diff --git a/internal/ap/extract.go b/internal/ap/extract.go
index 8bd8aa3f4..a7a46e51c 100644
--- a/internal/ap/extract.go
+++ b/internal/ap/extract.go
@@ -535,6 +535,11 @@ func ExtractEmoji(i Emojiable) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error) {
 	emoji.Disabled = new(bool)
 	emoji.VisibleInPicker = new(bool)
 
+	updatedProp := i.GetActivityStreamsUpdated()
+	if updatedProp != nil && updatedProp.IsXMLSchemaDateTime() {
+		emoji.UpdatedAt = updatedProp.Get()
+	}
+
 	return emoji, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost_test.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost_test.go
index a408b3773..364ad336f 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost_test.go
@@ -239,7 +239,13 @@ func (suite *InboxPostTestSuite) TestPostUnblock() {
 func (suite *InboxPostTestSuite) TestPostUpdate() {
 	updatedAccount := *suite.testAccounts["remote_account_1"]
 	updatedAccount.DisplayName = "updated display name!"
-	testEmoji := testrig.NewTestEmojis()["rainbow"]
+
+	// ad an emoji to the account; because we're serializing this remote
+	// account from our own instance, we need to cheat a bit to get the emoji
+	// to work properly, just for this test
+	testEmoji := &gtsmodel.Emoji{}
+	*testEmoji = *testrig.NewTestEmojis()["yell"]
+	testEmoji.ImageURL = testEmoji.ImageRemoteURL // <- here's the cheat
 	updatedAccount.Emojis = []*gtsmodel.Emoji{testEmoji}
 
 	asAccount, err := suite.tc.AccountToAS(context.Background(), &updatedAccount)
diff --git a/internal/cache/emoji.go b/internal/cache/emoji.go
index eda7583ea..117f5475e 100644
--- a/internal/cache/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/cache/emoji.go
@@ -37,19 +37,26 @@ func NewEmojiCache() *EmojiCache {
 		RegisterLookups: func(lm *cache.LookupMap[string, string]) {
 			lm.RegisterLookup("uri")
 			lm.RegisterLookup("shortcodedomain")
+			lm.RegisterLookup("imagestaticurl")
 		},
 
 		AddLookups: func(lm *cache.LookupMap[string, string], emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) {
+			lm.Set("shortcodedomain", shortcodeDomainKey(emoji.Shortcode, emoji.Domain), emoji.ID)
 			if uri := emoji.URI; uri != "" {
-				lm.Set("uri", uri, emoji.URI)
-				lm.Set("shortcodedomain", shortcodeDomainKey(emoji.Shortcode, emoji.Domain), emoji.ID)
+				lm.Set("uri", uri, emoji.ID)
+			}
+			if imageStaticURL := emoji.ImageStaticURL; imageStaticURL != "" {
+				lm.Set("imagestaticurl", imageStaticURL, emoji.ID)
 			}
 		},
 
 		DeleteLookups: func(lm *cache.LookupMap[string, string], emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) {
+			lm.Delete("shortcodedomain", shortcodeDomainKey(emoji.Shortcode, emoji.Domain))
 			if uri := emoji.URI; uri != "" {
 				lm.Delete("uri", uri)
-				lm.Delete("shortcodedomain", shortcodeDomainKey(emoji.Shortcode, emoji.Domain))
+			}
+			if imageStaticURL := emoji.ImageStaticURL; imageStaticURL != "" {
+				lm.Delete("imagestaticurl", imageStaticURL)
 			}
 		},
 	})
@@ -72,6 +79,10 @@ func (c *EmojiCache) GetByShortcodeDomain(shortcode string, domain string) (*gts
 	return c.cache.GetBy("shortcodedomain", shortcodeDomainKey(shortcode, domain))
 }
 
+func (c *EmojiCache) GetByImageStaticURL(imageStaticURL string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, bool) {
+	return c.cache.GetBy("imagestaticurl", imageStaticURL)
+}
+
 // Put places an emoji in the cache, ensuring that the object place is a copy for thread-safety
 func (c *EmojiCache) Put(emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) {
 	if emoji == nil || emoji.ID == "" {
@@ -80,6 +91,10 @@ func (c *EmojiCache) Put(emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) {
 	c.cache.Set(emoji.ID, copyEmoji(emoji))
 }
 
+func (c *EmojiCache) Invalidate(emojiID string) {
+	c.cache.Invalidate(emojiID)
+}
+
 // copyEmoji performs a surface-level copy of emoji, only keeping attached IDs intact, not the objects.
 // due to all the data being copied being 99% primitive types or strings (which are immutable and passed by ptr)
 // this should be a relatively cheap process
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go b/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
index 640e354c4..4fb4f0ce6 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/emoji.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package bundb
 import (
 	"context"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/cache"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
@@ -50,6 +51,23 @@ func (e *emojiDB) PutEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) db.Error
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (e *emojiDB) UpdateEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji, columns ...string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, db.Error) {
+	// Update the emoji's last-updated
+	emoji.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
+
+	if _, err := e.conn.
+		NewUpdate().
+		Model(emoji).
+		Where("? = ?", bun.Ident("emoji.id"), emoji.ID).
+		Column(columns...).
+		Exec(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, e.conn.ProcessError(err)
+	}
+
+	e.cache.Invalidate(emoji.ID)
+	return emoji, nil
+}
+
 func (e *emojiDB) GetEmojis(ctx context.Context, domain string, includeDisabled bool, includeEnabled bool, shortcode string, maxShortcodeDomain string, minShortcodeDomain string, limit int) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, db.Error) {
 	emojiIDs := []string{}
 
@@ -232,6 +250,21 @@ func (e *emojiDB) GetEmojiByShortcodeDomain(ctx context.Context, shortcode strin
 	)
 }
 
