Emotes and profile backgrounds are items, just like clothing. You get them from the shop, Blind Boxes, events, the Threads Exchange, the Marketplace, and trades. Emotes live in your emote drawer, and backgrounds show behind your avatar on your profile.
How do I use an emote?
Open the emote drawer in a Room and tap an emote. To keep a favorite easy to find, use Pin Emote. If you just got an emote and don't see it, close and reopen Highrise.
What are Collab Emotes, like High Five?
Collab Emotes are emotes you do together with other players. They're under Collab in the emote drawer and have two avatars in the thumbnail. The High Five Collab Emote is free for everyone and is already in your emote drawer.
Tap a Collab Emote. A glowing indicator appears above your head.
Any player near you can tap it to join, and you both start the emote together.
Either player ends it by moving, teleporting, or picking another emote.
To let only friends join, turn on Only my Friends can join collab emotes in the emote drawer. Collab Emotes work in 3D Rooms, so if one won't start, check that you're in a 3D Room. Blocked players don't see each other's join indicators.
Where do I get more emotes?
New emotes and emote packs are released in the shop, in Blind Boxes, and as event rewards. Emotes can also be traded and listed on the Marketplace if your copy is tradable.
How do I set my profile background?
On your Profile, tap the ... menu, choose Background and Pose, then pick a background you own. Backgrounds appear behind your avatar on your profile and in your thumbnail.
How do I get a free background?
Free backgrounds turn up as event rewards. If you play on PC through Steam, the Steam Hub at https://highrise.game/steam-hub also has rewards: connect your Steam account there and claim the ones you've unlocked, such as the wishlist reward and playtime rewards.
An emote or background looks broken
If an emote clips through your outfit, changes another player's size, or a background doesn't display, report a bug with the item name, your device, and a screenshot or video.
I didn't get an emote I earned
Check your emote drawer after restarting the app. If an event or reward emote is still missing, contact Support with the emote name, where you earned it, and the date.