Adjusting your Teams video appearance includes changing how your hand gesture emoji looks. If you have ever wondered how to change skin tone in Teams, you are not alone. Many users want their reactions to feel more personal and inclusive. Microsoft Teams lets you pick a skin tone for your hand emojis, like thumbs up or wave. This small change can make your virtual communication feel more authentic. The process is quick and works on desktop, web, and mobile apps. You do not need admin rights or special settings. Just a few clicks and you are done. Let us walk through every step so you can customize your Teams experience today.
How To Change Skin Tone In Teams
Changing your skin tone in Teams is simpler than you think. The setting lives inside the emoji picker, not in the main settings menu. You only need to do it once, and it applies to all your reactions. Here is the full breakdown for every device.
On Windows And Mac Desktop App
Open Microsoft Teams on your computer. Click the emoji button in the chat or meeting compose box. This opens the emoji panel on the right side. Look for the hand gesture emoji category, usually the second icon from the left. Select any hand emoji, like the thumbs up or raised hand. You will see a small arrow or dot next to the emoji. Click it to reveal the skin tone options. Choose from five tones: default yellow, light, medium-light, medium, medium-dark, and dark. Your selection saves automatically. Next time you use a hand emoji, it will show your chosen tone.
On The Web Browser Version
The web version works almost identically. Go to teams.microsoft.com and sign in. Start a chat or open a meeting. Click the smiley face icon to open emojis. Find the hand gestures section. Pick a hand emoji and click the small arrow beside it. Select your prefered skin tone. The change sticks for your entire session and future ones. Note that some older browsers might not show the skin tone selector. Use Edge or Chrome for best results.
On Mobile (IOS And Android)
Open the Teams app on your phone. Tap the emoji icon in any chat. Swipe left until you reach the hand gestures category. Tap and hold on any hand emoji. A pop-up menu appears with skin tone options. Slide your finger to choose the tone you want. Release to set it. The tone applies to all hand emojis you use from now on. On Android, the process is exactly the same. If you have trouble, make sure your app is updated to the latest version.
What About Meeting Reactions?
Meeting reactions like thumbs up, heart, and applause also use your skin tone setting. Once you set it in the emoji picker, it carries over to the meeting toolbar. In a meeting, click the reactions button (the hand icon). You will see your hand emoji with the chosen tone. Other participants see your reaction with that tone too. This works for both raised hand and emoji reactions. No extra steps needed.
Does It Affect Profile Picture Or Background?
No. Changing skin tone only affects hand gesture emojis. It does not change your profile picture, background, or any other visual element. Your video feed stays the same. This setting is purely for emoji reactions. Some users confuse it with changing their avatar or virtual background. Those are separate settings under “Devices” and “Background effects.” Skin tone is only for emojis.
Why Customizing Skin Tone Matters
Representation in digital tools matters more than ever. When you use a hand emoji that matches your skin tone, it feels more like you. It reduces the generic, impersonal feel of virtual communication. Teams is used by millions of people worldwide. Offering skin tone options makes the platform more inclusive. It acknowledges that users come from different backgrounds. For many, it is a small but meaningful way to express identity. It also helps in professional settings where you want to be seen as your authentic self. Plus, it is just more fun to use emojis that look like your own hand.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Forgetting to click the arrow next to the emoji. Many users miss this step and think the option is not there.
- Setting the tone on one device and expecting it to sync to another. The setting is per device, not per account.
- Assuming it changes all emojis. Only hand gesture emojis are affected. Face emojis and objects stay the same.
- Using an outdated version of Teams. Update your app regularly to ensure all features work.
Does It Sync Across Devices?
Unfortunately, no. The skin tone setting does not sync between your desktop, web, and mobile apps. You have to set it separately on each device. This is a known limitation. Microsoft might change this in the future, but for now, repeat the steps on every device you use. It only takes a few seconds per device. Keep a mental note to do it after you install Teams on a new computer or phone.
Step-By-Step Guide For Desktop
- Open Microsoft Teams on your computer.
- Go to any chat or channel.
- Click the emoji icon in the message box.
