diff --git a/native/components/emoji-keyboard.react.js b/native/components/emoji-keyboard.react.js
--- a/native/components/emoji-keyboard.react.js
+++ b/native/components/emoji-keyboard.react.js
@@ -3,6 +3,20 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
 import EmojiPicker from 'rn-emoji-keyboard';
 
+const categoryOrder = [
+  'recently_used',
+  'smileys_emotion',
+  'people_body',
+  'animals_nature',
+  'food_drink',
+  'travel_places',
+  'activities',
+  'objects',
+  'symbols',
+  'flags',
+  'search',
+];
+
 export type EmojiSelection = {
   +emoji: string,
   +name: string,
@@ -28,6 +42,8 @@
       onClose={onEmojiKeyboardClose}
       enableSearchBar
       enableSearchAnimation={false}
+      enableRecentlyUsed
+      categoryOrder={categoryOrder}
     />
   );
 }