When you type a message in an app that uses your iPhone keyboard, like Messages or Notes, your phone will suggest an iOS emoji that you can tap to add to your text. Here's how to get emojis on iPhone without the keyboard.

Why You'll Love This Tip

Learn how to add emojis in iPhone messages to customize them with iOS emojis like the kiss, thumbs up, heart, smiley face, and more!
Text faster by using predictive emoji in place of words.

How to Insert Emoji on iPhone with Predictive Emoji

System Requirements

This tip was performed on an iPhone 17 Pro using iOS 26.4, but it should also work on older models. Learn how to update to the latest iOS.

To get emoji suggestions, you'll need to make sure your iPhone's predictive text setting is enabled. Once you've enabled this setting, we'll show you all the fun ways to customize your texts with emojis. Now, here's how to insert emoji on iPhone with predictive text:

Almost anywhere where you can enter text, keep an eye on the predictive text suggestions under the text box. Suggested emojis appear above your keyboard.
To replace a word with an emoji, tap on the suggested emoji before adding a space after the word to turn your words into emojis.
If you want to follow a word with a suggested emoji, add a space after the word and then tap the emoji.
If you want to add your emojis all at once, type the entire message and then tap the emoji icon in the bottom left of your keyboard (it may be in a slightly different position if you have multiple keyboards).
Some of the words in your text will be highlighted. Those words have predictive emoji associated with them. Tap any of the highlighted words to replace them with an emoji.
Some words have multiple associated iOS emojis, so when you tap the word, you'll have several emojis to choose from.

That's how predictive emoji works on the iPhone and iPad. Now you know the secret of how to get emojis to pop up when texting on your iPhone. Enjoy messaging without spending so much time trying to find the right emoji! Next, find out how to use Tapback on iPhone to react to messages. Also, be sure to check out our free Tip of the Day if you found this tutorial helpful.