What does Cracking Face mean?
As the name suggests, this is a face that is cracking apart. It is one of the newest emojis, arriving with Emoji 18.0 in 2026, so many phones and computers do not support it yet and may show an empty box instead. The idea of cracking lends itself to breaking under pressure, a calm front finally giving way, or simply “cracking up” with laughter. Its everyday meaning will settle as more people get access to it.
Cracking Face is an emoji from the Smileys & Emotion category (smiling faces), added in Emoji 18.0 in 2026. It is one of the newest emojis, so older phones and computers may not display it until they get a system update.
Example messages
Cracking Face on Apple, Google, Microsoft & more
The code is the same everywhere, but every company draws its own artwork. This is how Cracking Face looks on each platform.
More smiling faces emojis
See all 15 →Cracking Face emoji: questions & answers
How do I copy and paste the Cracking Face emoji?
Press the Copy button at the top of this page and is copied to your clipboard. Then paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V, Cmd+V or a long press on your phone.
When was the Cracking Face emoji added?
Cracking Face was added in Emoji 18.0, released in 2026. Because it is so new, it only shows up on devices with the latest system updates; older devices may show an empty box instead.
Why does look different on my phone?
Every platform draws its own artwork for Cracking Face. The underlying code (U+1FAEB) is the same everywhere, so the person you send it to always gets the same emoji, just in their device’s style. Compare the designs in the platform section above.