diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModePredictive.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModePredictive.java
index 38cd09a2..edce8f44 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModePredictive.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/ime/modes/ModePredictive.java
@@ -60,18 +60,13 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 	public boolean onBackspace() {
 		isCursorDirectionForward = false;
 
-		if (digitSequence.length() < 1) {
+		if (digitSequence.isEmpty()) {
 			clearWordStem();
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		if (digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE) && specialCharSelectedGroup > 0) {
-			specialCharSelectedGroup -= 2;
-			return true;
-		}
-
 		digitSequence = digitSequence.substring(0, digitSequence.length() - 1);
-		if (digitSequence.length() == 0) {
+		if (digitSequence.isEmpty()) {
 			clearWordStem();
 		} else if (stem.length() > digitSequence.length()) {
 			stem = stem.substring(0, digitSequence.length());
@@ -93,16 +88,12 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 			suggestions.add(language.getKeyNumber(number));
 		} else {
 			super.reset();
-			digitSequence += number;
+			digitSequence = EmojiLanguage.validateEmojiSequence(digitSequence, number);
 			disablePredictions = false;
 
 			if (digitSequence.equals(Language.PREFERRED_CHAR_SEQUENCE)) {
 				autoAcceptTimeout = 0;
 			}
-
-			// custom emoji are longest 1-key sequence, so do not allow typing any longer than that,
-			// to prevent side effects
-			digitSequence = digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE) ? EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE : digitSequence;
 		}
 
 		return true;
@@ -237,7 +228,7 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		Language searchLanguage = digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE) ? new EmojiLanguage() : language;
+		Language searchLanguage = digitSequence.equals(EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE) ? new EmojiLanguage() : language;
 
 		onSuggestionsUpdated = onLoad;
 		predictions
@@ -261,8 +252,9 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 			super.nextSpecialCharacters();
 			onLoad.run();
 			return true;
-		} else if (digitSequence.equals(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE)) {
-			nextSpecialCharacters(new EmojiLanguage());
+		} else if (!digitSequence.equals(EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE) && digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE)) {
+			suggestions.clear();
+			suggestions.addAll(new EmojiLanguage().getKeyCharacters(digitSequence.charAt(0) - '0', digitSequence.length() - 2));
 			onLoad.run();
 			return true;
 		} else if (digitSequence.startsWith(Language.PREFERRED_CHAR_SEQUENCE)) {
@@ -282,7 +274,7 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 	 */
 	private void getPredictions() {
 		// in case the user hasn't added any custom emoji, do not allow advancing to the empty character group
-		if (predictions.getList().isEmpty() && digitSequence.equals(EmojiLanguage.CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE)) {
+		if (predictions.getList().isEmpty() && digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE)) {
 			digitSequence = EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE;
 			return;
 		}
@@ -348,9 +340,7 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 
 	@Override
 	protected boolean nextSpecialCharacters() {
-		return
-			(digitSequence.equals(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE) && super.nextSpecialCharacters(new EmojiLanguage()))
-			|| (digitSequence.equals(Language.SPECIAL_CHARS_KEY) && super.nextSpecialCharacters());
+		return digitSequence.equals(Language.SPECIAL_CHARS_KEY) && super.nextSpecialCharacters();
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -405,6 +395,7 @@ public class ModePredictive extends InputMode {
 			!digitSequence.isEmpty()
 			&& predictions.noDbWords()
 			&& digitSequence.contains(Language.PUNCTUATION_KEY)
+			&& !digitSequence.startsWith(EmojiLanguage.EMOJI_SEQUENCE)
 			&& Text.containsOtherThan1(digitSequence);
 	}
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/Characters.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/Characters.java
index 46686f81..41d10fc3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/Characters.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/Characters.java
@@ -85,6 +85,10 @@ public class Characters {
 			}
 		}
 
-		return availableEmoji.size() > 0 ? availableEmoji : new ArrayList<>(TextEmoticons);
+		return availableEmoji.isEmpty() ? new ArrayList<>(TextEmoticons) : availableEmoji;
+	}
+
+	public static int getMaxEmojiLevel() {
+		return Emoji.size();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/EmojiLanguage.java b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/EmojiLanguage.java
index 1f3ff458..c0ce4add 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/EmojiLanguage.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/github/sspanak/tt9/languages/EmojiLanguage.java
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 package io.github.sspanak.tt9.languages;
 
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Locale;
 
 public class EmojiLanguage extends Language {
 	final public static String EMOJI_SEQUENCE = "11";
-	final public static String CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE = EMOJI_SEQUENCE + "1";
+	final private static int CUSTOM_EMOJI_KEY = 3;
+	final public static String CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE = EMOJI_SEQUENCE + CUSTOM_EMOJI_KEY;
 
 	public EmojiLanguage() {
 		id = Integer.parseInt(EMOJI_SEQUENCE);
@@ -23,4 +26,14 @@ public class EmojiLanguage extends Language {
 	public ArrayList<String> getKeyCharacters(int key, int characterGroup) {
 		return key == 1 && characterGroup >= 0 ? new ArrayList<>(Characters.getEmoji(characterGroup)) : super.getKeyCharacters(key, characterGroup);
 	}
+
+	public static String validateEmojiSequence(@NonNull String sequence, int next) {
+		if (sequence.startsWith(CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE) || (sequence.equals(EMOJI_SEQUENCE) && next == CUSTOM_EMOJI_KEY)) {
+			return CUSTOM_EMOJI_SEQUENCE;
+		} else if (sequence.startsWith(EMOJI_SEQUENCE) && (next > 1 || sequence.length() == Characters.getMaxEmojiLevel() + 1)) {
+			return sequence;
+		} else {
+			return sequence + next;
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/docs/user-manual.md b/docs/user-manual.md
index 748a9581..175f7fc4 100644
--- a/docs/user-manual.md
+++ b/docs/user-manual.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ For more information, [see below](#language-options).
 
