- Gboard lets you merge emojis to create custom stickers quickly and easily.
- The Emoji Kitchen feature offers thousands of possible combinations, although not all emojis can be mixed.
- The combinations are sent as stickers and can be used on WhatsApp, Telegram, and other apps that support Gboard.
Gboard , the popular keyboard developed by Google for Android devices, not only offers a fast and predictive typing experience, but also stands out for its advanced customization features. One of the most valued and original is the ability to merge emojis to create custom stickers, bringing to life fun and unique new combinations that reflect your mood or your creativity in conversations.
By merging two or more emojis, you can express complex emotions, create icons that don't yet exist, and make your chats much more personal. In this guide, we'll show you how to merge emojis in Gboard step by step , along with tips and tricks, limitations, alternatives, and everything you need to know to master this feature and wow your contacts.
What is the emoji merge feature in Gboard?
Emoji merging in Gboard , also known as Emoji Kitchen , is an exclusive feature that lets you combine two different emojis to create a new image, blending the most representative characteristics of each. This tool turns selected emojis into custom stickers that you can send in apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Gmail, and many others that support Gboard. You can learn more about how it works in this article dedicated to emoji combinations.
Unlike standard emojis, these combinations appear as larger images (similar to stickers), maintaining great sharpness and color across all your Android devices. Among the most notable advantages of this feature are:
- custom expression: Create more creative and unique messages by combining emotions and elements that don't exist together in the standard emoji catalog.
- Easy to use: You don't need any external apps or technical knowledge. Everything is built right into the Google Keyboard.
- Thousands of combinations: Google regularly updates Emoji Kitchen, increasing the number of supported emojis and allowing you to experiment with new combinations.
- Wide compatibility: It works on most messaging and social media apps that support Gboard.
When you combine emojis, Gboard will automatically show you different sticker options based on the emojis you choose. For example, if you choose a ghost 👻 and add the heart emoji ❤️, you can get a ghost in love sticker—something totally original and outside the usual selection.
How Emoji Kitchen Works on Gboard: Everything You Need to Know
Emoji Kitchen is the name Google has given to its emoji fusion lab within Gboard. This tool uses artificial intelligence and predefined combination patterns to create unique stickers when you select two (or in some cases, more) emojis consecutively from the keyboard. The process is completely automatic, and the feature suggests the best possible combinations, displaying them right above the keyboard. To learn more about how to create these fusions, you can visit this article on how to use emojis on Android.
Some key features of Emoji Kitchen that you should know:
- Not all emojis are combinable: Although the database grows periodically, currently only certain emoji categories can be mixed together. If you choose two incompatible emojis, the keyboard simply won't suggest combinations.
- The order matters: Depending on the first emoji selected, the mix suggestions will change, as the base emoji defines the theme of the resulting sticker.
- Diversity of results: For the same pair of emojis, several alternative versions often appear so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
- Constant updates: Google regularly adds new emojis and combinations, expanding the creative possibilities.
Step by step: How to merge two or more emojis with Gboard
Follow these steps to get the most out of the emoji merge feature on your Android device:
- Open any compatible chat or app: WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, or any messaging app and social network where you can type with Gboard.
- Make sure you have Gboard as your default keyboard: If you don't have it yet, download it from the Google Play Store and install it. Activate it as your default keyboard from your device's settings. Languages and inputs > On-screen keyboard > Gboard.
- Access the emoji section: Press the smiley face icon, usually located next to the space bar.
- Select the first emoji: This will be the basis for the combination. It can be an emoji of an object, animal, facial expression, etc.
- Select the second emoji: Choose the accessory you want to merge. For example, a heart, a teardrop, a star, etc.
- Check out the sticker suggestions at the top of the keyboard.: If the combination is compatible, you will see several options for merged stickers.
- Tap the suggestion you like best to automatically insert it into the chat..
It's important to note that stickers generated by merging emojis cannot be manually edited or customized , but you can continue experimenting with different combinations until you find the one you like best.
