How to use Microsoft Teams emoji, reactions, and GIFs

Microsoft Teams is a complex communication and collaboration tool but it still has features that you’ll find in messaging apps like Slack. You can send the usual text messages but Microsoft Teams also has reactions like Skype and Facebook Messenger, GIFs like Slack and Skype, and Emoji like literally any other app.

The UI may not suggest as much but Microsoft Teams has lots of different ways to add a quick reaction to messages. 

Microsoft Teams emoji, reactions, and GIFs

Emoji, reactions, and GIFs in Microsoft Teams are all natively supported. You do not have to install apps either in Microsoft Teams or on the desktop to use them. They work just as well from the desktop app and from the web app.

Microsoft Teams emoji

To use emoji in Microsoft Teams, follow these steps.

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Select a channel or chat conversation.
3. Click New Conversation.
4. Click inside the text input field. 
5. Click the emoji/smiley button to open the emoji panel.
6. Click an emoji to send it.
7. On Windows 10, you can also tap Win+. to open the Windows 10 emoji panel and enter an emoji from it.

Microsoft Teams reactions

Reactions can be given for messages, for meetings that are active, and for files that have been shared. Reactions are limited to six.

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Go to a channel or chat thread.
3. Hover the mouse over the more options button next to a message.
4. Reactions will appear.
5. Click a reaction and it will be added to the message.

Microsoft Teams GIFs

GIFs may not seem appropriate for a serious, work-related conversation but Microsoft Teams still have them.

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Go to a channel or chat thread.
3. Click New Conversation.
4. Click inside the text input field.
5. Click the GIF button.
6. Enter something in the search field to find a relevant GIF.
7. Select a GIF from the results and tap Enter to send it.

GIFs are sourced from Giphy and are all suitable for work.

Conclusion

Emoji, GIFs, and reactions have become popular with messaging apps. They may not be appropriate for all conversations but they’re hard to avoid given that everyone uses them and often, it’s expected that they can be used. Reactions can be useful to quickly acknowledge a message or to even poll how many team members have seen a message or opened a file. If nothing else, reactions, emojis, and GIFs can help keep an otherwise dull conversation interesting. 

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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