You can change emoji skin tones on most devices, but color options depend on your device and app
Most phones and computers let you pick a skin tone for emoji that show people — like the waving hand, thumbs up, or person shrugging. The method differs between iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac, and some apps (like older versions of Facebook Messenger or some workplace chat tools) do not support color changes at all. The emoji itself stays the same; you are only changing how it appears on your screen and in messages you send.
Emoji that show objects — like food, animals, or hearts — do not have color options. Only emoji depicting skin tones, hair color, or clothing can be customized. On most devices, you hold down or long-press the emoji to see available colors, then tap the one you want.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, press and hold any people emoji to see skin tone options, then tap the shade you prefer.
- On Android phones, long-press a people emoji and select from the color palette that appears above it.
- On Windows 11, open the emoji picker with the Windows key plus period, find a people emoji, and click the skin tone you want.
- On Mac, press Control-Command-Space to open the emoji picker, then click a people emoji and select a skin tone from the menu.
- Some apps like Slack, Discord, and iMessage support color changes, but older or less common apps may not.
How to change emoji colors on iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad, press and hold any emoji that shows a person until a menu appears. The emoji will enlarge, and below it you will see a row of skin tone options ranging from light to dark. Tap the shade you want, and that emoji will change to your selection.
Once you pick a skin tone, your device remembers it. The next time you use that same emoji, it will default to the color you chose. If you want to switch back to the original yellow tone, press and hold the emoji again and tap the yellow option at the left end of the row.
This works in iMessage, Notes, Mail, and most third-party apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. It does not work in some older or less common apps that have not been updated to support emoji variants.
How to change emoji colors on Android phones
On Android, long-press (hold your finger on) any people emoji in your keyboard or message field. A palette of skin tones will appear above the emoji. Tap the color you want, and the emoji will change when ready.
Android remembers your choice for future use of that emoji. If you use Google's Gboard keyboard, Samsung's keyboard, or most other standard Android keyboards, this feature works the same way. Some third-party keyboards like Swiftkey also support it, though the menu may look slightly different.
Like iPhone, this works across most messaging apps including WhatsApp, Telegram, Gmail, and Facebook Messenger. Older versions of some apps may not display the color palette, in which case you can try updating the app from the Google Play Store.
How to change emoji colors on Windows 11
On Windows 11, press the Windows key and the period key at the same time (Windows + .) to open the emoji picker. Search for or scroll to find a people emoji, then click on it. A small menu will appear showing skin tone options. Click the shade you want.
Windows 11 will remember your choice for that emoji going forward. The emoji picker works in most apps including Outlook, Teams, Discord, and web browsers. If you are using Windows 10, the emoji picker works the same way, though the interface looks slightly different.
On older Windows versions (Windows 7 or earlier), there is no built-in emoji picker. You would need to copy and paste emoji from a website or use a third-party app.
How to change emoji colors on Mac
On Mac, press Control-Command-Space to open the emoji picker. Find a people emoji by scrolling or searching, then click on it. A menu will appear showing skin tone options. Click the shade you want, and it will be inserted into your message or document.
Mac saves your preference for that emoji. The next time you insert it, it will use the color you selected. This works in Mail, Messages, Notes, web browsers, and most apps that accept text input.
If the keyboard shortcut does not work, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Keyboard, then check that "Show emoji and symbols" is enabled in the Input Sources list.
Apps that support and do not support emoji color changes
Most modern messaging and social apps support emoji color changes, including iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Discord, Slack, and Gmail. Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, and Twitter (now X) also support it on most devices.
Some apps do not support color changes even though your device does. This usually happens with older apps that have not been updated, apps made by smaller companies, or workplace tools that use a custom emoji system. If you long-press or hold an emoji in one of these apps and no color menu appears, the app straightforward does not support the feature.
If an app you use frequently does not support emoji colors, check the app store (Apple App Store or Google Play) to see if an update is available. Updating the app often adds support for newer emoji features.
Emoji with multiple color options beyond skin tone
Some emoji have color choices that go beyond skin tones. For example, the heart emoji comes in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, and white. The flag emoji lets you choose any country or region. Hair color options appear on some people emoji — you can select blonde, red, curly, or white hair on certain figures.
These work the same way as skin tone changes: press and hold (or long-press) the emoji, then select from the options that appear. Your device will remember which version you prefer and use it by default next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change emoji colors on my work computer or school account?
It depends on your device and what software your organization uses. If you are using Windows 11 or Mac with standard apps like Outlook or Gmail, emoji color changes work normally. If your workplace uses a custom chat platform or has restricted emoji features, color changes may not be available. Check with your IT department if you are unsure.
Why do emoji colors look different on my phone than on my friend's phone?
Different devices and operating systems render emoji slightly differently. An emoji you send as a certain skin tone will display as that same tone on the recipient's device, but the exact shade and style may look a bit different depending on whether they use iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac. This is normal and does not affect what color the recipient sees you chose.
If I change an emoji color, will it change in old messages I already sent?
No. Once you send a message, the emoji color is locked in. If you change your preference for that emoji after sending a message, the old message will not update. Only new messages you send will use your new color choice.
Can I change the color of emoji in a document I am writing, like in Word or Google Docs?
Yes. Use the same method as you would in a message: on Mac, press Control-Command-Space; on Windows, press Windows + period. Select your emoji and choose the color you want. It will be inserted into your document with that color applied.
What if I want to use the yellow emoji instead of a skin tone?
Press and hold the emoji and select the yellow option, which is usually the first or leftmost choice in the color palette. Your device will then default to yellow for that emoji until you change it again.