diff --git a/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx/hide-quick-reactions-auto.png b/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx/hide-quick-reactions-auto.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..367e184b0e
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx/hide-quick-reactions-auto.png differ
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx/default-auto.png b/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx/default-auto.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2f3b296e3
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/shared-components/__vis__/linux/__baselines__/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx/default-auto.png differ
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx
index c0788217f6..8f67ddc773 100644
--- a/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.stories.tsx
@@ -45,3 +45,9 @@ export const DisabledEmoji: Story = {
         isEmojiDisabled: (unicode: string) => unicode === "😀",
     },
 };
+
+export const HideQuickReactions: Story = {
+    args: {
+        showQuickReactions: false,
+    },
+};
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.tsx
index eb9aa532b6..1903a860bc 100644
--- a/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.tsx
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/core/EmojiPicker/EmojiPicker.tsx
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ export interface EmojiPickerProps {
      * When omitted, a default mapping based on `KeyboardEvent.key` is used.
      */
     getAction?: RovingTabIndexProviderProps["getAction"];
+    /**
+     * Whether to show the quick reactions at the bottom of the picker. Defaults to true.
+     * Previews of emoji are displayed in the same bar as will also be hidden when this is false.
+     */
+    showQuickReactions?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** Convert recent emoji characters to emoji data, removing unknowns and duplicates */
@@ -193,6 +198,7 @@ export function EmojiPicker({
     recentEmojis,
     onRecordRecent,
     getAction,
+    showQuickReactions = true,
 }: EmojiPickerProps): React.ReactNode {
     const [filter, setFilter] = useState("");
     const [previewEmoji, setPreviewEmoji] = useState<IEmoji | undefined>(undefined);
@@ -468,11 +474,16 @@ export function EmojiPicker({
                             />
                         )}
                     </AutoHideScrollbar>
-                    {previewEmoji ? (
-                        <Preview emoji={previewEmoji} />
-                    ) : (
-                        <QuickReactions onClick={onClickEmoji} selectedEmojis={selectedEmojis} getAction={getAction} />
-                    )}
+                    {showQuickReactions &&
+                        (previewEmoji ? (
+                            <Preview emoji={previewEmoji} />
+                        ) : (
+                            <QuickReactions
+                                onClick={onClickEmoji}
+                                selectedEmojis={selectedEmojis}
+                                getAction={getAction}
+                            />
+                        ))}
                 </section>
             )}
         </RovingGridIndexProvider>
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json b/packages/shared-components/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
index c2ec670137..d93dfba100 100644
--- a/packages/shared-components/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/i18n/strings/en_EN.json
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     },
     "action": {
         "back": "Back",
+        "cancel": "Cancel",
         "click": "Click",
         "close": "Close",
         "collapse": "Collapse",
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@
         "reply": "Reply",
         "reply_in_thread": "Reply in thread",
         "retry": "Retry",
+        "save": "Save",
         "search": "Search",
         "start_chat": "Start chat",
         "unpin": "Unpin",
@@ -218,6 +220,8 @@
         "set_status": {
             "away": "Away",
             "be_right_back": "Be right back",
+            "choose_emoji": "Choose Emoji",
+            "custom": "Custom…",
             "focus_time": "Focus Time",
             "in_a_meeting": "In a meeting",
             "on_the_road": "On the road",
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/menus/UserMenu/__snapshots__/UserMenu.test.tsx.snap b/packages/shared-components/src/menus/UserMenu/__snapshots__/UserMenu.test.tsx.snap
index f80116c261..7c08d70dff 100644
--- a/packages/shared-components/src/menus/UserMenu/__snapshots__/UserMenu.test.tsx.snap
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/menus/UserMenu/__snapshots__/UserMenu.test.tsx.snap
@@ -380,6 +380,14 @@ exports[`UserMenu > renders a menu without an avatar 1`] = `
                 🌴 Away
                  
               </li>
+              <li
+                aria-selected="false"
+                role="option"
+                tabindex="0"
+              >
+                ✍️ Custom…
+                 
+              </li>
             </ul>
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -806,6 +814,14 @@ exports[`UserMenu > renders an open menu 1`] = `
                 🌴 Away
                  
