Microsoft Teams will become “more inclusive, personalized, and engaging” thanks to this new feature
Customizing the skin tone of your emojis and reactions will soon sync across Microsoft Teams clients.
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What you need to know
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.
“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:
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 thebiggest change in Teams historyrecently. 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 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_.
