Microsoft Teams will become "more inclusive, personalized, and engaging" thanks to this new feature

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Customizing the skin tone of your emojis and reactions will soon sync across Microsoft Teams clients.

Microsoft Teams on Android
Microsoft Teams will soon let you customize skin tones for emojis and reactions. (Image credit: Future)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Teams will soon support setting the skin tone of emojis within the app.
  • Your skin tone of choice will then extend across emojis and reactions and sync across clients.
  • Skin tone customization is now in testing among those in Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release.
  • The feature is supported on Teams clients on Windows, macOS, Web, Android, and iOS.

Microsoft Teams has a new feature in the works that makes the app more inclusive. Now in testing, skin tone customization allows you to set the skin tone of reactions and emojis within Teams. The setting makes reactions more personal and reflective of those communicating within the app. Microsoft announced the feature this week and is now testing in among users in Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release.

It's already possible to send emojis with a selected skin tone on most operating systems. For example, within the people section of the emoji panel on Windows 11, you can select your skin tone of choice. But the addition of skin tone customization to Teams syncs the setting across clients, which saves a few steps.

Microsoft Teams emoji skin tone selection

Microsoft Teams will soon support setting the skin tone of emojis and reactions. (Image credit: Microsoft)

"Customizing your skin tone in emojis and reactions enables you to better represent your physical appearance and express yourself more authentically in virtual meetings and conversations," said Microsoft when announcing the feature. "It contributes to a more inclusive, personalized, and engaging experience."

Altering skin tone settings changes the default for all emojis and reactions, but you can also change the skin tone of a specific emoji or reaction within Teams. To do so, right-click an emoji or reaction if you're on Teams for Windows, macOS, or the web or long-press an emoji or reaction on Teams for Android or iOS.

Here's how to change skin tone settings within Teams, as listed by Microsoft:

  1. To change skin tone settings, select Settings and more (…) > Settings >Appearance and accessibility, and then select the option you want under Skin tone. Applies to Windows, Mac, Web, Android and iOS.
  2. Or set your skin tone directly in the emoji and reaction menus. Just hover over a message in a chat or select the Emoji, GIFs and Stickers button in the message box, select the Customize button next to the Search box, choose the skin tone you want, and then save. Applies to Windows, Mac, and Web

Big changes for Teams

Skin tone customization for emojis is a welcome change to Teams, but it's not the only new feature in the works. Microsoft just announced arguably the biggest change in Teams history recently. The app will revamp how chats, channels, and teams are organized. The new chat and channels experience will bring all text-based communication under a single section that you can then customize.

The new chats and channels experience will enter public preview testing in November and ship to iOS, Android, and the various desktop versions of Teams in the near future.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_. 

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • joshcsmith13
    What?? No Green??! racists.
    Reply
  • bdhadfield
    Okay, but I'm not yellow. Seems it's customizable only for people of color (darker skin tones). Where are the shades of "whiteness"? Lol. I'm serious. If you want to help us represent ourselves...
    Reply