How to add a custom emoji to Slack

Adding an emoji takes a minute once your image is ready. The only real work is getting the file to 128 × 128 pixels and under 128 KB.

Open the converter

Step by step

  1. Prepare the image

    Convert your picture to a 128 × 128 PNG or GIF under 128 KB with the Slack Emoji Converter.

  2. Open the emoji picker

    In Slack on desktop or in the browser, click the emoji icon in the message box.

  3. Choose Add Emoji

    Select Add Emoji at the bottom of the picker, then upload your file.

  4. Name it

    Give the emoji a short lowercase name without spaces, then save. People can now type it between colons.

Before you start: prepare the image

Slack expects a square image of 128 × 128 pixels, 128 KB or less, as a PNG, JPG or GIF. Use the converter on the home page to crop and resize any picture to those values; your image is not uploaded anywhere while you do it.

Choosing a good name

The name is what people type between colons, such as :party-parrot:. Keep it short and descriptive, in lowercase with dashes or underscores instead of spaces. Prefixes make a family of emojis easy to find, for example :team-ship: and :team-fire:.

If you cannot add emojis

Workspace owners can limit who is allowed to add custom emojis. If you do not see Add Emoji, or the upload is refused, ask a workspace admin. If Slack says the image is too large, see why your Slack emoji is too big.

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone add custom emojis to Slack?
Not always. Workspace admins decide whether every member or only admins can add custom emojis.
Can I replace an emoji after uploading it?
You can remove the old emoji and upload a new file, or upload under a new name. Check your workspace’s emoji settings for the options.

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