How to Make and Use Custom Emojis on Your Discord Server

Custom emojis are a great way to personalize your Discord server and make chats more engaging. Whether you want to add inside jokes, specific reactions, or branded icons, Discord allows server owners and admins to upload custom emojis for their communities. In this guide, you’ll learn how to create, upload, and use custom emojis effectively.

Creating Custom Emojis

Before you can upload custom emojis to your server, you need to create them. Here are the key considerations when designing emojis:

• Size: Discord requires custom emojis to be 256 KB or smaller and suggests dimensions of 128×128 pixels. However, they will be resized to 32×32 pixels when used in chat.
• Format: You can upload static emojis in .PNG, .JPG, or .GIF formats. Animated emojis must be in .GIF format.
• Transparency: If you need a clean look without a background, use a transparent .PNG.

To create a custom emoji, use any graphic editing tool such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva. For animated emojis, software like Adobe After Effects or an online GIF maker can help.

Uploading Emojis to Your Discord Server

Once you’ve designed your custom emoji, follow these steps to upload it to your server:

1. Open Discord and select your server. Ensure you have administrator rights or the “Manage Emojis and Stickers” permission.
2. Go to Server Settings. Click on your server’s name at the top-left corner and choose Server Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Navigate to the “Emoji” section. In the left-hand panel, select Emoji.
4. Click “Upload Emoji.” Choose an image file from your device. The uploaded emoji will then appear in the server’s emoji list.
5. Assign a name. The emoji needs a unique name (e.g., “:happycat:”). This name is used to type and trigger the emoji in chat.

Discord has certain limits based on your server level:

• Basic servers can upload up to 50 static and 50 animated emojis.
• Boosting your server unlocks more emoji slots, with the highest level allowing 250 of each type.

Using Custom Emojis in Chat

Once uploaded, you can use custom emojis in your Discord conversations easily by following these methods:

• Type the emoji’s name between colons (:emoji-name:), and it will appear in chat.
• Click on the emoji icon in the message bar and select from the emoji list.
• React to messages using a custom emoji by clicking the reaction button under any message.

Note: Only members of your server can use custom emojis unless you have Discord Nitro, which lets you use them across other servers.

Managing and Removing Emojis

If you need to delete or replace an emoji, you can do so in the same “Emoji” settings tab under Server Settings:

1. Go to Server Settings > Emoji.
2. Find the emoji you want to remove.
3. Click the red Remove button next to the emoji.

To replace an emoji, simply delete the old one and upload a new version with the same name.

Best Practices for Custom Emojis

To maintain a well-organized and functional emoji system in your Discord server, consider the following best practices:

• Keep emoji names simple: Short, memorable names make them easier to use.
• Use high-quality images: Blurry or pixelated emojis can reduce chat aesthetics.
• Maintain consistency: If your server follows a theme, ensure emojis match the overall style.
• Avoid overloading emojis: Adding too many can make the emoji picker cluttered and difficult to navigate.

Conclusion

Custom emojis bring personality and fun to any Discord server. By carefully designing, uploading, managing, and using them, you can create a more engaging community experience. Start exploring different styles and ideas to see what resonates with your server members, and always follow best practices to keep things organized. Happy chatting!