After upgrading to the new Microsoft Teams desktop app, you may click the emoji or GIF button in a chat and nothing happens. The picker panel stays closed, or it opens blank and then disappears. This problem appears right after your organization moves you from classic Teams to the new Teams, and it is caused by a corrupted local cache or an outdated graphics driver. This article shows you how to clear the Teams cache, reset the app, and update your graphics driver so the emoji and GIF picker works again.
Key Takeaways: Fixing the Emoji and GIF Picker in New Teams
- Teams cache folder at %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams: Clearing this folder removes corrupted data that blocks the picker from rendering.
- Teams admin center > Teams apps > Manage apps: Verify the emoji and GIF features are not disabled by a policy or app permission.
- Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates: Install the latest graphics driver to fix rendering issues that cause the picker to fail.
Why the Emoji and GIF Picker Fails After Moving to New Teams
The new Teams app uses a different rendering engine and a new local cache structure compared to classic Teams. When you upgrade, the old cache files are not always fully migrated. Corrupted cache files can prevent the emoji and GIF picker from opening because the picker relies on those cached resources to display the emoji grid and GIF search results.
Another common cause is an outdated graphics driver. The picker uses hardware acceleration to render the emoji and GIF previews. If your GPU driver is old or incompatible with the new Teams app, the picker may fail to open or show a blank window.
In some cases, the problem is not local but policy-related. Your Teams admin may have disabled the emoji or GIF feature through a messaging policy. The picker button appears, but clicking it does nothing because the underlying feature is blocked.
Steps to Clear the Teams Cache and Reset the App
Follow these steps in order. The cache reset is the most common fix and works for most users.
- Close Teams completely
Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray and select Quit. Make sure no Teams process is running. Press Ctrl + Shift + Escape to open Task Manager and end any ms-teams.exe processes if needed. - Open the Teams cache folder
Press Windows + R, type%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and press Enter. This opens the cache folder for the new Teams app. - Delete the cache contents
Select all files and folders inside this directory and delete them. Do not delete the Teams folder itself. If a file is locked, skip it and continue. You can delete locked files after a restart. - Clear the GPU cache folder
Press Windows + R, type%appdata%\Microsoft\Teams\GPUcache, and delete its contents. This folder stores graphics-related data that can cause the picker to fail. - Restart Teams
Open Teams from the Start menu. Sign in again. Test the emoji and GIF picker in a chat window. If it works, you are done.
Reset the Teams App Using Windows Settings
If clearing the cache does not fix the issue, reset the Teams app through Windows Settings. This restores the app to its default state without deleting your chats or files.
- Open Windows Settings
Press Windows + I and go to Apps > Installed apps. - Find Teams
Scroll to Microsoft Teams and click the three-dot menu next to it. Select Advanced options. - Reset the app
Click the Reset button. Confirm the action. Wait for the reset to complete. Then reopen Teams and test the picker.
Update Your Graphics Driver to Fix the Emoji and GIF Picker
An outdated graphics driver is a frequent cause of this issue. Updating it often resolves the problem immediately.
- Open Windows Update
Press Windows + I and go to Windows Update. - Check for optional updates
Click Advanced options and then Optional updates. Look for a driver update for your graphics card under Driver updates. - Install the driver
Select the driver and click Download and install. Restart your computer when prompted. Then open Teams and test the picker.
If the Problem Persists: Check Teams Policies and App Permissions
If the picker still does not open, the issue may be controlled by your Teams admin. You cannot change these settings yourself, but you can check whether a policy is blocking the feature.
- Open Teams settings
Click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Settings. - Check the Privacy section
Go to Privacy and look for options related to emojis, GIFs, or stickers. If any toggle is off, turn it on. This setting controls whether the picker is available in chats. - Contact your admin
If the setting is grayed out or missing, your admin has disabled the feature. Ask them to check the messaging policy in the Teams admin center under Messaging policies. The Use Giphy and Use emojis settings must be enabled.
If Teams Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
Teams Shows a Blank Emoji Picker After Clearing the Cache
If the picker opens but shows an empty grid, the cache was not fully cleared or the app needs a full restart. Close Teams from the system tray, then restart your computer. After restarting, open Teams and test again. If the blank picker persists, reset the app using the Windows Settings method above.
GIF Search Returns No Results in the New Teams App
The GIF search uses the Giphy service. If the search returns no results, your network may be blocking Giphy, or your admin has disabled GIFs in the messaging policy. Check your network connection and try a different network. If the issue continues, contact your admin to confirm that Use Giphy is enabled.
Emoji Picker Works in Classic Teams but Not in New Teams
This difference is normal because the new Teams app has a different codebase. The cache and driver fixes above are the most reliable solutions. If they do not work, report the issue to Microsoft via the Feedback option in Teams, and include your app version and Windows version.
New Teams vs Classic Teams: Emoji and GIF Picker Differences
| Item | New Teams | Classic Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering engine | Uses a modern WebView2-based engine | Uses an older Electron-based engine |
| Cache location | %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams | %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams (shared but different structure) |
| Hardware acceleration | Relies on GPU for rendering emojis and GIFs | Less dependent on GPU |
| Common failure cause | Corrupted cache or outdated GPU driver | Outdated app version or add-in conflicts |
Now you can fix the emoji and GIF picker by clearing the Teams cache, resetting the app, and updating your graphics driver. Start with the cache clear because it is the fastest and most effective solution. If the issue persists, check your Teams privacy settings and contact your admin about the messaging policy. For a quick test after any fix, open a chat and press Ctrl + E to focus the compose box, then click the emoji button to confirm the picker opens.