How to Make Emojis in Slack

Emojis have become an integral part of our digital communication, adding fun and depth to our messages. Slack, a popular team collaboration tool, allows users to personalize their communication even further by creating custom emojis.

In this article, we will explore the step-by-step process of making emojis in Slack, from opening your workspace to naming and saving your custom emojis. We’ll delve into the benefits of using custom emojis in Slack, such as enhancing communication and boosting team morale, as well as the limitations to be mindful of.

We’ll discuss how to effectively use custom emojis in Slack, whether in messages, channel names, or your Slack status. If you’re looking to elevate your Slack communication with personalized emojis, this article will guide you through the process and provide valuable insights into their usage.

What Are Emojis?

Emojis are small digital icons or symbols used to convey emotions, ideas, or concepts in digital communication.

They have become an integral part of modern communication, enriching texts and social media posts with visual cues and expressions. From simple smileys and facial expressions to animals, food, and everyday objects, emojis provide a versatile way to add context and tone to written messages. Their evolution has seen a proliferation of diverse emojis to represent a wide spectrum of emotions and cultural nuances. Their widespread usage has made them an essential aspect of digital conversations, contributing to the universal language of online communication.

What Is Slack?

Slack is a text-based messaging app and digital communication tool designed for workplace collaboration and integration.

It provides a platform for teams to communicate in real-time through channels, direct messages, and file sharing. With its intuitive interface and seamless integration with various tools and services, Slack streamlines communication and enhances productivity. Users can create channels for different projects, departments, or topics, making it easy to organize discussions and share updates. Slack offers advanced search functionality, customizable notifications, and the ability to integrate with third-party apps for a tailored communication experience.

How To Make Emoji In Slack?

Creating custom emojis in Slack allows users to personalize their communication experience by adding unique visual representations to their messages.

To start creating custom emojis in Slack, navigate to the desired Slack workspace and click on the ‘Add Custom Emoji’ option, which can be found by clicking on the workspace name in the top left corner and selecting ‘Customize Slack’ from the drop-down menu. Once there, select the ‘Emoji’ tab and click on ‘Add Custom Emoji.’

Next, choose or create the image you want to use as your custom emoji. You can upload an image from your local storage and crop it accordingly. After that, provide a suitable name for your emoji, ensuring it’s easily recognizable. Click on ‘Save’ to add the custom emoji to your collection for use in messages and reactions.

Step 1: Open Slack Workspace

To create custom emojis in Slack, start by opening your Slack workspace and navigating to the customization options.

Once you are in your Slack workspace, look for the settings icon usually located at the top right corner of the screen. Click on it and select ‘Customize Slack’ from the dropdown menu. Next, navigate to the ‘Emoji’ tab where you can upload and manage custom emojis.

Click on the ‘Add Custom Emoji’ button, and then upload the image you want to turn into an emoji. Give your emoji a name, and it will be ready to use across your Slack channels.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Customize Slack’ Option

Once in your Slack workspace, click on the ‘Customize Slack’ option to access the customization settings for emojis.

This can be found by first navigating to the top-left corner of your screen and locating the workspace name. Click ‘More’, then select ‘Customize Slack’ from the drop-down menu.

Next, a new window will open, where you can select ‘Emoji’ from the left-hand navigation. Here you can add new emojis, organize existing ones, and even create emoji aliases. Utilize this feature to personalize your workspace and add a touch of fun to your communications with colleagues.

Step 3: Select ‘Add Custom Emoji’ Option

After accessing the customization settings, select the ‘Add Custom Emoji’ option to begin the process of creating a custom emoji.

Once you’ve chosen the ‘Add Custom Emoji’ option, you will be prompted to upload an image for your custom emoji. Make sure the image meets the specified requirements, such as size and format, to ensure optimal display.

Next, you’ll need to add a unique name for your emoji, something that effectively describes the expression or emotion it represents. Take your time to craft a name that adds value to your collection. Click ‘Save’ to complete the creation of your custom emoji.

