Enabling emoji keyboard in Windows 10 EN_IE locale

d31b0y

So, I was searching for an emoji keyboard for Windows 10 recently and noticed that an emoji keyboard was automatically made available in the 'Fall Creators Build' but only for EN_US locale. This pissed me off - I assume it's to do with translations.

Anyway, the keyboard works fine when you change locale on the fly so the functionality is there so I went on the hunt to find how to enable to the shortcut key for EN_IE locale.

Turns out the emoji keyboard can be disabled by modifying some keys in
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Input\Settings\proc_1\loc_0409\im_1

loc_0409 looks very like a locale identifier 😊 (Win 10 emoji right there)

Find the locale you want the emoji keyboard enabled for in this list;
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/default-input-locales-for-windows-language-packs

In our case (English - Ireland), we need 1809.
Add the following dword entries with value 1 to
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Input\Settings\proc_1\loc_1809\im_1

EnableExpressiveInputEmojiInputHistory
EnableExpressiveInputShellHotkey
EnableExpressiveInputSystemInitiated
EnableExpressiveInputUserInitiated



That's it. No restart or anything else required.
I assume this will work for other locales but I haven't tested.
Here's a usage guide for the emoji keyboard.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3223429/windows/windows-10-how-to-type-emoji-on-your-pc.html

I didn't see this info online anywhere so thought I would share. I suspect you only need the regkey 'EnableExpressiveInputShellHotkey' to enable but I haven't tested.