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First, find where the emoji look different
Compare an emoji in Samsung Keyboard’s picker with the same emoji in the app where it looks different. If the picker itself changed, check the active keyboard and its settings. If the picker looks as expected but the emoji differs in one app, the issue may be that app’s rendering rather than Samsung Keyboard.
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Android apps can implement their own emoji rendering. Android Developers recommends using the system emoji font so emoji in an app visually match the default keyboard and other system surfaces. Android’s guidance on supporting modern emoji and its system-consistency guideline explain this distinction.
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Make Samsung Keyboard the default
If another keyboard is active, selecting Samsung Keyboard can restore the Samsung keyboard’s picker and input behavior. On many Galaxy devices, go to Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default > Default keyboard, then choose Samsung Keyboard. Samsung notes that settings screens can vary by device, software version, and wireless provider; if the menu path differs, search Settings for “Samsung Keyboard.” Samsung’s keyboard settings instructions provide the relevant steps.
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Reset Samsung Keyboard settings
- Open Settings and search for Samsung Keyboard.
- Open the keyboard settings and scroll to Reset to default settings.
- Tap Reset keyboard settings and confirm.
Samsung describes this option as resetting keyboard settings to their defaults, and says downloaded languages are not removed. It does not document the reset as an emoji-artwork rollback. The same settings area may offer separate options to erase personalized predictions or clear cache; those are different controls, not documented ways to restore older emoji artwork. Samsung’s keyboard feature guide describes the reset and related options.
Check emoji access and suggestions
Samsung Keyboard settings include emoji and sticker suggestions, and the keyboard toolbar includes an emoji control. These settings affect suggestions and access; Samsung does not identify them as controls for changing the emoji artwork to an earlier design. If the emoji picker is missing or suggestions have changed, check these settings, but do not expect them to reverse an update’s design changes. Samsung’s guide to keyboard settings covers these options.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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If only one app shows different emoji
Check that app for an update and consult its support information if the appearance remains inconsistent. Resetting Samsung Keyboard will not necessarily change emoji that the app has already rendered or how it displays emoji received in messages. Android’s developer guidance recommends the system emoji font for consistent appearance, but individual apps can use their own rendering approach.
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Emoji artwork and available features can vary with software and app versions. Samsung’s One UI 5.1.1 feature page records 88 new emojis and 10 new animations for creating emoji pairs; this is a feature noted by Samsung in 2024, not a count of all emoji on a particular phone or proof of which update changed yours. Samsung’s One UI 5.1.1 feature page describes those additions.
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The practical distinction is: keyboard selection changes which keyboard you use, resetting changes Samsung Keyboard preferences, and an app’s rendering determines how emoji may appear within that app. Samsung’s documented controls cover the first two—not a guaranteed downgrade to previous emoji artwork.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
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