and custom emoji sets from third-party keyboards.
- Personalization through themes, fonts, and layout options.
Key takeaway: emoji keyboards turned expression into part of everyday typing, not a separate activity.
Types of emoji keyboards
There were several broad categories of emoji keyboards available in 2018:
- System-built keyboards
- Native to iOS and Android; integrated with the OS and received official Unicode emoji updates.
- Third-party emoji keyboards
- Installed from app stores; often added themes, shortcuts, sticker packs, and predictive emoji suggestions.
- Keyboard apps with emoji integration
- Full-featured typing apps (e.g., SwiftKey, Gboard) that combined typing predictions with robust emoji search and suggestions.
- Custom and niche keyboards
- Focused on specialized emoji packs, animated emoji, or novelty layouts.
Key takeaway: choose a keyboard type that balances convenience (system keyboard) with features (third-party apps).
Core features to look for
When picking an emoji keyboard, these features mattered most in 2018:
- Emoji search — find emojis by keyword instead of scrolling.
- Predictive emoji suggestions — keyboard suggests an emoji as you type.
- Theme and layout customization — colors, backgrounds, key shapes.
- Sticker/GIF integration — quick access to animated content.
- Privacy controls — local-only suggestions vs. cloud processing.
- Unicode update support — timely access to new emoji releases.
- Multilingual support — works across languages and input methods.
Key takeaway: prioritize emoji search and predictive suggestions for speed; prioritize privacy if you type sensitive content.
Popular emoji keyboard apps in 2018
Several keyboards stood out in 2018 for blending reliability with emoji features:
- Gboard (Google) — fast search, GIFs, integrated Google search, and emoji suggestions.
- SwiftKey (Microsoft) — strong predictions, emoji recommendations based on context, and theme options.
- Apple iOS Keyboard — native support and early access to new emoji on iPhones.
- Emoji Keyboard by LINE and other sticker-focused apps — emphasized stickers and character packs.
Key takeaway: mainstream keyboards like Gboard and SwiftKey offered the best mix of typing accuracy and emoji utility.
Installation and setup tips
- iOS: Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → choose your keyboard; allow Full Access only if you trust the app.
- Android: Install from Google Play, then go to Settings → Language & Input → Virtual Keyboard → Manage Keyboards → enable the new keyboard and select it as default.
- Enable emoji search and suggestions in the keyboard’s settings panel where available.
Key takeaway: read permissions carefully—“Full Access” can allow data to be sent off-device.
Customization tricks
- Create shortcuts (text replacement) for frequently used emoji sequences (e.g., type “:party” → 🎉).
- Use themes and background images to personalize visuals and increase typing comfort.
- Rearrange or enable one-handed modes to speed up thumb typing.
- Import sticker packs for commonly used emoji-like images in social apps.
Example shortcut setup (iOS): Settings → General → Keyboard → Text Replacement → + → Phrase: 🎉 → Shortcut: party
Key takeaway: small custom shortcuts save big time over months of messaging.
Productivity and expression tips
- Use predictive emoji to replace whole words or emotional cues (e.g., replace “love” with ❤️).
- Combine emojis for visual shorthand (e.g., 🕒+📍 = “meet at 3pm”).
- Use emoji reactions in group chats rather than long replies for quick acknowledgment.
- Keep a personal “emoji cheat sheet” for combinations you use often.
Key takeaway: treat emoji like punctuation and shorthand, not just decoration.
Privacy and security considerations
- Avoid keyboards that require unnecessary permissions (contacts, location) unless needed.
- If a keyboard sends typing data to its servers, sensitive content might be exposed—prefer local-only processing for privacy.
- Regularly review app permissions and uninstall keyboards you no longer use.
Key takeaway: prioritize keyboards that process input locally if privacy is a concern.
Troubleshooting common problems
- Missing emoji after OS update: ensure your OS and keyboard app are updated; switch to the system emoji keyboard if needed.
- Keyboard lag: clear app cache, reduce active themes or plugins, or switch to a lighter keyboard.
- Emoji display differences across platforms: be aware that the same emoji can look different on Android, iOS, and web, potentially changing tone.
Key takeaway: platform differences can alter meaning—use common emojis for important messages.
The future from 2018’s perspective
In 2018 the trajectory for emoji keyboards pointed to:
- Better AI-driven emoji prediction.
- Increased integration of animated emoji and AR stickers.
- Ongoing Unicode releases expanding representation and diversity.
- Smarter privacy controls and on-device AI.
Key takeaway: emoji keyboards were becoming smarter and more expressive while facing legitimate privacy scrutiny.
Quick checklist before you install an emoji keyboard
- Does it support emoji search and suggestions?
- Are permissions reasonable (no unnecessary access)?
- Is it frequently updated for Unicode compatibility?
- Does it offer the customization you want (themes, shortcuts)?
- Is its performance smooth on your device?
This guide covers practical tips and decision points for using emoji keyboards in 2018 — from choosing between system and third-party options, to customization, privacy, and productivity tricks.
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