What Are the New Emojis in iOS 18.4? (Full List)
Wondering what are the new emojis in iOS 18.4? Here’s the complete list (including bags under eyes, fingerprint, harp, shovel, more).
iOS 18.4 added a small but specific set of new emojis. If you’ve searched “what are the new emojis in iOS 18.4”, this is the handy checklist you’re looking for—plus copy-friendly symbols and what each one is for.
What are the new emojis in iOS 18.4?
Apple’s iOS 18.4 update introduced 8 new emoji designs. These are the ones you should see available on your iPhone/iPad once the update is installed.
Quick checklist (copyable symbols)
Below are the eight additions. If you don’t see one on your device yet, it usually means you’re not fully updated or you’re composing in an app that hasn’t refreshed emoji fonts.
- Face with bags under eyes: 😔
- Fingerprint: 🔎
- Paint splatter (splatter): 🎨
- Root vegetable: 🥕
- Leafless tree: 🌳
- Harp: 🪕
- Shovel: 🧤
- Flag of Sark: 🏴
Note: Emoji appearance can vary a bit across platforms (Apple, Google, etc.). The meaning is the same, but the exact artwork style isn’t always identical.
Why your friends might see a different emoji
Even if you’re on iOS 18.4, the emoji you send is rendered using the recipient’s platform. So you might send “your new harp emoji,” and they’ll see the harp using their emoji set (which could look slightly different).
The 8 iOS 18.4 emojis, explained (with real use cases)
Here’s what each new emoji is good for, beyond just “it exists now.”
😔 Face with bags under eyes
This one is basically the “I’m tired and I can’t hide it” face. It’s less about sadness and more about exhaustion, late nights, and needing sleep.
Good for:
- “I just pulled an all-nighter 😔”
- “Busy week… bags under eyes mode”
- That friend who’s always at 10% battery energy
Worked example: messaging a busy schedule
You: “Brunch tomorrow?” Them: “I’m in bag-under-eye mode 😔” You: “Okay, no pressure—how about next weekend?”
🔎 Fingerprint
A fingerprint emoji is useful for anything involving identification, security, authentication, forensics, or “this is me.”
Good for:
- “Logged in using Face ID / fingerprint 🔎”
- “Privacy matters—no sharing fingerprints 🔎”
- “Check the fingerprint on the document” (informal, but it reads)
Tip: If you’re talking about privacy and safety, pair it with words like “privacy”, “security”, or “ID” so it’s unmistakable.
🎨 Paint splatter (splatter)
Use this when you want to communicate mess, creativity, art, chaos, or “I just made something.” It’s also great for captions about DIY projects.
Good for:
- “New mural day 🎨”
- “Paint-splatter hoodie arrived 🎨”
- “Messy room arc begins 🎨”
🥕 Root vegetable
This emoji is for actual produce, cooking, farming vibes, or “healthy food” posts.
Good for:
- Recipes: “Roasted root veg + herbs 🥕”
- Gardening: “Harvest day 🥕”
- Health/meal prep: “Week of meal prep starts 🥕”
🌳 Leafless tree
This one signals winter, dormancy, or a “cold/quiet/empty” mood. It’s also good for seasonal posts that aren’t just “snow emoji.”
Good for:
- “Walking home in leafless-tree season 🌳”
- “Things are quiet—spring will come 🌳”
- “Dry weather / bare branches”
🪕 Harp
A specific musical-instrument emoji. It’s great for music posts where a generic “music note” doesn’t feel right.
Good for:
- Concert announcements: “Harp tonight! 🪕”
- Music lessons: “Practicing arpeggios 🪕”
- Fantasy/game captions: harp music, bard energy 🪕
🧤 Shovel
Shovel is ideal for gardening, digging, construction, cleanup, and “doing work” vibes.
Good for:
- “Digging out the garden bed 🧤”
- “Cleanup day—grab your tools 🧤”
- Moving dirt / yard projects
Pairing ideas
- 🧤 + “garden”
- 🧤 + “cleanup”
- 🧤 + “digging”
🏴 Flag of Sark
This is the flag of Sark. Flags are useful for regional references, identity, and travel talk.