- Click the hand gesture icon (second from left).
- Select a hand emoji, like thumbs up.
- Click the small arrow or dot that appears next to the emoji.
- Pick your skin tone from the five options.
- The emoji now shows your chosen tone.
- Test it by sending the emoji in chat.
Step-By-Step Guide For Mobile
- Open the Teams app on your phone.
- Tap a chat conversation.
- Tap the emoji icon in the text field.
- Swipe left to the hand gestures section.
- Tap and hold on any hand emoji.
- A pop-up menu shows skin tones.
- Slide your finger to the tone you want.
- Release to set it.
- Use the emoji in chat to confirm.
Troubleshooting Skin Tone Issues
Skin Tone Option Not Showing
If you do not see the skin tone selector, check your Teams version. Update to the latest version. Also, try using a different emoji. Some hand emojis, like the “call me” hand, might not have the option. Use a common one like thumbs up or raised hand. On mobile, make sure you are tapping and holding, not just tapping. The pop-up only appears on long press. If still missing, restart the app.
Skin Tone Resets After Update
Sometimes after a Teams update, your skin tone setting resets to default. This is a known bug. You will need to set it again. Check your settings after every major update. It is a minor inconvenience but easy to fix. Just follow the steps again.
Skin Tone Not Applying In Meetings
If your skin tone shows correctly in chat but not in meeting reactions, try this. Close and reopen the meeting. Or, set the tone again while in the meeting. Click the reactions button, then the emoji picker, and select the tone. It should stick for that meeting. For future meetings, set it in a chat first.
Advanced Tips For Power Users
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to open the emoji picker faster. On Windows, press Win + . (period) to open the emoji panel. On Mac, press Control + Command + Space. This works in Teams too. Then navigate to hand gestures and set your tone. Another tip: if you use multiple Teams accounts, you have to set the skin tone for each account separately. The setting is per account per device. Also, if you are in a breakout room, your skin tone carries over from the main meeting. No extra steps needed.
Does It Work In Channel Posts?
Yes. When you reply to a channel post or create a new one, the emoji picker works the same. Your skin tone setting applies to all hand emojis in channel messages. Other members see your chosen tone. This is useful for team announcements where you want to add a personal touch.
Can You Remove Skin Tone?
Yes. To go back to the default yellow tone, follow the same steps. Click the hand emoji, then the arrow, and select the default yellow option. This resets your skin tone. You can change it as many times as you want. There is no limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change skin tone in Teams for a specific emoji?
You cannot set different tones for different emojis. The tone you choose applies to all hand gesture emojis. If you want a different tone, you have to change it globally. Every hand emoji will use the same tone.
Does changing skin tone in Teams affect other Microsoft apps?
No. The setting is specific to Teams. It does not affect Outlook, Word, or other Microsoft 365 apps. Each app has its own emoji settings. You have to set skin tone separately in each app if you want it.
Why is my skin tone not saving in Teams?
This usually happens due to a cache issue. Try clearing your Teams cache. On Windows, close Teams, delete the contents of %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and restart. On Mac, delete ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams. Then set the skin tone again.
Can I change skin tone in Teams without using the emoji picker?
No. The only way is through the emoji picker. There is no dedicated setting in the main menu. Microsoft has not added a separate skin tone setting elsewhere. The emoji picker is the only method.
Does the skin tone show in screen recordings or transcripts?
Yes. If you record a meeting, the hand emojis with your skin tone appear in the recording. Transcripts do not capture emojis, so skin tone is not relevant there. For screen recordings, the emoji appears as you see it.
Final Thoughts On Customizing Teams
Knowing how to change skin tone in Teams is a small but powerful way to personalize your communication. It takes less than a minute to set up. You can do it on any device. The setting makes your reactions feel more natural and inclusive. Whether you are in a one-on-one chat or a large meeting, your hand emojis will reflect your identity. Do not forget to set it on each device you use. Share this guide with colleagues who might not know about it. It is one of those hidden features that improves the daily Teams experience. Try it now and see the difference it makes in your virtual interactions.