diff --git a/web/chat/message-tooltip.react.js b/web/chat/message-tooltip.react.js
--- a/web/chat/message-tooltip.react.js
+++ b/web/chat/message-tooltip.react.js
@@ -200,7 +200,12 @@
         style={emojiKeyboardPositionStyle}
         className={css.emojiKeyboard}
       >
-        <Picker data={data} onEmojiSelect={onEmojiSelect} />
+        <Picker
+          data={data}
+          onEmojiSelect={onEmojiSelect}
+          theme="dark"
+          autoFocus={true}
+        />
       </div>
     );
   }, [emojiKeyboardPositionStyle, onEmojiSelect, shouldRenderEmojiKeyboard]);