The quickest way to add emoji

To add an emoji in Slack, click the smiley face icon at the bottom right of the message box, then click the emoji you want. The emoji appears in your message when ready. You can also type a colon followed by the emoji name — for example, :thumbsup: or :tada: — and Slack will show you matching emoji as you type.

Both methods work the same way whether you are on a computer, phone, or tablet. The smiley icon is always in the same spot: at the right edge of the text field where you type your message.

If you use an emoji often, Slack remembers it. The most recent emoji you have used appear at the top of the emoji picker, so you do not have to search for them again.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the smiley face icon at the bottom right of the message box to open the emoji picker and choose from hundreds of options.
  • Type a colon and the emoji name (like :smile: or :rocket:) to insert emoji without opening the picker.
  • Slack shows you recently used emoji at the top of the picker so you can find them faster.
  • You can add emoji to reactions on other people's messages by clicking the smiley icon next to their message.
  • Custom emoji created by your workspace appear in the picker alongside standard emoji, but only members of that workspace can see them.

Finding emoji by searching

When you click the smiley face icon, a search box appears at the top of the emoji picker. Type any word related to what you want — for example, "party" or "celebrate" — and Slack shows you all matching emoji. This is faster than scrolling through categories when you are looking for something specific.

Slack also groups emoji by category: smileys, people, food, travel, objects, symbols, and flags. You can click the category tabs at the bottom of the picker to browse by type. The category tabs look like small icons — a smiley face for emotions, a hamburger for food, and so on.

Using emoji reactions on messages

You can add emoji to someone else's message without typing a reply. Hover over (or long-press on a phone) any message in the conversation, and a row of icons appears above it. Click the smiley face icon on the right side of that row to open the emoji picker.

When you choose an emoji, it appears as a small reaction below the message, with a number showing how many people have used that same emoji. If you click the same emoji again, your name is added to the list of people who reacted with it. This is useful for quick feedback — a thumbs-up to show you agree, or a laughing face to show something was funny — without cluttering the conversation with full messages.

Typing emoji codes instead of clicking

If you remember the name of an emoji, typing is often faster than clicking. Start typing a colon in the message box, followed by letters. Slack shows you matching emoji as you type. For example, :th shows you thumbs-up, thumbs-down, and other emoji starting with "th". Press Enter or click the emoji you want, and it inserts into your message.

This method works for standard emoji and for custom emoji your workspace has created. If you are not sure of the exact name, type a related word — :happy finds smiling faces, :fire finds flame emoji, and so on. Slack is flexible with partial matches.

Understanding custom emoji in your workspace

Some Slack workspaces have custom emoji created by members — these might be inside jokes, company logos, or branded images. Custom emoji work exactly like standard emoji: you can add them by clicking the picker or typing their name with a colon. They appear in the same picker as all other emoji, usually at the end of the list or in a separate section.

Custom emoji are only visible to people in that workspace. If you send a message with a custom emoji to someone outside your workspace, they see the emoji name in brackets instead of the image. Only members of the workspace where the emoji was created can see what it actually looks like.

Adding emoji on phones and tablets

On a phone or tablet, the process is the same as on a computer. Open the message box and look for the smiley face icon — on most phones it is at the bottom right of the keyboard area. Tap it to open the emoji picker, then tap the emoji you want. You can also type a colon and the emoji name, just like on a computer.

If you are using Slack's mobile app and the smiley icon is not visible, make sure the keyboard is open. Sometimes the icon only appears when the text field is active and ready for input. On some Android phones, you may also use your phone's built-in emoji keyboard if you prefer — Slack accepts emoji from any source.

Troubleshooting when emoji do not appear

If you type an emoji code and it does not turn into an emoji, you may have misspelled the name. Try opening the emoji picker and searching for the word you want — this shows you the correct spelling. Some older emoji names have been changed in newer versions of Slack, so if you remember an old name that no longer works, search for a related word instead.

If emoji appear as boxes or question marks in your message, this is usually a display issue on the other person's device, not a problem with how you sent it. Their phone or computer may not support that particular emoji, or they may be using an older version of their operating system. The emoji was sent correctly — it just displays differently on their end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create my own custom emoji for my workspace?

Yes, if your workspace allows it. Go to your workspace name at the top left, select "Customize Slack", then click "Emoji" in the left menu. Click "Add Custom Emoji" and upload an image. Only workspace admins can control whether members are allowed to create custom emoji, so check with your admin if the option is not available to you.

What if I do not know the emoji name to type?

Use the emoji picker instead. Click the smiley face icon and either scroll through categories or type a related word in the search box. Slack shows you all matching emoji, so you can find what you want without knowing the exact name.

Do emoji reactions count as messages?

No. Emoji reactions do not create a new message in the conversation. They are a lightweight way to respond without adding text. This keeps conversations cleaner and is useful for quick feedback or voting on ideas.

Can I use emoji from my phone's keyboard instead of Slack's picker?

Yes. Slack accepts emoji from any source — your phone's built-in emoji keyboard, your computer's emoji panel, or Slack's own picker. The emoji will display the same way to other people regardless of where you inserted it from.

Why do some emoji look different on different devices?

Each operating system (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) designs emoji slightly differently. The emoji you send is the same, but how it looks on someone else's screen depends on what device they are using. This is normal and does not affect how the emoji works in Slack.