Emoji Keyboard size is large after updating to iOS 18.1

in an update to this, I got a new phone yesterday (16) and the emoji keyboard is even more messed up. there's diagonal lines of missing/blank emojis in my recents, which makes it hellish to use. this is such a weird glitch??

Honestly it’s unacceptable, I don’t understand how they could have thought this was a good idea; and not even providing us with an option to change their size? Ridiculous.

Aside from the inexplicably gigantic size, the icon placements in the lower bar have changed as well, I’m having such a hard time switching between emoji pages, going through so much trouble to access any emoji I need, and stumbling upon stickers between my emojis… why on earth would I want to have stickers on the same page as emojis?!

I cannot see the point in any of these changes, nor can I get used to them, because they are horrible.

Please go back to the original size and interface, some things are just perfect the way they are, no need to keep meddling just for the sake of meddling.

If this is a new phone it’s clearly that you haven’t used enough recent emojis yet to fill in the recents… but I agree the massive keyboard blows. I’d suggest tapping on all your favorites to fill in your recents.

Honestly i thought this was a bug until i came across this thread.

common Apple, my display settings are on the smallest possible. those emoticons are now "right in your face."

change this back, or make it adjustable in the settings. This is not acceptable for a company as prudant as Apple.

Just gonna add a comment to express my frustration with this change as well. At least include a setting in the iOS Keyboard Settings to choose the size of the emojis. For some people it might help to have larger icons, but for others including me it only means having to scroll even more to find a specific emoji. Please change this.

Just to echo what others are saying, I just did this update this morning and I wish I hadn’t. The new emoji size is atrocious and I hate it. I foresee Apple looking at whatever emoji use data they have in a couple months and start thinking “hmm why are so many people just not using emojis anymore?” BECAUSE YOU MADE IT AWFUL. pls revert or at least give us the option to change it. I’m sure it would be a fantastic accessibility OPTION.

I just updated to iOS 18.1 last night , looking forward to the different things the update was going to bring. Well… when I just sent my first emoji this morning… it is SO BIG….. This is a mess!!!! What in the world!?!🌍. Very interesting, on this post it’s not large but they are huge on my text threads . I’m hoping Apple will hear the VOICE OF THE PEOPLE! And provide a fix!

Apple you've broken the emoji board, reduce the size and make is customisable so I can reorder the emojis how I want/use them please. If I wanted a massive emoji keyboard I'd go Android.

Also, I don't like stickers being muddled with emojis; please also undo this.

Gee, thank you for that INSIGHTFUL response. If you look through the rest of the comments on this thread, you’ll see I’m not the only one complaining to Apple and not just out loud? Miss me with that attitude. Thanks <3

lissalee95 wrote:

Gee, thank you for that INSIGHTFUL response. If you look through the rest of the comments on this thread, you’ll see I’m not the only one complaining to Apple and not just out loud? Miss me with that attitude. Thanks <3

You seemed to have missed the whole point of the post you replied to. Your post as well as the others is not complaining to Apple on this website. The answer has been given many times and some have missed the reading part of this thread and simply went straight to the posting.

This is simply a support site that is made up of other users and the feedback link that has been provided is the way to complain to Apple. The question was asked and the answer was given, which is the purpose of the site here, it is not a Social Media site. No need to be offended, it is just a matter of directing a question to the most appropriate solution.

The emoji keyboard size it to large, i am struggling to find where they are my muscle memory of them is kind messed up. I almost feel like switching to android at this point. If the don’t change it back. Plus the overall keyboard is bigger and I can’t change that either.

nightshade241 wrote:

The emoji keyboard size it to large, i am struggling to find where they are my muscle memory of them is kind messed up. I almost feel like switching to android at this point. If the don’t change it back. Plus the overall keyboard is bigger and I can’t change that either.

You should buy the phone you think best meets your needs. But if you think Android doesn't change things up every year, when they bring out the next generation of Android OS, think again. You'll likely just be frustrated on a different platform.

Apple, please change this back. It is hoooorriiible. user experience while texting dropped beneath the floor… adjusting text size does not help… I hate it… let the user decide how big his emoji keyboard can be!

aurora190 wrote:

I deeply hate the larger emojis, I’ve been looking at Samsung for a while since I’ve been disappointed with Apple for years now. I kid you not the large emojis was the tipping point.

That's fine if you think Samsung is a better option for you. As users on this user to user only forum, it doesn't matter to any of us what you spend your money on. If you thought your post would get Apple's attention, read the thread. It won't.

aurora190 wrote:

I deeply hate the larger emojis, I’ve been looking at Samsung for a while since I’ve been disappointed with Apple for years now. I kid you not the large emojis was the tipping point.

Nobody here cares what phone you use. I would recommend get whatever phone meets your needs while also protecting your privacy/personal information. My Mom has a Jitterbug phone and loves it, so the choice is yours.