Alternatively, you can start a new chat by tapping the New Message button. It looks like a white speech balloon inside a blue circle in the lower-right corner of your Home screen.
Alternatively, you can open up a list of emojis from your device’s keyboard. On a Google keyboard (Gboard), tap and hold the smiley icon to the left of the space bar, then slide your finger to the smiley face icon. On a Samsung keyboard, tap the symbol button in the lower-left corner of your keyboard, then tap the smiley face. On Swiftkey, tap the smiley face icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Most other keyboards will have the same button configuration as one of these three keyboards above
You can also swipe left and right to switch between nature emojis, food emojis, sports emojis, and more categories.