Google usually releases a new set of emojis with each Android system update. This year, the company is likely to launch the new emojis introduced in Unicode’s Emoji 13.1 series with Android 12. Although these new emojis have not yet appeared on any Android 12 developer preview developers of Android 12, you can now on older versions of Android if you have a rooted device.
To get the new Android 12 emojis on your Android device, you need to flash the XDA Senior RKBD Emoji Magic module. The module replaces the emoji font file of your system with an updated version containing the new emojis that will appear in an upcoming Android 12 version. The module will work on any rooted Android device, and it does not require Android 12. You can download it by going to the XDA forum thread below.
Download the Emoji Magic module from RKBD
Here’s a quick look at the new emojis included in RKBD’s Magic module compared to the current set of emojis available in Android 11:
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- Android 11 Current Emoticons
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- Android 11 Emoji with RKBD Emoji 13.1 module
Note that the Magic module of RKBD contains only a partial set of Android 12 / Emoji 13.1 emojis. The stable Android 12 version will consist of a few more emojis and the following picture shows what the final set might look like. The image was taken from Jennifer Daniel’s Instagram page, which is Google’s chair of the Unicode Emoji subcommittee.
Upcoming emojis for Android 12 (image courtesy of: Jennifer Daniel)
It’s noteworthy that Gboard users also have access to the new Emoji 13.1 series in the Emoji Kitchen recent tweet of Daniel. In the tweet, Daniel reveals that Emoji Kitchen “Now supports the latest Unicode version (13.1).” For the unconscious, the Emoji Kitchen is a Gboard feature that lets you create custom emoji mash-ups. You can read more about it by following this link.
It’s also worth mentioning that Google is working on decoupling new emojis with Android system updates. This enables the company to release the latest Unicode emojis by simply moving an updated font file instead of requiring a complete system update. This change is expected to start later this year with the stable Android 12 version.