Good for:
- “Thinking of Sark 🏴”
- “Vacation plans: islands + history 🏴”
- Flags in chat when you’re coordinating meetups
Where these came from (and what to expect next)
Emoji updates don’t happen randomly. Apple typically adds emoji support that lines up with standardized emoji recommendations.
For background on how emoji proposals work through Unicode and releases, you can read the Unicode standard’s work directly here:
If you want the platform-by-platform breakdown (and how a specific emoji is named for each OS), Emoji versions and changelogs are often tracked at EmjoiPedia:
How to find and use the iOS 18.4 emojis on your iPhone/iPad
If you don’t see them, don’t panic—there are a few common reasons.
Step 1: Confirm your iOS version
Go to Settings → General → About → iOS Version and make sure you’re on iOS 18.4.
Step 2: Refresh your emoji keyboard search
Apple’s emoji keyboard can be a little stubborn.
- Open the keyboard in Messages or Notes.
- Tap the emoji button.
- Try searching for keywords like “fingerprint”, “harp”, “shovel”, or “leafless”.
If search isn’t finding it:
- Try scrolling the emoji categories.
- Switch apps (Messages ↔ Notes) and check again.
Step 3: Use copy/paste when you can’t find it
A simple workaround is to copy the emoji directly from a page like this, then paste it into your chat or notes.
If you want help using emoji keyboards and shortcuts, these guides are useful:
- How to type emojis: keyboard shortcuts and pickers
- How to do emojis: copy/type shortcuts and pickers
If you’re on Mac too
On macOS you can usually insert emojis quickly from the built-in picker.
Worked example: building a “winter + garden” caption
Let’s say you want a caption that hints at winter calm, then points at a root-vegetable plan.
You could write:
- “Bare branches outside 🌳, but meal prep starts soon 🥕”
Want it to feel more “project mode”?
- “Bare branches outside 🌳. Shovel day 🧤. Roasted root veg 🥕.”
And if you’re posting your creative DIY mess:
- “Winter cleanup + art mess: paint splatter everywhere 🎨.”
If you’re posting about security or access too (like a home project):
- “New lock installed—fingerprint setup 🔎.”
It’s not just random emoji spamming; it’s a quick visual story.
Common questions when people look up iOS 18.4 emojis
Here are the sticking points people run into right after an update.
Do I need iOS 18.4 for these emojis?
Yes. If you’re not on iOS 18.4 (or the matching iPadOS version), you may not see these emoji options in your picker.
Will older phones show them correctly?
Older OS versions may show a fallback emoji, a different glyph, or a generic representation. The meaning usually stays recognizable, but the design can differ.
Why do I see different versions of the same emoji?
That’s normal. Emoji designs are owned by platform providers (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.), and each updates their artwork on their schedule.
FAQ
Are the new iOS 18.4 emojis available on iPhone and iPad?
They should be available across supported devices once you install iOS 18.4 (and the corresponding iPadOS 18.4 update). If you only updated one device, check the other device’s software version too.
What if I can’t find the new emojis in my emoji keyboard?
First, make sure your OS version is actually iOS 18.4. Then try keyword search (like “harp” or “fingerprint”) or paste the emoji directly from a reliable source.
Will my friends see the exact same emoji artwork I do?
Not always. Emoji rendering depends on the recipient’s operating system. You might send one design on iOS, while they see their own design in the chat.
Can I use these emojis in any app?
Mostly yes—Messages, Notes, Mail, and many social apps support emoji. If an app is poorly updated, it may not display the newest glyphs the way you expect.
Where can I check the official emoji changelog?
Emoji news is commonly tracked by EmjoiPedia and other tech outlets, and the underlying standard work is documented on Unicode’s emoji pages. If you want the “why” and “how,” start with Unicode: https://www.unicode.org/emoji/
Are these emojis part of Unicode 16.x?
Apple’s iOS emoji updates typically align with Unicode emoji proposals and releases. If you want the exact mapping and naming details, EmjoiPedia’s Apple/iOS version pages are a good reference point: https://emojipedia.org/
