How to Change Emoji Color

The fastest way to change an emoji color is to use a skin-tone variation. In most keyboards, you can press and hold a person or hand emoji and pick a tone from the popup.

If you want a totally different color, like red, blue, or green, standard emoji usually can’t be recolored. You’ll need a custom sticker, image, or emoji tool instead.

Quick shortcut

1. Open the emoji keyboard.
2. Press and hold a supported emoji such as 👍, 👋, 🙋, or 🧑.
3. Tap the skin tone you want.
4. Release to insert the colored version.

How to change emoji color on iPhone

1. Open Messages, Notes, Mail, or any app with the emoji keyboard.
2. Tap the emoji icon on the keyboard.
3. Touch and hold an emoji that supports skin tones.
4. Slide to the color you want and lift your finger.
5. The chosen tone will appear in your message.

Tip: If nothing happens, that emoji may not support color variants.

How to change emoji color on Android

1. Open any app that lets you type.
2. Tap the emoji button on your keyboard, such as Gboard or Samsung Keyboard.
3. Press and hold a supported emoji.
4. Choose the skin tone from the popup row.
5. Tap to insert the colored emoji.

Tip: Some Android keyboards show the tone choice only after a long press, not a tap.

Fallback copy-paste method

If your keyboard does not show a tone picker, copy a pre-colored emoji and paste it where you need it.

Examples:

• 👍🏻
• 👍🏼
• 👍🏽
• 👍🏾
• 👍🏿

You can also copy a colored emoji from a trusted emoji library or emoji tool and paste it into your app. If you need a non-skin-tone color, use a custom sticker, PNG, or SVG instead.

Troubleshooting

The color picker is missing

• Update your keyboard app.
• Make sure the emoji keyboard is enabled.
• Try a different emoji, since not all emojis support tones.
• Restart the app if the popup still will not appear.

The emoji is unsupported

Only some emojis have color variants, usually people, hands, and a few related symbols. Most objects, animals, and faces cannot be recolored with a built-in picker.

The emoji looks different on another device

Emoji style varies by operating system, app, and version. Your emoji may use one shade on iPhone and a slightly different one on Android or web.

Best-practice usage notes

• Use skin tones only when the emoji supports them.
• Keep the tone consistent in a single message or profile.
• Test important posts on more than one device if color matters.
• For branding, use custom graphics instead of standard emoji.
• Remember that recipients may see a different visual style even when the code is the same.

FAQ

Can I change the color of any emoji?

No. Only certain emojis support skin-tone variants. For other colors, use a custom sticker or image.

Why does my emoji color look different on someone else’s phone?

Different apps and operating systems render emoji in slightly different styles, so the same character may look a little different.

How do I make an emoji red, blue, or green?

Standard emoji usually do not allow custom colors. Use a graphic editor, sticker, or emoji image if you need a specific color.