Gboard for Android is gaining a new user control: an “Emoji size” slider that lets you adjust how big emojis appear and how many fit across your keyboard. The feature has started rolling out to beta users, offering more customization inside the keyboard’s appearance settings. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/))
What’s changing, and how it works
The new setting lives in Gboard’s Settings under Preferences > Appearance, positioned just below the font size option. It’s a slider that changes both the size of emojis and how densely they’re laid out—essentially, how many you can see in a single row. A preview above the control shows you what the changes will look like in real time. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/))
By default, users are seeing nine emojis in a row. If you move the slider toward the minimum, you can shrink that to five. Intermediate settings include several variations—on a Pixel 10 Pro, options around the middle include “8+” or “7+,” which increase emoji size modestly while keeping more of them visible in the row than the minimum. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/))
Current availability and limitations
This new emoji-size slider is appearing in beta version 18.0.3.x of Gboard. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/)) It doesn’t affect the Emoji Kitchen row at the top of the keyboard, meaning those predictive and sticker-style suggestions keep their standard size regardless of your slider setting. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/))
The timing aligns with Google’s recent updates to its design system (Material You / M3) and its refreshed set of 3D emojis seen most recently on the Pixel 11 and other devices. Users who like richer visual feedback from emoji graphics will likely appreciate this tweak. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2026/08/19/gboard-emoji-size-setting/))
This change adds a level of personalization that Gboard has lacked in the emoji department. Adjusting density and size lets people choose what works best visually, whether they want more expressive and large emojis or prefer to see a bigger inventory at a glance. The rollout to all users—beyond beta—will be worth watching, as will its impact on typing speed and emoji selection behavior. More broadly, it underscores Google’s push toward letting users fine-tune interfaces under Material You and matches dozens of other keyboard apps that already allow emoji sizing. Expect this feature to land in stable release later this year, bringing more control to casual texters and emoji enthusiasts alike.