+func (e *emojiDB) GetEmojiByStaticURL(ctx context.Context, imageStaticURL string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, db.Error) {
+	return e.getEmoji(
+		ctx,
+		func() (*gtsmodel.Emoji, bool) {
+			return e.cache.GetByImageStaticURL(imageStaticURL)
+		},
+		func(emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) error {
+			return e.
+				newEmojiQ(emoji).
+				Where("? = ?", bun.Ident("emoji.image_static_url"), imageStaticURL).
+				Scan(ctx)
+		},
+	)
+}
+
 func (e *emojiDB) getEmoji(ctx context.Context, cacheGet func() (*gtsmodel.Emoji, bool), dbQuery func(*gtsmodel.Emoji) error) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, db.Error) {
 	// Attempt to fetch cached emoji
 	emoji, cached := cacheGet()
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/emoji_test.go b/internal/db/bundb/emoji_test.go
index 3c61fb620..c6577a721 100644
--- a/internal/db/bundb/emoji_test.go
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/emoji_test.go
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ func (suite *EmojiTestSuite) TestGetUseableEmojis() {
 	suite.Equal("rainbow", emojis[0].Shortcode)
 }
 
+func (suite *EmojiTestSuite) TestGetEmojiByStaticURL() {
+	emoji, err := suite.db.GetEmojiByStaticURL(context.Background(), "http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/static/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png")
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotNil(emoji)
+	suite.Equal("rainbow", emoji.Shortcode)
+}
+
 func (suite *EmojiTestSuite) TestGetAllEmojis() {
 	emojis, err := suite.db.GetEmojis(context.Background(), db.EmojiAllDomains, true, true, "", "", "", 0)
 
diff --git a/internal/db/bundb/migrations/20221011125732_refetch_updated_emojis.go b/internal/db/bundb/migrations/20221011125732_refetch_updated_emojis.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..28ba41a3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/db/bundb/migrations/20221011125732_refetch_updated_emojis.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/*
+   GoToSocial
+   Copyright (C) 2021-2022 GoToSocial Authors admin@gotosocial.org
+
+   This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+package migrations
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	gtsmodel "github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
+	"github.com/uptrace/bun"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	up := func(ctx context.Context, db *bun.DB) error {
+		_, err := db.
+			NewCreateIndex().
+			Model(&gtsmodel.Emoji{}).
+			Index("emojis_image_static_url_idx").
+			Column("image_static_url").
+			Exec(ctx)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	down := func(ctx context.Context, db *bun.DB) error {
+		return db.RunInTx(ctx, nil, func(ctx context.Context, tx bun.Tx) error {
+			return nil
+		})
+	}
+
+	if err := Migrations.Register(up, down); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/db/emoji.go b/internal/db/emoji.go
index 4316a43ef..831629232 100644
--- a/internal/db/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/db/emoji.go
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ const EmojiAllDomains string = "all"
 type Emoji interface {
 	// PutEmoji puts one emoji in the database.
 	PutEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji) Error
+	// UpdateEmoji updates the given columns of one emoji.
+	// If no columns are specified, every column is updated.
+	UpdateEmoji(ctx context.Context, emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji, columns ...string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, Error)
 	// GetUseableEmojis gets all emojis which are useable by accounts on this instance.
 	GetUseableEmojis(ctx context.Context) ([]*gtsmodel.Emoji, Error)
 	// GetEmojis gets emojis based on given parameters. Useful for admin actions.
@@ -43,4 +46,6 @@ type Emoji interface {
 	GetEmojiByShortcodeDomain(ctx context.Context, shortcode string, domain string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, Error)
 	// GetEmojiByURI returns one emoji based on its ActivityPub URI.
 	GetEmojiByURI(ctx context.Context, uri string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, Error)
+	// GetEmojiByStaticURL gets an emoji using the URL of the static version of the emoji image.
+	GetEmojiByStaticURL(ctx context.Context, imageStaticURL string) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, Error)
 }
diff --git a/internal/federation/dereferencing/account_test.go b/internal/federation/dereferencing/account_test.go
index aec612ac8..ddd9456e8 100644
--- a/internal/federation/dereferencing/account_test.go
+++ b/internal/federation/dereferencing/account_test.go
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ func (suite *AccountTestSuite) TestDereferenceRemoteAccountWithPartial() {
 				URI:             "http://fossbros-anonymous.io/emoji/01GD5HCC2YECT012TK8PAGX4D1",
 				Shortcode:       "kip_van_den_bos",
 				UpdatedAt:       testrig.TimeMustParse("2022-09-13T12:13:12+02:00"),
+				ImageUpdatedAt:  testrig.TimeMustParse("2022-09-13T12:13:12+02:00"),
 				ImageRemoteURL:  "http://fossbros-anonymous.io/emoji/kip.gif",
 				Disabled:        testrig.FalseBool(),
 				VisibleInPicker: testrig.FalseBool(),
@@ -275,10 +276,12 @@ func (suite *AccountTestSuite) TestDereferenceRemoteAccountWithPartial2() {
 			{
 				URI:             knownEmoji.URI,
 				Shortcode:       knownEmoji.Shortcode,
-				UpdatedAt:       knownEmoji.CreatedAt,
+				UpdatedAt:       knownEmoji.UpdatedAt,
+				ImageUpdatedAt:  knownEmoji.ImageUpdatedAt,
 				ImageRemoteURL:  knownEmoji.ImageRemoteURL,
 				Disabled:        knownEmoji.Disabled,
 				VisibleInPicker: knownEmoji.VisibleInPicker,
+				Domain:          knownEmoji.Domain,
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -326,10 +329,12 @@ func (suite *AccountTestSuite) TestDereferenceRemoteAccountWithPartial3() {
 			{
 				URI:             knownEmoji.URI,
 				Shortcode:       knownEmoji.Shortcode,
-				UpdatedAt:       knownEmoji.CreatedAt,
+				UpdatedAt:       knownEmoji.UpdatedAt,
+				ImageUpdatedAt:  knownEmoji.ImageUpdatedAt,
 				ImageRemoteURL:  knownEmoji.ImageRemoteURL,
 				Disabled:        knownEmoji.Disabled,
 				VisibleInPicker: knownEmoji.VisibleInPicker,
+				Domain:          knownEmoji.Domain,
 			},
 		},
 	}
@@ -372,6 +377,7 @@ func (suite *AccountTestSuite) TestDereferenceRemoteAccountWithPartial3() {
 				URI:             "http://fossbros-anonymous.io/emoji/01GD5HCC2YECT012TK8PAGX4D1",
 				Shortcode:       "kip_van_den_bos",
 				UpdatedAt:       testrig.TimeMustParse("2022-09-13T12:13:12+02:00"),
+				ImageUpdatedAt:  testrig.TimeMustParse("2022-09-13T12:13:12+02:00"),
 				ImageRemoteURL:  "http://fossbros-anonymous.io/emoji/kip.gif",
 				Disabled:        testrig.FalseBool(),
 				VisibleInPicker: testrig.FalseBool(),
diff --git a/internal/federation/dereferencing/dereferencer.go b/internal/federation/dereferencing/dereferencer.go
index 331df3215..a6cb9b15f 100644
--- a/internal/federation/dereferencing/dereferencer.go
+++ b/internal/federation/dereferencing/dereferencer.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ type Dereferencer interface {
 	GetRemoteInstance(ctx context.Context, username string, remoteInstanceURI *url.URL) (*gtsmodel.Instance, error)
 