               </li>
+              <li
+                aria-selected="false"
+                role="option"
+                tabindex="0"
+              >
+                ✍️ Custom…
+                 
+              </li>
             </ul>
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.module.css b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.module.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0d759c28b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.module.css
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+.customStatus {
+    display: flex;
+    width: 100%;
+    flex-direction: row !important;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: var(--cpd-space-2x);
+    /* Match the 28px tall box the trigger/pill float in so nothing shifts vertically */
+    min-height: 28px;
+}
+
+.emojiButton {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    width: 48px;
+    height: 48px;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: 1px solid var(--cpd-color-border-interactive-secondary);
+    border-radius: var(--cpd-radius-pill-effect);
+    background: var(--cpd-color-bg-canvas-default);
+    font-size: var(--cpd-font-size-heading-sm);
+    line-height: 1;
+    cursor: pointer;
+
+    &:hover,
+    &.selected {
+        background: var(--cpd-color-bg-subtle-secondary);
+        border-color: var(--cpd-color-border-interactive-hover);
+    }
+}
+
+.textField {
+    min-width: 0;
+    flex-grow: 1;
+}
+
+.action {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+/* The picker sizes itself (340x450); drop the menu's default padding so it fills the popover */
+.pickerMenu {
+    padding: 0;
+}
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ecd76b0abf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.stories.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+import { type Meta, type StoryObj } from "@storybook/react-vite";
+import { fn } from "storybook/test";
+
+import { CustomStatusView } from "./CustomStatusView";
+
+const meta = {
+    title: "Status/CustomStatusView",
+    component: CustomStatusView,
+    tags: ["autodocs"],
+    args: {
+        onSave: fn(),
+        onCancel: fn(),
+    },
+} satisfies Meta<typeof CustomStatusView>;
+
+export default meta;
+type Story = StoryObj<typeof meta>;
+
+export const Default: Story = {};
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.test.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c041dfdda5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+import React from "react";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import { render, screen, waitFor } from "@test-utils";
+
+import { CustomStatusView } from "./CustomStatusView";
+
+describe("CustomStatusView", () => {
+    it("shows the default emoji and a Cancel link while the text is empty", () => {
+        render(<CustomStatusView onSave={vi.fn()} onCancel={vi.fn()} />);
+        expect(screen.getByRole("textbox")).toHaveValue("");
+        expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Save" })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("calls onCancel when the link is clicked with empty text", async () => {
+        const onCancel = vi.fn();
+        const onSave = vi.fn();
+        render(<CustomStatusView onCancel={onCancel} onSave={onSave} />);
+
+        await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+        expect(onCancel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        expect(onSave).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it("toggles the link to Save and commits the status once text is entered", async () => {
+        const onCancel = vi.fn();
+        const onSave = vi.fn();
+        render(<CustomStatusView onCancel={onCancel} onSave={onSave} />);
+
+        await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole("textbox"), "In a meeting");
+        const save = await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Save" });
+        await userEvent.click(save);
+
+        expect(onSave).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ emoji: "😄", text: "In a meeting" });
+        expect(onCancel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it("trims whitespace and ignores whitespace-only text", async () => {
+        const onCancel = vi.fn();
+        const onSave = vi.fn();
+        render(<CustomStatusView onCancel={onCancel} onSave={onSave} />);
+
+        await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole("textbox"), "   ");
+        // Still a Cancel link, as the trimmed text is empty
+        await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+        expect(onCancel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        expect(onSave).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it("lets the user pick an emoji from the picker popover", async () => {
+        const onSave = vi.fn();
+        render(<CustomStatusView onSave={onSave} onCancel={vi.fn()} />);
+
+        await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose Emoji" }));
+        await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByLabelText("Emoji picker")).toBeInTheDocument());
+
+        await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("😇"));
+
+        // Picker closes and the trigger now shows the chosen emoji
+        await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByTestId("mx_EmojiPicker")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+        expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose Emoji" })).toHaveTextContent("😇");
+
+        await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole("textbox", { name: "What's your status?" }), "Angelic");
+        await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Save" }));
+
+        expect(onSave).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ emoji: "😇", text: "Angelic" });
+    });
+});
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9616bf3792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/CustomStatusView.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+import React, { type JSX, useCallback, useState } from "react";
+import { Field, Link, Menu, Root, TextControl } from "@vector-im/compound-web";
+
+import { _t, type UserStatus } from "..";
+import { EmojiPicker } from "../core/EmojiPicker";
+import styles from "./CustomStatusView.module.css";
+import classNames from "classnames";
+
+/**
+ * The emoji shown on the picker trigger before the user has chosen one.
+ */
+const DEFAULT_EMOJI = "😄";
+
+export interface CustomStatusViewProps {
+    /**
+     * Called when the user commits a custom status, i.e. clicks "Save" with
+     * non-empty text.
+     */
+    onSave: (status: UserStatus) => void;
+    /**
+     * Called when the user dismisses the editor without saving, i.e. clicks
+     * "Cancel" while the text is empty.