Step 4: Choose the Image You Want to Use as an Emoji

Choose the image you want to use as a custom emoji from your device or from the available options to personalize your Slack communication.

When selecting an image from your device, ensure that it’s of good quality and has clear visibility, as emojis are usually displayed in small sizes. If you are using existing images, make sure they align with your team’s communication style and are appropriate for professional use.

For uploading new images, consider creating designs that reflect your team’s personality or inside jokes to add a touch of fun to your Slack conversations. It’s important to maintain a balance between creativity and professionalism when choosing custom emojis for your workspace.

Step 5: Name Your Emoji

Once you’ve chosen the image, name your custom emoji to assign a recognizable identifier for its use within your Slack workspace.

Giving your custom emoji a clear and descriptive name is crucial for efficient communication and collaboration. This helps users easily identify and find the emoji they need when expressing emotions or reactions in conversations.

A practical naming convention includes using keywords that reflect the emoji’s meaning or emotion, such as ‘thumbsup’ for a thumbs-up emoji or ‘laughcry’ for a laughing-crying emoji. By incorporating relevant terms into the names, users can quickly search for and utilize the appropriate custom emojis in their interactions.

Step 6: Save Your Custom Emoji

After naming your custom emoji, save it to make it available for use in your Slack workspace, enhancing your messaging and communication experience.

Once you have named your custom emoji, navigate to the ‘Customize Your Workspace’ section in Slack and select ‘Emoji’.

Next, click on the ‘Add Emoji’ button, and upload the image file of your custom emoji. Once uploaded, give it the same name you assigned earlier. Click ‘Save’ to finalize the process.

Your custom emoji will then be available for use in your Slack workspace, allowing you to personalize your messaging and add a touch of creativity to your conversations.

What Are the Benefits of Using Custom Emojis in Slack?

Using custom emojis in Slack offers several benefits for messaging and communication, enhancing the expressive and personalized nature of interactions within the platform.

They provide a fun and creative way for team members to express themselves and convey emotions more effectively. By using custom emojis, users can personalize their messages, making interactions more engaging and meaningful. This not only fosters a sense of camaraderie and connection but also creates an inclusive environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel seen and understood.

Custom emojis add a layer of personality to conversations, allowing teams to communicate in a more playful and relatable manner.

Enhances Communication

The use of custom emojis in Slack enhances communication by adding visual elements that convey emotions, reactions, and context to messages.

This integration of custom emojis provides a more expressive and engaging way for team members to interact with one another. These emojis can help to reinforce the tone of a message, lighten the mood, or provide emphasis, ultimately fostering a more cohesive and enjoyable communication experience.

By allowing users to create and use custom emojis, Slack encourages a sense of individuality and personal expression within teams, leading to a more inclusive and dynamic environment for collaboration.

Adds Personalization to Messages

Custom emojis add a personalized touch to messages in Slack, allowing users to express themselves uniquely and creatively in their communication.

These custom emojis enable individuals to infuse their personality into conversations, fostering a more inclusive and engaging environment. By utilizing emojis that reflect their emotions, hobbies, or even inside jokes, team members can better connect on a personal level, transcending the limitations of text-based communication.

This personalized approach helps to create a friendly and comfortable atmosphere, encouraging open and expressive dialogue within the Slack community.

Increases Team Morale

The presence of custom emojis in Slack contributes to an uplifted team morale by fostering a sense of camaraderie and lighthearted engagement within the workspace.

These custom emojis provide a means for team members to express emotions, reactions, and camaraderie in a more personalized and relatable way. By using custom emojis, team members can create a positive and inclusive atmosphere, where everyone feels valued and understood.

The use of custom emojis can lighten the mood during discussions and help build a more collaborative and supportive environment within the Slack workspace, ultimately enhancing overall team morale and productivity.

What Are the Limitations of Using Custom Emojis in Slack?

While custom emojis offer expressive advantages, their usage in Slack is subject to certain limitations and considerations, impacting their effectiveness within the platform.

Users on certain Slack plans may face restrictions in the number of custom emojis they can upload, potentially limiting the diversity of expressions available. The overuse of custom emojis can lead to confusion among users, affecting the clarity of communication within Slack channels. This may result in misunderstandings and a less efficient workflow.