 	GetRemoteMedia(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, accountID string, remoteURL string, ai *media.AdditionalMediaInfo) (*media.ProcessingMedia, error)
-	GetRemoteEmoji(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, remoteURL string, shortcode string, id string, emojiURI string, ai *media.AdditionalEmojiInfo) (*media.ProcessingEmoji, error)
+	GetRemoteEmoji(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, remoteURL string, shortcode string, id string, emojiURI string, ai *media.AdditionalEmojiInfo, refresh bool) (*media.ProcessingEmoji, error)
 
 	DereferenceAnnounce(ctx context.Context, announce *gtsmodel.Status, requestingUsername string) error
 	DereferenceThread(ctx context.Context, username string, statusIRI *url.URL, status *gtsmodel.Status, statusable ap.Statusable)
diff --git a/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji.go b/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji.go
index 622b131c9..3cdb1d52d 100644
--- a/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji.go
+++ b/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/media"
 )
 
-func (d *deref) GetRemoteEmoji(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, remoteURL string, shortcode string, id string, emojiURI string, ai *media.AdditionalEmojiInfo) (*media.ProcessingEmoji, error) {
+func (d *deref) GetRemoteEmoji(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, remoteURL string, shortcode string, id string, emojiURI string, ai *media.AdditionalEmojiInfo, refresh bool) (*media.ProcessingEmoji, error) {
 	t, err := d.transportController.NewTransportForUsername(ctx, requestingUsername)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GetRemoteEmoji: error creating transport: %s", err)
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (d *deref) GetRemoteEmoji(ctx context.Context, requestingUsername string, r
 		return t.DereferenceMedia(innerCtx, derefURI)
 	}
 
-	processingMedia, err := d.mediaManager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, dataFunc, nil, shortcode, id, emojiURI, ai)
+	processingMedia, err := d.mediaManager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, dataFunc, nil, shortcode, id, emojiURI, ai, refresh)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GetRemoteEmoji: error processing emoji: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -69,12 +69,34 @@ func (d *deref) populateEmojis(ctx context.Context, rawEmojis []*gtsmodel.Emoji,
 		var err error
 
 		// check if we've already got this emoji in the db
-		if gotEmoji, err = d.db.GetEmojiByURI(ctx, e.URI); err != nil && err != db.ErrNoEntries {
+		if gotEmoji, err = d.db.GetEmojiByShortcodeDomain(ctx, e.Shortcode, e.Domain); err != nil && err != db.ErrNoEntries {
 			log.Errorf("populateEmojis: error checking database for emoji %s: %s", e.URI, err)
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if gotEmoji == nil {
+		if gotEmoji != nil {
+			// we had the emoji in our database already; make sure the one we have is up to date
+			if (e.UpdatedAt.After(gotEmoji.ImageUpdatedAt)) || (e.URI != gotEmoji.URI) || (e.ImageRemoteURL != gotEmoji.ImageRemoteURL) {
+				emojiID := gotEmoji.ID // use existing ID
+				processingEmoji, err := d.GetRemoteEmoji(ctx, requestingUsername, e.ImageRemoteURL, e.Shortcode, emojiID, e.URI, &media.AdditionalEmojiInfo{
+					Domain:               &e.Domain,
+					ImageRemoteURL:       &e.ImageRemoteURL,
+					ImageStaticRemoteURL: &e.ImageRemoteURL,
+					Disabled:             gotEmoji.Disabled,
+					VisibleInPicker:      gotEmoji.VisibleInPicker,
+				}, true)
+
+				if err != nil {
+					log.Errorf("populateEmojis: couldn't refresh remote emoji %s: %s", e.URI, err)
+					continue
+				}
+
+				if gotEmoji, err = processingEmoji.LoadEmoji(ctx); err != nil {
+					log.Errorf("populateEmojis: couldn't load refreshed remote emoji %s: %s", e.URI, err)
+					continue
+				}
+			}
+		} else {
 			// it's new! go get it!
 			newEmojiID, err := id.NewRandomULID()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -88,7 +110,7 @@ func (d *deref) populateEmojis(ctx context.Context, rawEmojis []*gtsmodel.Emoji,
 				ImageStaticRemoteURL: &e.ImageRemoteURL,
 				Disabled:             e.Disabled,
 				VisibleInPicker:      e.VisibleInPicker,
-			})
+			}, false)
 
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("populateEmojis: couldn't get remote emoji %s: %s", e.URI, err)
diff --git a/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji_test.go b/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji_test.go
index b03d839ce..3093a1e7f 100644
--- a/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji_test.go
+++ b/internal/federation/dereferencing/emoji_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (suite *EmojiTestSuite) TestDereferenceEmojiBlocking() {
 		VisibleInPicker:      &emojiVisibleInPicker,
 	}
 
-	processingEmoji, err := suite.dereferencer.GetRemoteEmoji(ctx, fetchingAccount.Username, emojiImageRemoteURL, emojiShortcode, emojiID, emojiURI, ai)
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.dereferencer.GetRemoteEmoji(ctx, fetchingAccount.Username, emojiImageRemoteURL, emojiShortcode, emojiID, emojiURI, ai, false)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// make a blocking call to load the emoji from the in-process media
diff --git a/internal/media/manager.go b/internal/media/manager.go
index 828aa033b..62998156e 100644
--- a/internal/media/manager.go
+++ b/internal/media/manager.go
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ type Manager interface {
 	// uri is the ActivityPub URI/ID of the emoji.
 	//
 	// ai is optional and can be nil. Any additional information about the emoji provided will be put in the database.
-	ProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, id string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo) (*ProcessingEmoji, error)
+	//
+	// If refresh is true, this indicates that the emoji image has changed and should be updated.
+	ProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, id string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo, refresh bool) (*ProcessingEmoji, error)
 	// RecacheMedia refetches, reprocesses, and recaches an existing attachment that has been uncached via pruneRemote.
 	RecacheMedia(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, attachmentID string) (*ProcessingMedia, error)
 
