Custom emojis in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams now allows users to add their own custom emojis and reactions by uploading an image or GIF file. These emojis and reactions are also accessible to all users in the tenant alongside the standard Teams emojis and reactions. Up to 5,000 custom emojis can be added per tenant. This feature is currently not available for EDU tenants.
The new custom emojis and reactions feature will be turned on by default. Users in the tenant will be able to upload emojis. You can preemptively turn this feature off or restrict which users can create new emojis via the Teams Admin Center controls described in this article.
Note
Custom emojis are available in cross-tenant and federated scenarios. Users outside of your tenant can't see your tenant's custom emojis in their own emoji menu, however, they can view any custom emojis that are sent to them. Furthermore, any AAD-authenticated user can access or download an emoji asset if they've obtained the content URL and image ID.
Timelines
- Targeted Release: This was completed in mid-July 2024.
- Worldwide, GCC: We began rolling out early July 2024 and expect to complete by early August 2024.
- GCC High, DoD: We'll begin rolling out early August 2024 and expect to complete by early September 2024.
How to use this feature
Custom emojis and reactions are found in the emoji and reaction menus in the Custom category. Users with upload abilities can add new content through the Plus (+) button. Users with delete abilities can select any custom emoji to delete.
Note
Deleted emojis may take up to 24 hours to reflect for all users in the tenant. Users may clear the cache on their own devices to see the removal sooner.
How to manage this feature
This feature can be managed through the Teams admin center. Admins have access to the following controls:
- Turn the feature on/off for the whole tenant via the Messaging Settings page (on by default).
- Set which users can create new emojis via the Messaging Policy groups (on for all users by default).
- Set which users can delete emojis via the Messaging Policy groups (off for all users except admins by default).
The Teams Admin Center controls are available now, by going to the Messaging Settings section and turning the use custom emojis option, found under the Custom emojis section, on or off. We recommend adjusting your settings as needed prior to late June 2024 to ensure that they're in place when the feature rolls out.
The Messaging policies section of the Teams admin center will allow you to turn the Upload custom emojis and Delete custom emojis settings on or off.
Note
Uploading custom emojis is enabled for all users by default, and the deletion of custom emojis is enabled for Admins by default.