Excessive use of custom emojis can diminish their impact, making them less effective in conveying emotions or important messages.

Limited to Certain Plans

The availability and utilization of custom emojis in Slack may be limited to specific subscription plans, restricting access for users on certain tiers of service.

This means that depending on the subscription level, some users may not have the option to create or use custom emojis. For instance, users on free or basic plans might encounter limitations when it comes to accessing and implementing custom emojis within their Slack workspace.

On the other hand, subscribers to higher-tier plans may benefit from a wider range of options for creating and utilizing custom emojis, thereby enhancing their communication and expression within the platform.

May Cause Confusion for New Users

The introduction of numerous custom emojis in Slack may lead to confusion for new users, impacting their familiarity with the platform’s emoji-based communication.

These custom emojis, while adding a fun and personalized aspect to communication, can also create challenges in understanding their meanings and associations within specific channels or conversations. To address this, new users can benefit from orientation sessions or tutorials focusing on the meaning and usage of key emojis in the workspace.

Creating a comprehensive guide or resource page dedicated to explaining the context and appropriate use of custom emojis can significantly aid in orienting new users and promoting seamless communication within the platform.

Can Be Overused

The overuse of custom emojis in Slack can diminish their intended impact and lead to visual clutter within the communication interface, potentially affecting user experience.

This excessive use of custom emojis may also pose challenges in conveying genuine emotions and context, as the numerous emojis may overshadow the actual messages. An overabundance of emojis can make it difficult for users to quickly locate important information within conversations, leading to confusion and reduced productivity.

To maintain a balanced approach, it is essential for users to exercise restraint and use custom emojis judiciously, ensuring that they enhance communication rather than overshadow it.

How To Use Custom Emojis in Slack?

Utilizing custom emojis in Slack extends beyond the creation process, encompassing their application in messaging, channel names, and user statuses for enhanced communication.

Custom emojis can add a touch of creativity and personality to your messages, making them more engaging and expressive. For example, you can use a thumbs-up emoji to show agreement or support, a lightbulb emoji to convey an idea, or a heart emoji to express appreciation.

Incorporating emojis in channel names can help categorize and organize topics, while using them in user statuses can indicate availability or mood. Understanding how to use emojis effectively can significantly improve the clarity and impact of your communication on the platform.

In Messages

In messages, custom emojis can be incorporated to add visual emphasis, convey reactions, or personalize the tone of communication within Slack.

These custom emojis play a significant role in enhancing communication, allowing users to express emotions, provide instant feedback, or inject humor into conversations. For instance, a team discussing a project milestone can celebrate with a emoji, showcasing their support and enthusiasm. In a customer support channel, a emoji can be used to convey friendliness and approachability.

Custom emojis not only add flair to messages but also facilitate clearer and more engaging communication, fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere in Slack interactions.

In Channel Names

Custom emojis can be utilized within channel names on Slack to visually represent or highlight the purpose or theme of different channels within the workspace.

These custom emojis serve as visual cues that can effectively convey the essence of a channel, making it easier for team members to quickly identify and engage with relevant discussions. For instance, a marketing channel can use emojis like to signify analytics discussions, or ‍ to symbolize tech-related topics.

This not only adds a touch of creativity but also enhances the overall user experience by offering a more intuitive and visually appealing navigation of the workspace.

In Your Slack Status

Custom emojis can be integrated into your Slack status to convey specific messages, moods, or activities, adding a personalized touch to your online presence within the workspace.

These custom emojis play a significant role in expressing individuality and creating a more engaging environment for communication. For instance, users can use emojis to indicate their availability, such as a coffee cup for a quick break or a clock to signify being away momentarily. Emojis can reflect one’s mood ranging from happy and productive to stressed or focused, allowing others to understand the user’s current state better.

Team members can personalize their status updates when sharing project progress or achievements with relevant emojis, reinforcing a sense of camaraderie and adding a touch of fun to professional interactions.