@@ -164,8 +166,8 @@ func (m *manager) ProcessMedia(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData Post
 	return processingMedia, nil
 }
 
-func (m *manager) ProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, id string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo) (*ProcessingEmoji, error) {
-	processingEmoji, err := m.preProcessEmoji(ctx, data, postData, shortcode, id, uri, ai)
+func (m *manager) ProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, id string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo, refresh bool) (*ProcessingEmoji, error) {
+	processingEmoji, err := m.preProcessEmoji(ctx, data, postData, shortcode, id, uri, ai, refresh)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/media/manager_test.go b/internal/media/manager_test.go
index f9c96259d..e00cdd98d 100644
--- a/internal/media/manager_test.go
+++ b/internal/media/manager_test.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlocking() {
 	emojiID := "01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 	emojiURI := "http://localhost:8080/emoji/01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 
-	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "rainbow_test", emojiID, emojiURI, nil)
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "rainbow_test", emojiID, emojiURI, nil, false)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// do a blocking call to fetch the emoji
@@ -101,6 +101,99 @@ func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlocking() {
 	suite.Equal(processedStaticBytesExpected, processedStaticBytes)
 }
 
+func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlockingRefresh() {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// we're going to 'refresh' the remote 'yell' emoji by changing the image url to the pixellated gts logo
+	originalEmoji := suite.testEmojis["yell"]
+
+	emojiToUpdate := &gtsmodel.Emoji{}
+	*emojiToUpdate = *originalEmoji
+	newImageRemoteURL := "http://fossbros-anonymous.io/some/image/path.png"
+
+	oldEmojiImagePath := emojiToUpdate.ImagePath
+	oldEmojiImageStaticPath := emojiToUpdate.ImageStaticPath
+
+	data := func(_ context.Context) (io.Reader, int64, error) {
+		b, err := os.ReadFile("./test/gts_pixellated-original.png")
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		return bytes.NewBuffer(b), int64(len(b)), nil
+	}
+
+	emojiID := emojiToUpdate.ID
+	emojiURI := emojiToUpdate.URI
+
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "yell", emojiID, emojiURI, &media.AdditionalEmojiInfo{
+		CreatedAt:      &emojiToUpdate.CreatedAt,
+		Domain:         &emojiToUpdate.Domain,
+		ImageRemoteURL: &newImageRemoteURL,
+	}, true)
+	suite.NoError(err)
+
+	// do a blocking call to fetch the emoji
+	emoji, err := processingEmoji.LoadEmoji(ctx)
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotNil(emoji)
+
+	// make sure it's got the stuff set on it that we expect
+	suite.Equal(emojiID, emoji.ID)
+
+	// file meta should be correctly derived from the image
+	suite.Equal("image/png", emoji.ImageContentType)
+	suite.Equal("image/png", emoji.ImageStaticContentType)
+	suite.Equal(10296, emoji.ImageFileSize)
+
+	// now make sure the emoji is in the database
+	dbEmoji, err := suite.db.GetEmojiByID(ctx, emojiID)
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotNil(dbEmoji)
+
+	// make sure the processed emoji file is in storage
+	processedFullBytes, err := suite.storage.Get(ctx, emoji.ImagePath)
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotEmpty(processedFullBytes)
+
+	// load the processed bytes from our test folder, to compare
+	processedFullBytesExpected, err := os.ReadFile("./test/gts_pixellated-original.png")
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotEmpty(processedFullBytesExpected)
+
+	// the bytes in storage should be what we expected
+	suite.Equal(processedFullBytesExpected, processedFullBytes)
+
+	// now do the same for the thumbnail and make sure it's what we expected
+	processedStaticBytes, err := suite.storage.Get(ctx, emoji.ImageStaticPath)
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotEmpty(processedStaticBytes)
+
+	processedStaticBytesExpected, err := os.ReadFile("./test/gts_pixellated-static.png")
+	suite.NoError(err)
+	suite.NotEmpty(processedStaticBytesExpected)
+
+	suite.Equal(processedStaticBytesExpected, processedStaticBytes)
+
+	// most fields should be different on the emoji now from what they were before
+	suite.Equal(originalEmoji.ID, dbEmoji.ID)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageRemoteURL, dbEmoji.ImageRemoteURL)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageURL, dbEmoji.ImageURL)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageStaticURL, dbEmoji.ImageStaticURL)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageFileSize, dbEmoji.ImageFileSize)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageStaticFileSize, dbEmoji.ImageStaticFileSize)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImagePath, dbEmoji.ImagePath)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageStaticPath, dbEmoji.ImageStaticPath)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageStaticPath, dbEmoji.ImageStaticPath)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.UpdatedAt, dbEmoji.UpdatedAt)
+	suite.NotEqual(originalEmoji.ImageUpdatedAt, dbEmoji.ImageUpdatedAt)
+
+	// the old image files should no longer be in storage
+	_, err = suite.storage.Get(ctx, oldEmojiImagePath)
+	suite.ErrorIs(err, storage.ErrNotFound)
+	_, err = suite.storage.Get(ctx, oldEmojiImageStaticPath)
+	suite.ErrorIs(err, storage.ErrNotFound)
+}
+
 func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlockingTooLarge() {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 
@@ -116,7 +209,7 @@ func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlockingTooLarge() {
 	emojiID := "01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 	emojiURI := "http://localhost:8080/emoji/01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 
-	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "big_panda", emojiID, emojiURI, nil)
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "big_panda", emojiID, emojiURI, nil, false)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// do a blocking call to fetch the emoji
@@ -140,7 +233,7 @@ func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlockingTooLargeNoSizeGiven() {
 	emojiID := "01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 	emojiURI := "http://localhost:8080/emoji/01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 
-	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "big_panda", emojiID, emojiURI, nil)
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "big_panda", emojiID, emojiURI, nil, false)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// do a blocking call to fetch the emoji
@@ -165,7 +258,7 @@ func (suite *ManagerTestSuite) TestEmojiProcessBlockingNoFileSizeGiven() {
 	emojiURI := "http://localhost:8080/emoji/01GDQ9G782X42BAMFASKP64343"
 