 ## Hotkeys
 
+All hotkeys can be reconfigured or disabled from Settings → Keypad → Select Hotkeys.
+
 #### Previous Suggestion key (Default: D-pad Left):
 Select the previous word/letter suggestion.
 
@@ -49,16 +51,16 @@ _**Note2:** In messaging applications, you need to enable their "Send with ENTER
 - **In 123 mode:**
   - **Press:** type "0".
   - **Hold:** type special/math characters.
-  - **Hold "0", then Press "Next Mode" (Default: Hold "0", Press "#"):** type currency characters
+  - **Hold "0", then press "Next Mode" (Default: hold "0", press "#"):** type currency characters
 - **In ABC mode:**
   - **Press:** type space, newline or special/math characters.
   - **Hold:** type "0".
-  - **Press "0", then Press "Next Mode" (Default: Press "0", "#"):** type currency characters
+  - **Press "0", then press "Next Mode" (Default: press "0", "#"):** type currency characters
 - **In Predictive mode:**
   - **Press:** type space, newline or special/math characters.
-  - **Double Press:** type the character assigned in Predictive mode settings. (Default: ".")
+  - **Double press:** type the character assigned in Predictive mode settings. (Default: ".")
   - **Hold:** type "0".
-  - **Press "0", then press "Next Mode" (Default: Press "0", "#"):** type currency characters
+  - **Press "0", then press "Next Mode" (Default: press "0", "#"):** type currency characters
 
 #### 1-key:
 - **In 123 mode:**
@@ -69,20 +71,19 @@ _**Note2:** In messaging applications, you need to enable their "Send with ENTER
   - **Hold:** type "1".
 - **In Predictive mode:**
   - **Press:** type sentence characters
-  - **Double Press:** type emoji
-  - **Triple Press:** type custom added emoji (you must have added some using [the Add Word key](#add-word-key-default-press-))
+  - **Press multiple times:** type emoji
+  - **Press 1-1-3:** type custom added emoji (you must have added some using [the Add Word key](#add-word-key-default-press-))
   - **Hold:** type "1".
-  - **Double Press "1", then press "Next Mode" (Default: Press "1", "1", then keep pressing "#"):** select between the predefined emoji groups
 
 
 #### 2- to 9-key:
 - **In 123 mode:** type the respective number
-- **In ABC and Predictive mode:** type a letter character or hold to type the respective number.
+- **In ABC and Predictive mode:** type a letter or hold to type the respective number.
 
-#### Add Word Key (Default: Press ✱):
+#### Add Word Key (Default: press ✱):
 Add a new word to the dictionary for the current language.
 
-You can also add new emoji. Then access them by pressing 1-1-# (change "#" with the "Next Mode" key, if you have changed the default). Regardless of the selected language at the time of adding, all emoji will be available in all languages.
+You can also add new emoji and then access them by pressing 1-1-3. Regardless of the currently selected language, all emoji will be available in all languages.
 
 #### Backspace Key:
 Just deletes text.
@@ -97,15 +98,15 @@ _**NB 2:** Holding "Back" key will always trigger the default system action (i.e
 
 _In these cases, you could assign another key (all other keys are fully usable), or use the on-screen backspace._
 
-#### Next Input Mode Key (Default: Press #):
+#### Next Input Mode Key (Default: press #):
 - **Press when there are no suggestions:** Cycle the input modes (abc → ABC → Predictive → 123). Note that only 123 mode is available in numeric fields and Predictive mode is not available in password fields.
 - **Press while suggestions are on:** Toggle the suggestions between UPPERCASE and lowercase. In case the suggestions are only special characters, switch to the next character group.
 - **Number-only fields:** No special action. Type a "#" with the default key. Changing the mode is not possible in such fields.
 
-#### Next Language Key (Default: Hold #):
+#### Next Language Key (Default: hold #):
 Select the next language, when multiple languages have been enabled from the Settings.
 
-#### Settings Key (Default: Hold ✱):
+#### Settings Key (Default: hold ✱):
 Open the Settings configuration screen.
 
 #### Change Keyboard Key (Default: _unassigned_):
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ Open the Android Change Keyboard dialog where you can select between all install
 ## On-screen Keypad
 On touchscreen-only phones, a fully functional on-screen keypad is available. Enable it from Settings → Appearance → Show On-Screen Numpad.
 
-It is also recommended to disable the special behavior of "Back" key working as "Backspace". It is useful only for a hardware keypad. To do so, go to: Settings → Keyboard → Select Hotkeys → Backspace key, then select the "--" option.
+It is also recommended to disable the special behavior of "Back" key working as "Backspace". It is useful only for a hardware keypad. To do so, go to: Settings → Keypad → Select Hotkeys → Backspace key, then select the "--" option.
 
 If you do have a hardware keypad and prefer having more screen space, disable the software keys from the Settings → Appearance.