How to Use Microsoft Teams Emoji, Reactions, and GIFs

To use Microsoft Teams emoji and GIFs, select Emoji, GIFs and Stickers in the message box. To react to someone’s message, hover over it and choose a reaction. During a meeting, use React in the meeting controls instead.

These built-in options do not require a separate messaging app. The instructions below focus on desktop and web use; the example screens show the relevant controls, although your layout may vary.

Choose an emoji, message reaction, or GIF

How to send emoji in Microsoft Teams

1. Open the picker. In a chat or channel compose box, select Emoji, GIFs and Stickers, then use the Emoji gallery. Search for a specific emoji or browse the available categories.

   

2. Insert and send. Select an emoji, add any accompanying text, and select Send. Choosing an emoji inserts it into your draft; it does not automatically send the message.

   

On Windows, Windows key + . (period) opens the Windows emoji panel while you are typing. An emoji entered this way becomes part of your message, rather than a reaction attached to someone else’s message.

How to add and remove message reactions

3. Add a quick reaction. Hover directly over the message, then choose an emoji from the toolbar that appears. The reaction shows beneath the message; you do not need to open its ellipsis menu first.

   

4. Choose another reaction. Select More reactions, represented by a smiley with a plus sign, to open the larger collection.

   

5. Remove your reaction. Select the reaction you previously added again. If you want a different one, remove the unwanted reaction and choose its replacement.

   

Teams is not limited to six message reactions. Current documentation describes up to five customizable quick choices and up to 20 reactions per message. See Microsoft’s message reaction guide for details.

A reaction can acknowledge an update, but it is not a complete record of who read a message or opened a shared file. Request an explicit reply when confirmation matters.

How to find and send GIFs

6. Search the GIF gallery. Open Emoji, GIFs and Stickers, select GIFs, and enter a search phrase such as “thank you.”

   

7. Review and send the GIF. Select a result to place it in your draft, add text if needed, and select Send.

   

The same picker also includes stickers. For the shared insertion workflow, see Microsoft’s emoji, GIF, and sticker instructions.

Do not assume every GIF is appropriate for work. Organizations can disable Giphy or apply content restrictions through Teams messaging policies. Choose content that fits the audience, particularly in customer conversations or sensitive discussions.

How to use live reactions in a meeting

8. React during the meeting. Select React in the meeting controls, then choose an available reaction, such as Like, Love, Applause, Laugh, or Surprise.

   

Live reactions appear temporarily over a participant’s video or profile picture and during shared content. They differ from reactions attached to chat messages. Microsoft supports them in the desktop and web apps; see Microsoft’s live reaction guidance.

If GIFs or reactions are missing

• Look in the combined picker. Current Teams instructions use one emoji, GIF, and sticker control rather than requiring a separate GIF button.
• Check organization restrictions. Ask IT whether Giphy and Optional Connected Experiences are enabled. Team or channel settings can also affect availability.
• Check meeting permissions. If live reactions are unavailable, ask the organizer or IT administrator whether they are enabled.

For personalization, Teams offers emoji skin tone preferences for hand gestures and people emoji. Your default applies across chats, channels, and meetings, while emoji you receive retain the sender’s chosen tone. The preference does not change every symbol in the gallery. If it is missing, Microsoft recommends checking that you are using the latest Teams version.