 	// process the media with no additional info provided
-	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "rainbow_test", emojiID, emojiURI, nil)
+	processingEmoji, err := suite.manager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, "rainbow_test", emojiID, emojiURI, nil, false)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// do a blocking call to fetch the emoji
diff --git a/internal/media/media_test.go b/internal/media/media_test.go
index fda1963a7..e2c3914a3 100644
--- a/internal/media/media_test.go
+++ b/internal/media/media_test.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ type MediaStandardTestSuite struct {
 	manager         media.Manager
 	testAttachments map[string]*gtsmodel.MediaAttachment
 	testAccounts    map[string]*gtsmodel.Account
+	testEmojis      map[string]*gtsmodel.Emoji
 }
 
 func (suite *MediaStandardTestSuite) SetupSuite() {
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ func (suite *MediaStandardTestSuite) SetupTest() {
 	testrig.StandardDBSetup(suite.db, nil)
 	suite.testAttachments = testrig.NewTestAttachments()
 	suite.testAccounts = testrig.NewTestAccounts()
+	suite.testEmojis = testrig.NewTestEmojis()
 	suite.manager = testrig.NewTestMediaManager(suite.db, suite.storage)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/media/processingemoji.go b/internal/media/processingemoji.go
index 6495b991e..e1c6f2efb 100644
--- a/internal/media/processingemoji.go
+++ b/internal/media/processingemoji.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package media
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"strings"
@@ -28,9 +29,11 @@ import (
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
+	gostore "codeberg.org/gruf/go-store/storage"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/config"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/id"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/log"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/storage"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/uris"
@@ -71,6 +74,11 @@ type ProcessingEmoji struct {
 
 	// track whether this emoji has already been put in the databse
 	insertedInDB bool
+
+	// is this a refresh of an existing emoji?
+	refresh bool
+	// if it is a refresh, which alternate ID should we use in the storage and URL paths?
+	newPathID string
 }
 
 // EmojiID returns the ID of the underlying emoji without blocking processing.
@@ -94,8 +102,28 @@ func (p *ProcessingEmoji) LoadEmoji(ctx context.Context) (*gtsmodel.Emoji, error
 
 	// store the result in the database before returning it
 	if !p.insertedInDB {
-		if err := p.database.PutEmoji(ctx, p.emoji); err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+		if p.refresh {
+			columns := []string{
+				"updated_at",
+				"image_remote_url",
+				"image_static_remote_url",
+				"image_url",
+				"image_static_url",
+				"image_path",
+				"image_static_path",
+				"image_content_type",
+				"image_file_size",
+				"image_static_file_size",
+				"image_updated_at",
+				"uri",
+			}
+			if _, err := p.database.UpdateEmoji(ctx, p.emoji, columns...); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		} else {
+			if err := p.database.PutEmoji(ctx, p.emoji); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 		}
 		p.insertedInDB = true
 	}
@@ -203,8 +231,14 @@ func (p *ProcessingEmoji) store(ctx context.Context) error {
 
 	// set some additional fields on the emoji now that
 	// we know more about what the underlying image actually is
-	p.emoji.ImageURL = uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(p.instanceAccountID, string(TypeEmoji), string(SizeOriginal), p.emoji.ID, extension)
-	p.emoji.ImagePath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s", p.instanceAccountID, TypeEmoji, SizeOriginal, p.emoji.ID, extension)
+	var pathID string
+	if p.refresh {
+		pathID = p.newPathID
+	} else {
+		pathID = p.emoji.ID
+	}
+	p.emoji.ImageURL = uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(p.instanceAccountID, string(TypeEmoji), string(SizeOriginal), pathID, extension)
+	p.emoji.ImagePath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s", p.instanceAccountID, TypeEmoji, SizeOriginal, pathID, extension)
 	p.emoji.ImageContentType = contentType
 
 	// concatenate the first bytes with the existing bytes still in the reader (thanks Mara)
@@ -251,39 +285,87 @@ func (p *ProcessingEmoji) store(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *manager) preProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, id string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo) (*ProcessingEmoji, error) {
+func (m *manager) preProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData PostDataCallbackFunc, shortcode string, emojiID string, uri string, ai *AdditionalEmojiInfo, refresh bool) (*ProcessingEmoji, error) {
 	instanceAccount, err := m.db.GetInstanceAccount(ctx, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("preProcessEmoji: error fetching this instance account from the db: %s", err)
 	}
 
-	disabled := false
-	visibleInPicker := true
+	var newPathID string
+	var emoji *gtsmodel.Emoji
+	if refresh {
+		emoji, err = m.db.GetEmojiByID(ctx, emojiID)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("preProcessEmoji: error fetching emoji to refresh from the db: %s", err)
+		}
 
