Customize Reaction Emojis?

Question

I would like to add a simple check mark as a reaction option in Outlook, the current emojis are not very helpful in clearly conveying if an email has been completed. Can I customize the options myself? If not, is there a plan to roll out any new icons?

Answer 1

Hi @M Grace,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

I'd love to give you some of my insights regarding customizing reaction emojis in Outlook.

Currently, you cannot customize the reaction emoji set in Outlook. The available reactions are limited to a fixed set of emojis like:

• 👍 Thumbs Up
• ❤️ Heart
• 🎉 Celebrate
• 😂 Laugh
• 😮 Surprise
• 😢 Sad

These are built into the Outlook interface and cannot be modified or expanded by users at this time.

 

As of now, Microsoft has not announced plans to allow custom reaction emojis or add a check mark to the default set. The current roadmap focuses on improving notification sounds and syncing reactions across devices, but not emoji customization.

You can access the Microsoft Outlook update timeline through the official Roadmap.

Alternatively, as a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the Outlook · Community portal. This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered for future improvements. 

You've clearly identified an interesting update, and your suggestion reflects a deep understanding of user needs - feedback like yours is truly valuable and helps shape the future of Microsoft Teams. 

Sharing your experience through this channel is one of the most effective ways to advocate for improvements that benefit both you and the broader community.  

Once you’ve submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here. I’d be happy to upvote it to help increase its visibility. 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not influence product design decisions and have limited access to internal development details, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope you find this information helpful. 

Thank you sincerely for your understanding regarding this limitation. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out at any time. 

Hope everything goes wonderfully for you. 

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Answer 2

I’d love to see at minimum a simple tick added as an emoji/reaction option in Outlook. In my view, a thumbs-up can mean either “I’ve seen your email” or “I agree with your response,” which can be ambiguous.

In my experience, I often receive or assign small tasks via email. Having the ability to tick - or receive a tick reaction -would make it easy to confirm task completion without sending another email. This would help reduce unnecessary email traffic, which is the ultimate goal.
I would be happy for someone to point me in the right direction if there is somewhere I can up vote this.

I’m not sure a thumbs-down or sad reaction would be helpful in a workplace context. Without explanation, it can create confusion about what’s wrong and how to fix it. It may also feel unprofessional or dismissive, impact morale, and even lead to unnecessary tension. Written feedback provides clarity and constructive guidance, which is better for collaboration.

Answer 3

Emoji Reactions Customization - Feature Request

The best way to request Reaction Emoji Customization is by Voting for this Feature Request and adding your suggestions as a Comment on the Request. This provides much more visibility to your suggestions than commenting on an old Q&A thread that is only seen by people following this thread.

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Emoji Reactions Customization - Feature Request
Open this link: https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/idea/2ea6e827-84be-f011-aa43-7c1e526e4a18
(You must "Sign In" at the top right of the Feedback page before you can vote).