How can I change the default hand emoji color?

Whenever I want to reply to a text, I have to take the extra steps to select my preferred skin color for the hand emoji every time, even if I just replied to something with my preferred hand emoji. The default yellow is always there instead. Is there a way to select a default skin tone and just have it there instead of the yellow? The extra clicks and the forced use of the yellow after I've selected my preference are not user-friendly.


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iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Apr 16, 2025 7:44 AM

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Posted on Apr 16, 2025 2:14 PM

Katana-San wrote:

Hello~ The image you posted above is Tapback in Messages and this has nothing to do with your emoji selection.

Correct, the Tapback icons all use predefined colors. That is different than the emojis that will show in your Recently Used section.

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Apr 16, 2025 2:14 PM in response to Katana-San

Katana-San wrote:

Hello~ The image you posted above is Tapback in Messages and this has nothing to do with your emoji selection.

Correct, the Tapback icons all use predefined colors. That is different than the emojis that will show in your Recently Used section.

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Apr 16, 2025 3:15 PM in response to LoveHateMacUser

Tap back emojis (the ones after the preprogrammed funny looking ones) will remember your last used emoji for a short while, then it will forget your skin color and switch to default color, then it will clear all recently used emojis and revert back to system default emojis.


What I found was it would remember the skin color until I force closed the app by swiping up, then returning back to the app right away it remembered the emoji but not the tone, then a short while later it forgot everything, like I have already stated.


So in conclusion, don’t expect it to remember your recently used emojis, because it simply wasn’t programmed to do that. It’s not the same as the emoji keyboard which does remember skin tones.

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Apr 16, 2025 2:02 PM in response to LD150

No, they do not. That is what I am saying. I have to go and choose my skin tone emoji every time. The image I submitted above was taken right after I used a skin tone emoji. Iphone is not keeping track. But if it were in fact user user-friendly, I would be able to choose my default preferences in settings.

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Apr 17, 2025 8:47 AM in response to Katana-San

Thank you for the explanation, Katana. I believe I understand now: My preferences are reflected in my recent emojis, but in my list of Tapbacks, Apple has decided for me what my defaults there should be. I wish these Apple teams worked together to provide an experience that allows me to use the devices in the way that makes sense for me. My identity and representation matter to me. There will not be a time that I prefer to use that default color thumbs-up. To use skin-toned thumbs-up, though, I have to take extra clicks, while someone who identifies with the default color, does not. If Apple Support is reading this, please care. The little things matter. Identities matter. I matter.

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How can I change the default hand emoji color?

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