-	// populate initial fields on the emoji -- some of these will be overwritten as we proceed
-	emoji := &gtsmodel.Emoji{
-		ID:                     id,
-		CreatedAt:              time.Now(),
-		UpdatedAt:              time.Now(),
-		Shortcode:              shortcode,
-		Domain:                 "", // assume our own domain unless told otherwise
-		ImageRemoteURL:         "",
-		ImageStaticRemoteURL:   "",
-		ImageURL:               "",                                                                                                    // we don't know yet
-		ImageStaticURL:         uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(instanceAccount.ID, string(TypeEmoji), string(SizeStatic), id, mimePng), // all static emojis are encoded as png
-		ImagePath:              "",                                                                                                    // we don't know yet
-		ImageStaticPath:        fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s", instanceAccount.ID, TypeEmoji, SizeStatic, id, mimePng),                 // all static emojis are encoded as png
-		ImageContentType:       "",                                                                                                    // we don't know yet
-		ImageStaticContentType: mimeImagePng,                                                                                          // all static emojis are encoded as png
-		ImageFileSize:          0,
-		ImageStaticFileSize:    0,
-		ImageUpdatedAt:         time.Now(),
-		Disabled:               &disabled,
-		URI:                    uri,
-		VisibleInPicker:        &visibleInPicker,
-		CategoryID:             "",
+		// if this is a refresh, we will end up with new images
+		// stored for this emoji, so we can use the postData function
+		// to perform clean up of the old images from storage
+		originalPostData := postData
+		originalImagePath := emoji.ImagePath
+		originalImageStaticPath := emoji.ImageStaticPath
+		postData = func(ctx context.Context) error {
+			// trigger the original postData function if it was provided
+			if originalPostData != nil {
+				if err := originalPostData(ctx); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+
+			l := log.WithField("shortcode@domain", emoji.Shortcode+"@"+emoji.Domain)
+			l.Debug("postData: cleaning up old emoji files for refreshed emoji")
+			if err := m.storage.Delete(ctx, originalImagePath); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, gostore.ErrNotFound) {
+				l.Errorf("postData: error cleaning up old emoji image at %s for refreshed emoji: %s", originalImagePath, err)
+			}
+			if err := m.storage.Delete(ctx, originalImageStaticPath); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, gostore.ErrNotFound) {
+				l.Errorf("postData: error cleaning up old emoji static image at %s for refreshed emoji: %s", originalImageStaticPath, err)
+			}
+
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		newPathID, err = id.NewRandomULID()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("preProcessEmoji: error generating alternateID for emoji refresh: %s", err)
+		}
+
+		// store + serve static image at new path ID
+		emoji.ImageStaticURL = uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(instanceAccount.ID, string(TypeEmoji), string(SizeStatic), newPathID, mimePng)
+		emoji.ImageStaticPath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s", instanceAccount.ID, TypeEmoji, SizeStatic, newPathID, mimePng)
+
+		// update these fields as we go
+		emoji.URI = uri
+	} else {
+		disabled := false
+		visibleInPicker := true
+
+		// populate initial fields on the emoji -- some of these will be overwritten as we proceed
+		emoji = &gtsmodel.Emoji{
+			ID:                     emojiID,
+			CreatedAt:              time.Now(),
+			Shortcode:              shortcode,
+			Domain:                 "", // assume our own domain unless told otherwise
+			ImageRemoteURL:         "",
+			ImageStaticRemoteURL:   "",
+			ImageURL:               "",                                                                                                         // we don't know yet
+			ImageStaticURL:         uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(instanceAccount.ID, string(TypeEmoji), string(SizeStatic), emojiID, mimePng), // all static emojis are encoded as png
+			ImagePath:              "",                                                                                                         // we don't know yet
+			ImageStaticPath:        fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s", instanceAccount.ID, TypeEmoji, SizeStatic, emojiID, mimePng),                 // all static emojis are encoded as png
+			ImageContentType:       "",                                                                                                         // we don't know yet
+			ImageStaticContentType: mimeImagePng,                                                                                               // all static emojis are encoded as png
+			ImageFileSize:          0,
+			ImageStaticFileSize:    0,
+			Disabled:               &disabled,
+			URI:                    uri,
+			VisibleInPicker:        &visibleInPicker,
+			CategoryID:             "",
+		}
 	}
 
+	emoji.ImageUpdatedAt = time.Now()
+	emoji.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
+
 	// check if we have additional info to add to the emoji,
 	// and overwrite some of the emoji fields if so
 	if ai != nil {
@@ -324,6 +406,8 @@ func (m *manager) preProcessEmoji(ctx context.Context, data DataFunc, postData P
 		staticState:       int32(received),
 		database:          m.db,
 		storage:           m.storage,
+		refresh:           refresh,
+		newPathID:         newPathID,
 	}
 
 	return processingEmoji, nil
diff --git a/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-original.png b/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-original.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..564ee76d8
Binary files /dev/null and b/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-original.png differ
diff --git a/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-static.png b/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-static.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c6dcb0f4a
Binary files /dev/null and b/internal/media/test/gts_pixellated-static.png differ
diff --git a/internal/media/types.go b/internal/media/types.go
index d71080658..3238916b8 100644
--- a/internal/media/types.go
+++ b/internal/media/types.go
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ type AdditionalMediaInfo struct {
 	FocusY *float32
 }
 
-// AdditionalMediaInfo represents additional information
-// that should be added to an emoji when processing it.
+// AdditionalEmojiInfo represents additional information
+// that should be taken into account when processing an emoji.
 type AdditionalEmojiInfo struct {
 	// Time that this emoji was created; defaults to time.Now().
 	CreatedAt *time.Time
diff --git a/internal/processing/admin/createemoji.go b/internal/processing/admin/createemoji.go
index 50399279c..93ae17496 100644
--- a/internal/processing/admin/createemoji.go
+++ b/internal/processing/admin/createemoji.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func (p *processor) EmojiCreate(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account,
 		return f, form.Image.Size, err
 	}
 
-	processingEmoji, err := p.mediaManager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, form.Shortcode, emojiID, emojiURI, nil)
+	processingEmoji, err := p.mediaManager.ProcessEmoji(ctx, data, nil, form.Shortcode, emojiID, emojiURI, nil, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(fmt.Errorf("error processing emoji: %s", err), "error processing emoji")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/processing/media/getfile.go b/internal/processing/media/getfile.go
index 104bca770..693b8685b 100644
--- a/internal/processing/media/getfile.go
+++ b/internal/processing/media/getfile.go
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/media"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/uris"
 )
 
-func (p *processor) GetFile(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account, form *apimodel.GetContentRequestForm) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetFile(ctx context.Context, requestingAccount *gtsmodel.Account, form *apimodel.GetContentRequestForm) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// parse the form fields
 	mediaSize, err := media.ParseMediaSize(form.MediaSize)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -49,25 +50,25 @@ func (p *processor) GetFile(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account, form
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("file name %s not parseable", form.FileName))
 	}
 	wantedMediaID := spl[0]
-	expectedAccountID := form.AccountID
+	owningAccountID := form.AccountID
 
 	// get the account that owns the media and make sure it's not suspended
-	acct, err := p.db.GetAccountByID(ctx, expectedAccountID)
+	owningAccount, err := p.db.GetAccountByID(ctx, owningAccountID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("account with id %s could not be selected from the db: %s", expectedAccountID, err))
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("account with id %s could not be selected from the db: %s", owningAccountID, err))
 	}
-	if !acct.SuspendedAt.IsZero() {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("account with id %s is suspended", expectedAccountID))
+	if !owningAccount.SuspendedAt.IsZero() {
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("account with id %s is suspended", owningAccountID))
 	}
 
