Emojis are an essential part of the TikTok experience, allowing users to express themselves in creative and fun ways.
But sometimes, you may encounter issues where TikTok emojis are not showing up or not working properly. Don’t worry – in most cases, this problem can be easily fixed with a few troubleshooting steps.
In this detailed guide, we will walk through the top reasons why TikTok emojis may not be working and provide step-by-step solutions to get them back up and running.
Why Are My TikTok Emojis Not Showing Up?
There are a few common reasons why the emojis on TikTok may not be loading or displaying properly:
Internet Connectivity Issues
Like most apps, TikTok requires a stable internet connection to function optimally. If you are experiencing weak or spotty connections, it can interfere with features like emojis loading properly. Make sure you are connected to a strong WiFi network or cellular data when using TikTok.
TikTok Server Problems
Sometimes the issue may originate from TikTok’s servers. Server outages or technical problems on TikTok’s end could temporarily disrupt certain features like emojis.
Outdated App Version
Using an outdated version of the TikTok app can also cause emojis and other features to malfunction. TikTok frequently rolls out updates and bug fixes, so make sure you are running the latest version of the app.
Device Software Issues
Glitches in your device’s operating system can also affect how TikTok performs. Make sure your device is updated with the latest OS version and patches to eliminate any system-level problems.
Conflicts with Other Apps
In rare cases, other apps on your device may cause conflicts with TikTok and lead to issues with emojis or other features not working correctly. Uninstalling problematic apps as a troubleshooting step may help resolve emoji problems.
Now that we’ve covered some of the common reasons why TikTok emojis may not show up, let’s move on to detailed troubleshooting steps to get them working again.
How to Fix TikTok Emojis Not Showing or Working
Follow these steps sequentially to methodically pinpoint and address the cause of your TikTok emoji issues:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
The first step is to make sure your device is connected to a stable internet connection – either WiFi or mobile data.
- If on WiFi, make sure you are connected to the correct network and that the router is functioning normally. Try moving closer to the router if the connection is weak.
- Turn off WiFi and switch to mobile data to see if that resolves emoji issues.
- Run an internet speed test on your device to check for connectivity problems or slow speeds that could disrupt TikTok.
- Restart your router and modem if you suspect an issue with your home internet network.
Having a strong, high-speed internet connection is essential for TikTok emojis to load properly on both Android and iOS devices.
2. Check for Known TikTok Server Issues
Sometimes emoji problems can originate from technical issues on TikTok’s end rather than your device.
- Visit TikTok’s status page on Down Detector to see if there are any reported problems with their services. This page tracks ongoing outages or disruptions.
- Check TikTok’s social media pages like Twitter for updates from their team on any server problems.
- You can also search online to see if other users are reporting widespread emoji issues on TikTok, indicating possible server disruptions.
- Try using TikTok on a different device – if emojis aren’t loading on multiple devices, that’s a sign it’s likely a server issue.
- If TikTok services seem disrupted, you’ll have to wait until TikTok resolves the problem on their end before emojis will work properly again. Keep an eye on their status page for updates.
3. Update to the Latest TikTok Version
An outdated version of the TikTok app can also be the culprit behind emoji display issues. TikTok frequently rolls out bug fixes and optimizations in-app updates.
- On your device, go to the App Store if you’re on iOS or the Play Store on Android.
- Search for TikTok and check if there are any pending updates available to install.
- Download and install the latest version of the app.
- The update may include fixes for emoji bugs and other issues. Reopening the app after the update usually resolves problems.
- You can enable automatic updates in your device settings to always stay up-to-date with the latest TikTok version.
Installing TikTok updates as soon as they become available can prevent annoying issues like emojis not loading properly.
4. Restart Your Device
In many cases, restarting your Android phone or iPhone can clear up temporary glitches that may interfere with emojis in TikTok.
- On the iPhone, hold down the Power button and Volume Down button together until you see the power off slider. Slide it to turn off your phone.
- For Android devices, hold down the Power button for a few seconds and tap Restart when prompted.
- Wait at least 30 seconds while your device fully shuts down.
- Then turn your device back on and unlock it.
- Once it has completely restarted, launch TikTok and see if that fixes the emoji problem.
- A restart helps refresh your device’s memory and clears up minor software issues that can affect TikTok’s performance.
5. Check Keyboard Settings
To display emojis, your phone’s keyboard needs emoji capability enabled and should be set as the default input method.
- Go to your device’s Settings or Preferences menu and select General Management or Language & Input.
- Tap on Keyboards or Virtual Keyboard to view your keyboard settings.
- Ensure that your default keyboard has emojis supported and enabled. The default iOS keyboard includes emoji capability. For Android, make sure your default keyboard app like Gboard has emoji access turned on.
- You may need to download an emoji keyboard if your default input method does not include them.
- Within your keyboard settings, you can also make sure that emoji keys are visible for easy access.
Properly configured keyboard settings are necessary for sending emojis in any app including TikTok.
6. Clear TikTok’s Cache
Over time, cached data and old files stored by the TikTok app can accumulate and cause performance issues. Wiping this data can help resolve emoji problems.
On iPhone:
Here’s how to clear TikTok’s cache using the offload app method on your iPhone:
1. Access iPhone Settings:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Locate General Settings:
- Scroll down and tap on General.
3. Find iPhone Storage:
- Within General settings, tap on iPhone Storage.
4. Wait for App List:
- Give your iPhone a moment to calculate and display the storage usage for each app.
