Slack is a popular communication and collaboration platform used by many teams and organizations. One of its fun features is the ability to create custom emoji stickers that can be used in conversations.
However, over time you may want to remove some of these custom emoji stickers, either because they are no longer relevant or to clean up your Slack workspace. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to delete custom emoji stickers you have created in Slack.
Table of Contents
Who Can Delete Custom Emoji in Slack
Before deleting custom emoji, it’s important to understand who has the permission to do so in Slack. There are two main rules:
- Workspace Owners, Workspace Admins, Org Owners and Org Admins can delete any custom emoji in the workspace.
- Regular members can only delete custom emoji they have personally added themselves.
So if you want to remove an emoji added by someone else, you need to either have admin permissions or request that person or an admin to remove it for you.
How to Delete Your Own Custom Emoji
If you have added custom emoji that you now want to remove, follow these steps:
On Desktop
- Click on your workspace name in the top left corner
- Select Customize [Your Workspace Name]
- Click on the Emoji tab
- Search for the emoji you want to delete
- Click the delete icon (trash can) next to the emoji
- Confirm deletion by clicking Delete Emoji
On Mobile
Unfortunately, custom emoji cannot be deleted directly from the Slack mobile app. You will need to log in on a desktop browser to delete them.
How Admins Can Delete Any Custom Emoji
If you are a Workspace Owner, Workspace Admin, Org Owner or Org Admin, you can delete any custom emoji in your workspace.
On Desktop
- Click on your workspace name in the top left corner
- Select Customize [Your Workspace Name]
- Click on the Emoji tab
- Search for the emoji you want to delete
- Click the delete icon (trash can) next to the emoji
- Confirm deletion by clicking Delete Emoji
And that’s all there is to it! With these simple steps you can remove any unwanted or irrelevant custom emoji stickers from your Slack workspace.
Tips for Managing Custom Emoji
Here are some additional tips for managing custom emoji in Slack:
- Set permissions for who can add/delete custom emoji in your workspace settings
- Periodically review and remove unused emoji to keep your workspace tidy
- Be selective about approving emoji additions to avoid clutter
- Add emoji aliases to make frequently used emoji easier to access
- Favor emoji that are relevant to your team or company culture
Why You May Want to Delete Custom Emoji
There are a few common reasons you may want to remove custom emoji from Slack:
1. Irrelevant or Unused Emoji
Over time, some emoji may no longer be relevant to your team or simply stop being used. Deleting them helps keep your workspace tidy and uncluttered.
2. Inappropriate Emoji
Sometimes emoji get added that are silly, unprofessional or even offensive. It’s best to remove these quickly.
3. Branding Changes
If your team or company branding changes, old custom emoji featuring past logos or themes may need to be removed.
4. Workspace Changes
When teams move or merge workspaces, deleting old custom emoji helps signify the new workspace.
In all cases, periodically reviewing and pruning unnecessary custom emoji improves the experience for your teammates.
Alternative Options to Full Deletion
Deleting custom emoji completely removes them from your Slack workspace. However, you do have a few alternatives:
Archive Unused Emoji
Instead of fully deleting old emoji, Workspace Owners and Admins can archive them. This removes them from the main emoji list but still allows people to use them in conversations if needed.
Rename Irrelevant Emoji
Renaming an outdated emoji is better than deleting it if people have already used it in old messages and conversations. This way the emoji text will still show up.
Conclusion
Slack custom emoji can boost team spirit and fun when used properly. But poorly managed emoji can make your workspace messy and confusing. By periodically reviewing and removing irrelevant, offensive or outdated custom emoji, you can keep your Slack tidy and professional.
Hopefully this comprehensive guide has helped explain exactly how to delete custom emoji stickers you have added yourself or that others have added in your workspace.