 	// make sure the requesting account and the media account don't block each other
-	if account != nil {
-		blocked, err := p.db.IsBlocked(ctx, account.ID, expectedAccountID, true)
+	if requestingAccount != nil {
+		blocked, err := p.db.IsBlocked(ctx, requestingAccount.ID, owningAccountID, true)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("block status could not be established between accounts %s and %s: %s", expectedAccountID, account.ID, err))
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("block status could not be established between accounts %s and %s: %s", owningAccountID, requestingAccount.ID, err))
 		}
 		if blocked {
-			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("block exists between accounts %s and %s", expectedAccountID, account.ID))
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("block exists between accounts %s and %s", owningAccountID, requestingAccount.ID))
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -75,15 +76,15 @@ func (p *processor) GetFile(ctx context.Context, account *gtsmodel.Account, form
 	// so we need to take different steps depending on the media type being requested
 	switch mediaType {
 	case media.TypeEmoji:
-		return p.getEmojiContent(ctx, wantedMediaID, mediaSize)
+		return p.getEmojiContent(ctx, wantedMediaID, owningAccountID, mediaSize)
 	case media.TypeAttachment, media.TypeHeader, media.TypeAvatar:
-		return p.getAttachmentContent(ctx, account, wantedMediaID, expectedAccountID, mediaSize)
+		return p.getAttachmentContent(ctx, requestingAccount, wantedMediaID, owningAccountID, mediaSize)
 	default:
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("media type %s not recognized", mediaType))
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *processor) getAttachmentContent(ctx context.Context, requestingAccount *gtsmodel.Account, wantedMediaID string, expectedAccountID string, mediaSize media.Size) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) getAttachmentContent(ctx context.Context, requestingAccount *gtsmodel.Account, wantedMediaID string, owningAccountID string, mediaSize media.Size) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	attachmentContent := &apimodel.Content{}
 	var storagePath string
 
@@ -93,8 +94,8 @@ func (p *processor) getAttachmentContent(ctx context.Context, requestingAccount
 		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("attachment %s could not be taken from the db: %s", wantedMediaID, err))
 	}
 
-	if a.AccountID != expectedAccountID {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("attachment %s is not owned by %s", wantedMediaID, expectedAccountID))
+	if a.AccountID != owningAccountID {
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("attachment %s is not owned by %s", wantedMediaID, owningAccountID))
 	}
 
 	// get file information from the attachment depending on the requested media size
@@ -227,17 +228,23 @@ func (p *processor) getAttachmentContent(ctx context.Context, requestingAccount
 	return attachmentContent, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) getEmojiContent(ctx context.Context, wantedEmojiID string, emojiSize media.Size) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) getEmojiContent(ctx context.Context, fileName string, owningAccountID string, emojiSize media.Size) (*apimodel.Content, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	emojiContent := &apimodel.Content{}
 	var storagePath string
 
-	e, err := p.db.GetEmojiByID(ctx, wantedEmojiID)
+	// reconstruct the static emoji image url -- reason
+	// for using the static URL rather than full size url
+	// is that static emojis are always encoded as png,
+	// so this is more reliable than using full size url
+	imageStaticURL := uris.GenerateURIForAttachment(owningAccountID, string(media.TypeEmoji), string(media.SizeStatic), fileName, "png")
+
+	e, err := p.db.GetEmojiByStaticURL(ctx, imageStaticURL)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("emoji %s could not be taken from the db: %s", wantedEmojiID, err))
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("emoji %s could not be taken from the db: %s", fileName, err))
 	}
 
 	if *e.Disabled {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("emoji %s has been disabled", wantedEmojiID))
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotFound(fmt.Errorf("emoji %s has been disabled", fileName))
 	}
 
 	switch emojiSize {
diff --git a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
index 6194dba82..c84dd09f4 100644
--- a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
+++ b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas.go
@@ -760,6 +760,10 @@ func (c *converter) EmojiToAS(ctx context.Context, e *gtsmodel.Emoji) (vocab.Too
 	iconProperty.AppendActivityStreamsImage(iconImage)
 	emoji.SetActivityStreamsIcon(iconProperty)
 
+	updatedProp := streams.NewActivityStreamsUpdatedProperty()
+	updatedProp.Set(e.ImageUpdatedAt)
+	emoji.SetActivityStreamsUpdated(updatedProp)
+
 	return emoji, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
index f2845be02..b63fa7aea 100644
--- a/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
+++ b/internal/typeutils/internaltoas_test.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestAccountToASWithEmoji() {
 	// this is necessary because the order of multiple 'context' entries is not determinate
 	trimmed := strings.Split(string(bytes), "\"discoverable\"")[1]
 