Tips, tricks, and popular emoji combinations on Gboard
To get the most out of emoji merging in Gboard, keep in mind the following tips and tricks:
- Use mood emojis (joy, sadness, anger, surprise) as a base and combine them with elements of objects, animals, or fantasy for surprising stickers. You can also learn to .
- Try different orders: The result varies greatly depending on whether you invert the first or second selected emojis.
- Experiment with the newest emojis: Google often adds support for newly released emojis on Android, expanding the possibilities even further.
- If the combination does not generate a stickerTry other pairs until you find a compatible match. The catalog is extensive, and new options are always being added.
Some popular combinations include:
- 👽 + 😂 = Alien laughing
- 💩 + 😊 = Happy poop
- 🐱 + 😍 = Cat in love
- 👻 + 🥰 = Ghost in love
- 🤖 + 😱 = Surprised robot
- 🥳 + 🎉 = Party and celebration
How many emoji combinations does Emoji Kitchen support on Gboard?
The number of possible combinations has increased with each Gboard update. Currently, there are over 2.000 possible combinations and more than 400 different emojis compatible with Emoji Kitchen. However, not all combinations produce a result due to technical and design limitations: there are some pairings that Google has not yet developed as stickers.
Among the most compatible emojis are the classic ones of emotions, animals, objects and some special ones for holidays or celebrations, while others such as flags, numbers, or some specific to professions do not yet allow combination.
Limitations and things to consider when merging emojis in Gboard
Despite the great freedom that Emoji Kitchen offers, there are certain technical and usage limitations :
- It is not possible to merge more than two emojis at a time. If you select three, only the last two will be considered for suggestions.
- Not all combinations appear: Some emoji pairs don't generate stickers, even if they look compatible.
- Only available on Gboard for AndroidEmoji Kitchen is currently not available on iOS via Gboard. It also doesn't work with other keyboards or from each app's built-in emoji picker.
- Suggestions appear before sending the messageIf you don't choose a suggested combination before sending the emoji, only the individual emoji will appear in the text.
- Merged emojis are sent as stickers and not as traditional emojis within the text.
If you try an unsupported mix, Gboard will notify you with a message in the suggestion bar and will not generate an image.
Turn off or on the emoji combinations feature in Gboard
If you prefer not to see sticker suggestions every time you insert an emoji, you can disable the emoji merging option in Gboard settings by following these steps:
- Open the app Gboard or enters the keyboard settings from your device.
- Choose Preferences.
- Look for the section Emojis, stickers and GIFs.
- Disable the option emoji stickers o Emoji Explorer Suggestions (the name may vary depending on your version).
Remember that you can reactivate it whenever you want to get all the creative merges back in your chats. To learn more about customizing your Android, you can visit this article about customizing the lock screen in Android 14.
Alternatives for creating and combining emojis on Android
If you're looking for even more customization options, in addition to Gboard's native feature, there are third-party apps and online tools that allow you to merge emojis or create your own stickers and emojis from scratch. Some of the most notable include:
- Emoji Kitchen Online: A web tool for easily combining emojis and copying the result to any social network or app.
- Bitmojis: An app that lets you create a digital avatar and custom emojis based on your own face and style, making it a great option if you're looking for additional customization.
Each of these alternatives has its own peculiarities, advantages, and limitations, but if you're looking for speed and compatibility, combining emojis in Gboard remains the most convenient and secure option.
FAQs and common issues when merging emojis with Gboard
- Can I merge three or more emojis? No, Gboard only allows the combination of two emojis at a time. If you select more than one, only the last two are used.
- Can I use the combinations in any application? Yes, as long as the app allows typing with Gboard and accepts custom stickers, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and most messaging apps. You can find more information here.
- Is there Emoji Kitchen on iOS? As of today, Emoji Kitchen is only available on the Android version of Gboard, although you can use the web version of Emoji Kitchen as an alternative on iOS devices.
- No new combinations appear, what do I do? Make sure you've updated the Gboard app from the Google Play Store. New combinations are typically added with each major update.
- Are the combinations the same for all users? Generally yes, although there may be slight differences depending on the Gboard version and region.
