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How-to · ~ 1 min

How to add a custom emoji to Slack.

Two paths: upload your own image, or grab one from a library of 98,000+ custom Slack emojis that other teams have already shared. Both take under a minute. Here’s how each works.

Option 1: upload your own image.

If you have a workspace admin role (or your admins allow members to add emoji), you can upload a PNG, JPG, or GIF straight from Slack’s emoji picker. Four steps:

  1. Step 01

    Open the emoji picker in Slack

    In any Slack channel, click the smiley-face icon in the message composer. At the bottom of the picker, click "Add emoji." (Desktop and web only; emoji uploads aren't supported in the mobile apps.)

  2. Step 02

    Upload your image

    Choose a PNG, JPG, or GIF up to 128KB and 128×128 pixels. Square images render best; Slack will scale anything larger. Animated GIFs work the same way.

  3. Step 03

    Pick a shortcode

    Give your emoji a name in :colon-case: (letters, numbers, dashes and underscores only). Once saved, anyone in your workspace can use it like :your-name: in messages and reactions.

  4. Step 04

    (Optional) Add an alias

    Want a shortcut to an existing emoji? In the same dialog, switch the tab to "Add Alias," then map a new shortcode to one you already have. Useful for nicknames, in-jokes, or shorter versions of long names.

A few rules to know:Slack caps each emoji at 128KB and recommends 128×128 px. Shortcodes must be unique inside a workspace. Workspace owners can lock uploads to admins only; if “Add emoji” is missing from your picker, that’s why.

Option 2: add one from EmojiBox.

If you don’t have an image lined up, you don’t need to make one. EmojiBox is a searchable library of 98,000+ custom Slack emojis contributed by workspaces who chose to share theirs. Three steps:

  1. Step 01

    Search 98,000+ custom emojis

    Open EmojiBox's library and search by name, topic, or vibe. Every result is a custom Slack emoji teams have actually used.

  2. Step 02

    Preview the variations

    Click any emoji to see every published variant (different artists, animations, colour schemes), then pick the one that fits your workspace's energy.

  3. Step 03

    Add to Slack in two clicks

    Sign in once with Slack, then any emoji on EmojiBox is one click away from being live in your workspace. No more downloading PNGs and re-uploading them yourself.

Browse the library →Add EmojiBox to Slack