-	suite.Equal(`:true,"featured":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/collections/featured","followers":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/followers","following":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/following","icon":{"mediaType":"image/jpeg","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF/avatar/original/01F8MH58A357CV5K7R7TJMSH6S.jpeg"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork","image":{"mediaType":"image/jpeg","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF/header/original/01PFPMWK2FF0D9WMHEJHR07C3Q.jpeg"},"inbox":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/inbox","manuallyApprovesFollowers":false,"name":"original zork (he/they)","outbox":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox","preferredUsername":"the_mighty_zork","publicKey":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/main-key","owner":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork","publicKeyPem":"-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEAwXTcOAvM1Jiw5Ffpk0qn\nr0cwbNvFe/5zQ+Tp7tumK/ZnT37o7X0FUEXrxNi+dkhmeJ0gsaiN+JQGNUewvpSk\nPIAXKvi908aSfCGjs7bGlJCJCuDuL5d6m7hZnP9rt9fJc70GElPpG0jc9fXwlz7T\nlsPb2ecatmG05Y4jPwdC+oN4MNCv9yQzEvCVMzl76EJaM602kIHC1CISn0rDFmYd\n9rSN7XPlNJw1F6PbpJ/BWQ+pXHKw3OEwNTETAUNYiVGnZU+B7a7bZC9f6/aPbJuV\nt8Qmg+UnDvW1Y8gmfHnxaWG2f5TDBvCHmcYtucIZPLQD4trAozC4ryqlmCWQNKbt\n0wIDAQAB\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----\n"},"summary":"\u003cp\u003ehey yo this is my profile!\u003c/p\u003e","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji"},"type":"Person","url":"http://localhost:8080/@the_mighty_zork"}`, trimmed)
+	suite.Equal(`:true,"featured":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/collections/featured","followers":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/followers","following":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/following","icon":{"mediaType":"image/jpeg","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF/avatar/original/01F8MH58A357CV5K7R7TJMSH6S.jpeg"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork","image":{"mediaType":"image/jpeg","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH1H7YV1Z7D2C8K2730QBF/header/original/01PFPMWK2FF0D9WMHEJHR07C3Q.jpeg"},"inbox":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/inbox","manuallyApprovesFollowers":false,"name":"original zork (he/they)","outbox":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/outbox","preferredUsername":"the_mighty_zork","publicKey":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork/main-key","owner":"http://localhost:8080/users/the_mighty_zork","publicKeyPem":"-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\nMIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEAwXTcOAvM1Jiw5Ffpk0qn\nr0cwbNvFe/5zQ+Tp7tumK/ZnT37o7X0FUEXrxNi+dkhmeJ0gsaiN+JQGNUewvpSk\nPIAXKvi908aSfCGjs7bGlJCJCuDuL5d6m7hZnP9rt9fJc70GElPpG0jc9fXwlz7T\nlsPb2ecatmG05Y4jPwdC+oN4MNCv9yQzEvCVMzl76EJaM602kIHC1CISn0rDFmYd\n9rSN7XPlNJw1F6PbpJ/BWQ+pXHKw3OEwNTETAUNYiVGnZU+B7a7bZC9f6/aPbJuV\nt8Qmg+UnDvW1Y8gmfHnxaWG2f5TDBvCHmcYtucIZPLQD4trAozC4ryqlmCWQNKbt\n0wIDAQAB\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----\n"},"summary":"\u003cp\u003ehey yo this is my profile!\u003c/p\u003e","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji","updated":"2021-09-20T12:40:37+02:00"},"type":"Person","url":"http://localhost:8080/@the_mighty_zork"}`, trimmed)
 }
 
 func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestAccountToASWithSharedInbox() {
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestStatusWithTagsToASWithIDs() {
 	// http://joinmastodon.org/ns, https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams --
 	// will appear, so trim them out of the string for consistency
 	trimmed := strings.SplitAfter(string(bytes), `"attachment":`)[1]
-	suite.Equal(`{"blurhash":"LNJRdVM{00Rj%Mayt7j[4nWBofRj","mediaType":"image/jpeg","name":"Black and white image of some 50's style text saying: Welcome On Board","type":"Document","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/attachment/original/01F8MH6NEM8D7527KZAECTCR76.jpeg"},"attributedTo":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin","cc":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/followers","content":"hello world! #welcome ! first post on the instance :rainbow: !","id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R","published":"2021-10-20T11:36:45Z","replies":{"first":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?page=true","next":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?only_other_accounts=false\u0026page=true","partOf":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"CollectionPage"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"Collection"},"sensitive":false,"summary":"","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji"},"to":"https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public","type":"Note","url":"http://localhost:8080/@admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R"}`, trimmed)
+	suite.Equal(`{"blurhash":"LNJRdVM{00Rj%Mayt7j[4nWBofRj","mediaType":"image/jpeg","name":"Black and white image of some 50's style text saying: Welcome On Board","type":"Document","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/attachment/original/01F8MH6NEM8D7527KZAECTCR76.jpeg"},"attributedTo":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin","cc":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/followers","content":"hello world! #welcome ! first post on the instance :rainbow: !","id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R","published":"2021-10-20T11:36:45Z","replies":{"first":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?page=true","next":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?only_other_accounts=false\u0026page=true","partOf":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"CollectionPage"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"Collection"},"sensitive":false,"summary":"","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji","updated":"2021-09-20T10:40:37Z"},"to":"https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public","type":"Note","url":"http://localhost:8080/@admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R"}`, trimmed)
 }
 
 func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestStatusWithTagsToASFromDB() {
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestStatusWithTagsToASFromDB() {
 	// http://joinmastodon.org/ns, https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams --
 	// will appear, so trim them out of the string for consistency
 	trimmed := strings.SplitAfter(string(bytes), `"attachment":`)[1]
-	suite.Equal(`{"blurhash":"LNJRdVM{00Rj%Mayt7j[4nWBofRj","mediaType":"image/jpeg","name":"Black and white image of some 50's style text saying: Welcome On Board","type":"Document","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/attachment/original/01F8MH6NEM8D7527KZAECTCR76.jpeg"},"attributedTo":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin","cc":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/followers","content":"hello world! #welcome ! first post on the instance :rainbow: !","id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R","published":"2021-10-20T11:36:45Z","replies":{"first":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?page=true","next":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?only_other_accounts=false\u0026page=true","partOf":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"CollectionPage"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"Collection"},"sensitive":false,"summary":"","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji"},"to":"https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public","type":"Note","url":"http://localhost:8080/@admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R"}`, trimmed)
+	suite.Equal(`{"blurhash":"LNJRdVM{00Rj%Mayt7j[4nWBofRj","mediaType":"image/jpeg","name":"Black and white image of some 50's style text saying: Welcome On Board","type":"Document","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/attachment/original/01F8MH6NEM8D7527KZAECTCR76.jpeg"},"attributedTo":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin","cc":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/followers","content":"hello world! #welcome ! first post on the instance :rainbow: !","id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R","published":"2021-10-20T11:36:45Z","replies":{"first":{"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?page=true","next":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies?only_other_accounts=false\u0026page=true","partOf":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"CollectionPage"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/users/admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R/replies","type":"Collection"},"sensitive":false,"summary":"","tag":{"icon":{"mediaType":"image/png","type":"Image","url":"http://localhost:8080/fileserver/01F8MH17FWEB39HZJ76B6VXSKF/emoji/original/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ.png"},"id":"http://localhost:8080/emoji/01F8MH9H8E4VG3KDYJR9EGPXCQ","name":":rainbow:","type":"Emoji","updated":"2021-09-20T10:40:37Z"},"to":"https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public","type":"Note","url":"http://localhost:8080/@admin/statuses/01F8MH75CBF9JFX4ZAD54N0W0R"}`, trimmed)
 }
 
 func (suite *InternalToASTestSuite) TestStatusToASWithMentions() {