EmojiIf a friend sends an emoji and you see an empty square or a question mark, it is not your friend's fault. Your device does not have a picture for that emoji.
Why it happens
Unicode adds new emoji about once a year. Each phone and computer needs a software update to draw the new ones. Until it gets one, it shows a box.
How to fix it
- Update your system. A newer phone or computer update often includes the newest emoji.
- Update the app. A messaging app can have its own emoji pictures.
- Ask the sender what the emoji was, or to write the word.
- Use older emoji yourself when you write to people who may have older phones.
Windows and flags
Windows computers show flag emoji as two letters, for example IN for India, instead of a picture. That is normal, not a fault.
About the version
The emoji data on this site is Unicode emoji version 18.0. Newer emoji may not show on older devices.
See also how to type emoji.
Questions people ask
Will the box ever become a picture?
Yes, once your device or app is updated to a version that includes that emoji.