+     */
+    onCancel: () => void;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Editor for composing a custom user status text and choosing an emoji.
+ */
+export function CustomStatusView({ onSave, onCancel }: CustomStatusViewProps): JSX.Element {
+    const [emoji, setEmoji] = useState(DEFAULT_EMOJI);
+    const [text, setText] = useState("");
+    const [pickerOpen, setPickerOpen] = useState(false);
+
+    const trimmed = text.trim();
+
+    const onChooseEmoji = useCallback((unicode: string): boolean => {
+        setEmoji(unicode);
+        setPickerOpen(false);
+        // Don't record custom-status emoji as recently used composer reactions.
+        return false;
+    }, []);
+
+    const commit = useCallback(() => {
+        if (trimmed) {
+            onSave({ emoji, text: trimmed });
+        } else {
+            onCancel();
+        }
+    }, [trimmed, emoji, onSave, onCancel]);
+
+    const onActionKeyDown = useCallback(
+        (ev: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLAnchorElement>) => {
+            if (ev.key === "Enter" || ev.key === " ") {
+                ev.preventDefault();
+                commit();
+            }
+        },
+        [commit],
+    );
+
+    const onSubmit = useCallback(
+        (ev: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
+            ev.preventDefault();
+            // Only commit on submit (e.g. Enter) when there is something to save;
+            // an empty submit shouldn't silently cancel the editor.
+            if (trimmed) {
+                onSave({ emoji, text: trimmed });
+            }
+        },
+        [trimmed, emoji, onSave],
+    );
+
+    return (
+        <Root className={styles.customStatus} onSubmit={onSubmit}>
+            <Menu
+                open={pickerOpen}
+                onOpenChange={setPickerOpen}
+                title={_t("status|set_status|choose_emoji")}
+                showTitle={false}
+                align="start"
+                className={styles.pickerMenu}
+                trigger={
+                    <button
+                        type="button"
+                        className={classNames(styles.emojiButton, { [styles.selected]: pickerOpen })}
+                        aria-label={_t("status|set_status|choose_emoji")}
+                    >
+                        {emoji}
+                    </button>
+                }
+            >
+                <EmojiPicker
+                    onChoose={onChooseEmoji}
+                    onFinished={() => setPickerOpen(false)}
+                    showQuickReactions={false}
+                />
+            </Menu>
+            <Field name="custom-status" className={styles.textField}>
+                <TextControl
+                    value={text}
+                    onChange={(ev) => setText(ev.currentTarget.value)}
+                    placeholder={_t("status|set_status|set_status_prompt")}
+                    aria-label={_t("status|set_status|set_status_prompt")}
+                    autoFocus
+                />
+            </Field>
+            <Link
+                kind="primary"
+                size="md"
+                role="button"
+                tabIndex={0}
+                className={styles.action}
+                onClick={commit}
+                onKeyDown={onActionKeyDown}
+            >
+                {trimmed ? _t("action|save") : _t("action|cancel")}
+            </Link>
+        </Root>
+    );
+}
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.test.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..734a2df830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+ * Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
+ */
+
+import React from "react";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
+import { render, screen } from "@test-utils";
+
+import { SetStatusView, type SetStatusViewActions, type SetStatusViewSnapshot } from "./SetStatusView";
+import { MockViewModel } from "../core/viewmodel/MockViewModel";
+
+class SetStatusViewModel extends MockViewModel<SetStatusViewSnapshot> implements SetStatusViewActions {
+    public setStatus = vi.fn();
+    public clearStatus = vi.fn();
+}
+
+/**
+ * Open the dropdown and pick the "Custom…" entry, leaving it ready to enter a
+ * custom status / pick an emoji.
+ */
+async function openCustomEditor(): Promise<void> {
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("combobox"));
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("option", { name: "✍️ Custom…" }));
+}
+
+describe("SetStatusView", () => {
+    it("lets the user type a custom status", async () => {
+        const vm = new SetStatusViewModel({});
+        render(<SetStatusView vm={vm} />);
+
+        await openCustomEditor();
+
+        await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole("textbox", { name: "What's your status?" }), "Happy");
+        await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Save" }));
+
+        expect(vm.setStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ emoji: "😄", text: "Happy" });
+    });
+
+    it("sets a custom status with an emoji chosen from the picker", async () => {
+        const vm = new SetStatusViewModel({});
+        render(<SetStatusView vm={vm} />);
+
+        await openCustomEditor();
+
+        await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose Emoji" }));
+        // Pick from the always-rendered quick reactions row
+        await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("🤩"));
+
+        await userEvent.type(screen.getByRole("textbox", { name: "What's your status?" }), "Starstruck");
+        await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: "Save" }));
+
+        expect(vm.setStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ emoji: "🤩", text: "Starstruck" });
+    });
+
+    it("returns to the set status prompt if the custom editor is cancelled", async () => {
+        const vm = new SetStatusViewModel({});
+        render(<SetStatusView vm={vm} />);
+
+        await openCustomEditor();
+
+        await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Cancel" }));
+
+        expect(vm.setStatus).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        expect(screen.getByRole("combobox")).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.queryByRole("textbox")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+});
diff --git a/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.tsx b/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.tsx
index 675f536611..43e690bada 100644
--- a/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.tsx
+++ b/packages/shared-components/src/status/SetStatusView.tsx
@@ -5,13 +5,14 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Com
 Please see LICENSE files in the repository root for full details.
 */
 
