Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

You can now create personalized emoji in Google’s Gboard — here’s how

By

Apple is rolling out iOS 12.1, which features a slew of new emoji designed to be more inclusive to those with red hair, curly hair, and no hair at all. Google, however, isn’t one to be left out and has announced an update to Gboard that brings a new sticker style, plus the ability to make an emoji that looks just like you.

In other words, you can create emoji with all different hair colors, different skin tones, glasses freckles, and so on. The new so-called Emoji Minis actually exist in the form of stickers, meaning that while they will send more easily between Android devices, you should be able to send them to iOS devices too without any issues. The Gboard update is available on both Android and iOS.

Recommended Videos

Interested in creating a new personalized Emoji Mini for yourself? Here’s how to do so.

  1. Make sure you have the latest Gboard update.
  2. Open a message or email and open the keyboard.
  3. Tap on the Stickers icon on the bottom. It looks like this: 
  4. Tap on the Emoji Mini icon. It looks like this: 
  5. Press “Create” in the prompt that appears.
  6. Take a photo of your face. Try to make sure there’s enough light for a good photo.
  7. Gboard will then present you with a few options. Choose the one you like and tap on it.
  8. You’ll then be able to change your Mini Emoji to make it look more like you. You can change face shape, hair color, nose shape and more. If you’ve ever made a Nintendo Mii, it’s very similar to that process.
  9. Tap “save” in the top right-hand corner.
  10. You will then be presented with a range of Mini Emoji stickers that you can send to friends.

It’s not an overly difficult process, but it does take a few minutes. After you’ve done it the first time, however, you won’t have to go through the process again — Gboard will remember your preferences and serve up emoji tailored to those preferences. Of course, you can go through the steps again if you would like to tweak or change your emoji, or you can customize the Emoji Minis you already have set up.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper
Contributor
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
The best Google Pixel Watch deals you can shop right now
A person wearing the Google Pixel Watch 2.

Smartwatches have become an important tool when trying to keep up with the electronic world we live in, especially since it saves you the trouble of pulling out your phone and looking at a screen. There are, of course, an absolute ton of smartwatches to pick from, from Apple's Watch Series to Samsung's Galaxy Watch, but if you're in the Google ecosystem and want its design language, then the Pixel Watch is the one to go for.

So far, there have been two iterations of the Pixel Watch you can grab, or if you want something in the same Google family, FitBit is another alternative since it was bought out a few years ago by Google. Either way, if the offers below don't quite tickle your fancy, even though they are substantial, there are some other excellent smartwatch deals to take a look at.
Google Pixel Watch -- $242, was $280

Read more
Google just announced 8 big Android updates. Here’s what’s new
A photo of many Android figurines on a white wall.

At Moblie World Congress (MWC ) 2024, Google is bringing a healthy bunch of new features to Android. In line with the AI push all across the industry, some notable AI-driven enhancements are on the table. There are also a handful of core Android features that sound practically amazing.
The first in line is Gemini. The generative AI chatbot recently got a standalone app for Android, and now it’s headed for the Google Messages app. Users can chat with Gemini directly in the messaging app and use its generative capabilities for a host of things, like drafting replies, refining a message, and more.

Another feature that was showcased a while ago is finally ready for prime time. Android Auto is gaining support for message summarization for standalone texts and group chats, and it can also suggest replies. With a single tap, users will also be able to drop a message, start a call, and share an estimated arrival time. The idea is to deploy AI for crucial tasks so that it can minimize distractions while driving.
Lookout, an accessibility-centric feature for users with vision challenges, is also getting meaningful AI love. On Android phones, Lookout will now read AI-generated captions and descriptions for media content. For now, the AI boost to Lookout and Messages is limited to the English language.

Read more
The best Android phones in 2024: the 14 best ones you can buy
The OnePlus 12 and Pixel 8's screens.

Finding a bad Android phone is a rare occurrence these days. However, with so many options available, it can be daunting to choose the best one in 2024. In this article, we aim to help you find the Android phone you're looking for.

When looking to buy a new Android phone, there are many factors to consider. Do you prefer a large screen? How important is camera performance to you? Are you someone who enjoys gaming on your phone? Or do you need long-lasting battery life? To assist you, we have compiled a list of Android phones that cater to everyone's needs.

Read more