5. Locate TikTok:
- Scroll through the list of apps and locate TikTok.
6. Tap on TikTok:
- Once you find TikTok, tap on it to access its storage details.
7. Choose Offload App:
- On the TikTok app’s storage page, you’ll see the option Offload App. Tap on it.
8. Confirm Offloading:
- A pop-up will appear, asking you to confirm the offloading process. Tap Offload App again to proceed.
On Android:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on the Profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap the three-line menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and Privacy”.
- Scroll down to the “Storage and Cache” section and tap on it.
- Tap “Clear Cache” to confirm that you want to clear the cache.
Clearing away old cached and temporary data forces TikTok to redownload fresh files which can fix emoji glitches.
7. Reinstall the TikTok App
If you are still having issues getting emojis to appear, the next troubleshooting step is to uninstall and reinstall TikTok:
- Delete TikTok from your device – find the app and tap Uninstall.
- After uninstalling TikTok, restart your device.
- Reinstall TikTok by visiting the App Store or Play Store to download the app again.
- When installing, make sure you download the latest TikTok version.
- Log back into your TikTok account once installation is complete.
- Check if emojis are now appearing normally when using the app.
Reinstalling TikTok gives you a clean slate which can eliminate problematic files causing the emoji glitch.
8. Try Disabling VPN
If you use a virtual private network (VPN) on your device, it could potentially interfere with TikTok features like emojis.
- Temporarily disable or turn off your VPN connection.
- Test TikTok to see if emojis start working properly without VPN enabled.
- If that resolves the issue, check your VPN settings – you may need to switch to a different server location for broader app compatibility.
- Contact your VPN provider for help troubleshooting emoji issues that arise when connected to their service.
- You can also try using a different VPN app altogether to see if that avoids conflicts with TikTok.
9. Double Check Your Device Language Settings
For emojis to display correctly, your device needs to be set to a language that has emoji support.
- On your iPhone or Android device, go to Settings or Preferences.
- Tap on Languages & Region or General Management > Language and Input.
- Check that your default device language is set to English (US), English (UK), Spanish, French, German, or another option with emoji capability.
- If your device language is not compatible, switch to an appropriate language via the settings.
- You may also need to adjust your TikTok app language in the app’s settings.
- Make sure your keyboard language also matches this setting.
Matching your device and keyboard language to one with full emoji support enables emoji visibility.
10. Update Your Keyboard App
Outdated keyboard apps on your device can also contribute to emojis not displaying correctly in TikTok.
- For iPhone, make sure you have the latest iOS software update installed.
- For Android devices, open the Play Store and check if there are any updates available for your keyboard app like Gboard. Install updates.
- Keyboard apps are frequently updated with new emoji libraries and bug fixes. Keeping your keyboard up-to-date prevents emoji issues.
- If your current keyboard app is very outdated, consider installing a popular keyboard like Google Keyboard that receives regular updates.
11. Try Logging Out and Back In
In some cases, simply logging out of your TikTok account and then logging back in can resolve emoji glitches.
- Open TikTok and tap the Profile icon in the bottom right.
- Select the three dot Settings menu in the upper right corner.
- Choose Manage account > Log out. Confirm log out.
- Close and relaunch the TikTok app.
- Enter your username and password to log back into your account.
- Test if emojis are now showing up normally when composing new posts and comments.
Logging out resets your account which may clear up errors that were previously preventing emojis from loading.
12. Switch to a Different TikTok Account
Determine if the problem only occurs with your main TikTok account or is device-specific by checking another TikTok account on the same phone.
- Add a secondary TikTok account to your app by signing up for a new account.
- Try sending an emoji from this alternate account.
- If emojis send successfully, then the issue is likely isolated to your primary account.
Testing with multiple accounts helps identify whether emoji issues stem from your specific TikTok account or your device.
13. Attempt Using TikTok on Another Device
To further isolate the root cause, attempt accessing your TikTok account from a different device like a friend’s phone, tablet or computer.
- Download and install the TikTok app on another device or visit TikTok.com.
- Log into your main TikTok account that is experiencing emoji problems.
- Try sending an emoji on this separate device. If it works, then you can confirm something is misconfigured on your phone or tablet specifically.
- If the emoji still doesn’t appear on the other device, then the problem is with your TikTok account rather than your hardware.
Verifying on multiple devices helps narrow down where the exact issue originates.
14. Contact TikTok Customer Support
If you have tried all of the above troubleshooting steps and TikTok emojis still aren’t working, you should directly contact TikTok’s customer support team for assistance.
- In the TikTok app, go to your profile and tap the three-dot menu. Choose Report a Problem.
- Provide details on the emoji problem you are encountering and the troubleshooting steps you’ve tried.
- Submit your support request and a TikTok representative will follow up via email.
- You can also try reaching out on TikTok’s Twitter support account.
TikTok’s support team can provide personalized help getting to the bottom of your emoji issue and getting them working properly again.
Conclusion
With TikTok being so visual, having emojis suddenly stop working can certainly be frustrating. But in most cases, this problem can be easily resolved through some basic troubleshooting. The key is approaching the issue methodically.
First make sure connectivity and app versions are current. Then toggle settings related to keyboards, languages, VPNs and apps that could impact emoji rendering. Narrow down the issue by testing multiple accounts and devices. Finally, engage TikTok support if problems persist.
Hopefully with the detailed step-by-step guidance in this guide, you now have a clear roadmap to quickly diagnose and address any problems you may encounter with TikTok emojis not showing up or functioning properly.