-import React, { type JSX } from "react";
+import React, { type JSX, useState } from "react";
 import { Dropdown, type DropdownTriggerProps, Link, Text } from "@vector-im/compound-web";
 import { ReactionIcon } from "@vector-im/compound-design-tokens/assets/web/icons";
 
 import { _t, _td, type UserStatus } from "..";
 import { useViewModel, type ViewModel } from "../core/viewmodel";
 import { StatusPillView } from "./StatusPillView";
+import { CustomStatusView } from "./CustomStatusView";
 import styles from "./SetStatusView.module.css";
 
 const PRESET_STATUSES = [
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ const PRESET_STATUSES = [
     { emoji: "🌴", textKey: _td("status|set_status|away") },
 ];
 
+// Sentinel value used to distinguish the "Custom…" dropdown entry from a preset.
+const CUSTOM_STATUS_VALUE = "custom";
+
 export interface SetStatusViewSnapshot {
     /**
      * The current user status, or undefined if no status is set.
@@ -56,11 +60,24 @@ export type SetStatusViewProps = {
 
 export function SetStatusView({ vm }: SetStatusViewProps): JSX.Element {
     const { userStatus } = useViewModel(vm);
+    const [customMode, setCustomMode] = useState(false);
 
     if (userStatus) {
         return <StatusPillView status={userStatus} clearStatus={vm.clearStatus} />;
     }
 
+    if (customMode) {
+        return (
+            <CustomStatusView
+                onSave={(status) => {
+                    setCustomMode(false);
+                    vm.setStatus(status);
+                }}
+                onCancel={() => setCustomMode(false)}
+            />
+        );
+    }
+
     const renderTrigger = (props: DropdownTriggerProps): JSX.Element => {
         const trigger = (
             <div className={styles.setStatusContainer}>
@@ -81,6 +98,11 @@ export function SetStatusView({ vm }: SetStatusViewProps): JSX.Element {
     };
 
     const onValueChange = (value: string): void => {
+        if (value === CUSTOM_STATUS_VALUE) {
+            setCustomMode(true);
+            return;
+        }
+
         const status = PRESET_STATUSES.find((s) => s.textKey === value);
 
         if (!status) {
@@ -93,11 +115,16 @@ export function SetStatusView({ vm }: SetStatusViewProps): JSX.Element {
         });
     };
 
+    const dropdownValues: Array<[string, string]> = [
+        ...PRESET_STATUSES.map((s): [string, string] => [s.textKey, `${s.emoji} ${_t(s.textKey)}`]),
+        [CUSTOM_STATUS_VALUE, `✍️ ${_t("status|set_status|custom")}`],
+    ];
+
     return vm.onSetStatusClick ? (
         renderTrigger({ onClick: vm.onSetStatusClick })
     ) : (
         <Dropdown
-            values={PRESET_STATUSES.map((s) => [s.textKey, `${s.emoji} ${_t(s.textKey)}`])}
+            values={dropdownValues}
             label={null}
             placeholder={null}
             trigger={renderTrigger}