Kaomoji keyboard for iPhone: get, add, and save kaomoji
Kaomoji are Japanese-style text faces like (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ and ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. This guide shows you how to get kaomoji on iPhone, add them to your keyboard, save your favorites, and use them in any app without searching every time.
Quick answer
You have two good ways to get kaomoji on iPhone. For occasional use, add the Japanese Kana keyboard in iOS and open its emoticon list. For everyday use, save your favorite kaomoji as custom keys in WordBoard so you can tap them from your keyboard in Messages, Mail, Notes, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.
If you want the fastest setup for repeated use, WordBoard is the better kaomoji keyboard: your faces are labeled, organized into folders, and available one tap away.
What is kaomoji?
Kaomoji are text-based emoticons made from punctuation, symbols, and Japanese characters. Unlike standard emoji, kaomoji are plain text. That means they work almost anywhere you can type, and you can copy, edit, combine, and save them like normal text.
- Happy: (＾▽＾)
- Shrug: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- Love: (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
- Table flip: (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
- Nervous: (；ω；)
How to get kaomoji on iPhone
There are three practical options, depending on how often you use kaomoji.
Option 1: Use the built-in Japanese keyboard
iPhone can show a built-in emoticon list through the Japanese keyboard. This is useful if you only need kaomoji occasionally and do not care about saving a custom library.
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Go to General, Keyboard, Keyboards.
- Tap Add New Keyboard.
- Add Japanese, then choose Kana.
- When typing, switch to the Japanese keyboard with the globe key and open the emoticon list.
The downside is speed. You still need to switch keyboards, browse the built-in list, and find the face you want.
Option 2: Save kaomoji in WordBoard
WordBoard turns kaomoji into tappable keyboard keys. You choose the faces you actually use, label them clearly, organize them by mood, and insert them anywhere with one tap.
- Download WordBoard from the App Store.
- Enable WordBoard in Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards.
- Create a folder named Kaomoji.
- Add your favorite kaomoji as keys with short labels like Shrug, Happy, Love, or Table Flip.
- Switch to WordBoard in any app and tap a kaomoji key to insert it.
For a focused walkthrough, see how to add kaomoji to iPhone keyboard.
Option 3: Use iOS Text Replacement
For a few simple faces, Apple Text Replacement can work. Go to Settings, General, Keyboard, Text Replacement and create a shortcut like ;shrug that expands into ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
This is fine for a handful of shortcuts, but it becomes hard to manage when you want groups, labels, or a larger kaomoji collection.
Best kaomoji to save first
Start with a small set you will actually use. Once those are in your keyboard, add more by mood or context.
| Category | Kaomoji | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Happy | (＾▽＾) | Friendly replies and casual messages |
| Shrug | ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ | Light uncertainty or playful indifference |
| Love | (づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ | Warm, affectionate replies |
| Excited | o(>ω<)o | Excitement, wins, and celebrations |
| Table flip | (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ | Exaggerated frustration |
| Nervous | (；ω；) | Apologies, awkward moments, or sympathy |
How to save favorite kaomoji on iPhone
iPhone does not give you a dedicated kaomoji favorites panel in the standard emoji keyboard. The practical fix is to save your most-used faces somewhere you can reach while typing.
- Best option: save kaomoji as WordBoard keys and keep them in a Kaomoji folder.
- Simple option: create a few iOS Text Replacement shortcuts.
- Manual option: keep a note full of kaomoji and copy from it when needed.
If you also want to save standard emoji, see how to favorite emojis on iPhone.
Kaomoji keyboard vs emoji keyboard
| Feature | iPhone emoji keyboard | WordBoard kaomoji keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Standard emoji | Yes | No, WordBoard is for saved text and snippets |
| Kaomoji | Available through Japanese keyboard setup | Saved as your own custom keys |
| Favorites | Limited to iOS recents and keyboard behavior | Organize your own folders and labels |
| Best for | Occasional emoji and built-in emoticons | Repeated kaomoji, snippets, and reusable text |
For standard emoji workflows, see the iPhone emoji keyboard guide.
Why WordBoard is better for regular kaomoji use
- No hunting. Your favorite faces are visible as labeled keys.
- No copy and paste. Insert kaomoji directly where you are typing.
- Folders by mood. Keep Happy, Cute, Shrug, Angry, and Work folders separate.
- Works anywhere. Use kaomoji in Messages, Mail, Notes, Instagram, WhatsApp, and any app that accepts keyboard input.
- More than kaomoji. Keep text snippets, quick replies, links, sign-offs, and templates in the same keyboard.
If you use snippets as well as kaomoji, read the text replacement keyboard for iPhone guide.
Troubleshooting kaomoji on iPhone
- I cannot find kaomoji in the emoji keyboard. Add the Japanese Kana keyboard, or save your own kaomoji in WordBoard.
- My kaomoji loses characters. Save the exact face as a WordBoard key so it inserts as plain text.
- I forget my Text Replacement shortcuts. Use labeled WordBoard keys instead of memorized codes.
- The wrong keyboard opens. Hold the globe key and choose WordBoard or Japanese from the keyboard list.
- I want categories. Create folders for mood, tone, or situation.
FAQ
- How do I get kaomoji on iPhone? Add the Japanese Kana keyboard for the built-in emoticon list, or save your favorite kaomoji as custom keys in WordBoard for faster access.
- How do I add kaomoji to my iPhone keyboard? Install WordBoard, enable the keyboard in iOS Settings, create a Kaomoji folder, and add each face as a custom key.
- Does iPhone have kaomoji built in? iPhone can show emoticons through the Japanese keyboard, but it does not give you a dedicated custom kaomoji library with folders and labels.
- Can I save favorite kaomoji on iPhone? Yes. Save them as WordBoard keys or create iOS Text Replacement shortcuts for a small set.
- Do kaomoji work in every app? Yes. Kaomoji are plain text, so they work in most apps where you can type.
- What is the fastest kaomoji keyboard for iPhone? WordBoard is fastest if you use kaomoji regularly because your saved faces are one tap away and organized by label or folder.