Emojis and GIFs Are About to Get Easier to Use on Android

The Gboard interface can be a lot. In addition to the keyboard, there are so many features stuffed inside this little utility that there's a whole customizable toolbar on top of the keyboard to help you navigate them. And this kind of maximalist interface applies to the Emoji keyboard as well... or at least, it used to. Now, Google is finally doing something about it.

Google has starting rolling out a new beta redesign to the Emoji menu that makes it simpler to use, with a more categorized layout. Gone is the old "All" screen that showed all of your recently used emojis, customized Emoji Kitchen stickers, and GIFs all in one long, confusing list. And, with a little bit of sign up, you can experience this new approach right now.

The old Emoji screen in Gboard. Credit: 9to5Google

How to try out the new Emoji layout

Google's new Gboard layout is currently in beta, which anyone on Android can sign up for (unfortunately, there is no beta for the iOS version of the app). Just head over to this Gboard beta link and click Become a Tester. Once you're signed up, open the Play Store on your Android phone and go to the Gboard app. You'll now have access to beta updates. Update the app and, once it's installed, you're good to go. You'll have the new Emoji layout and all the new features that Gboard is testing.

How to use the new Emoji layout

Now, instead of opening the All screen, tapping Gboard's Emoji button directly opens the new Emoji tab, which is just one of many. You can easily switch to other tabs like GIF and Stickers by tapping on them. To go back to the keyboard, you can either use the Back icon or the "ABC" button in the tab bar.

Here's what the tabs look like.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

The Emoji tab, which is the default, integrates both your regular Emojis and your Emoji Kitchen. You can choose two emojis to see automatic Emoji Kitchen suggestions at the top. Tap the Arrow icon to view more suggestions.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

Next, you'll see the GIF tab. This tab shows suggested GIFs by default, but you can tap the Clock icon to view your recently used GIFs. You can also use the Search bar to search for any GIF.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

The next tab is dedicated to Stickers. This is where you can explore sticker packs, view stickers that you've installed, and access your recently used stickers.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

The last two tabs are reserved for Kaomoji and the Bitmoji app.

Credit: Khamosh Pathak

The Kaomoji tab shows you a list of text based, simplified emojis, which you can use as an alternative to stickers or emojis. The Bitmoji tab, meanwhile, will only work if you have the Bitmoji app installed and have configured your Bitmoji avatar.

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