How to Add Emojis to Discord (Server Custom Emoji Guide)

A community with its own emoji feels like a club. A little logo, an in-joke, a thumbs-up that looks like your mascot: members use them constantly, and they quietly say who you are. If you run a Discord for customers, students or followers, custom emoji are one of the quickest ways to give it personality.

Here's how to add them, what you need permission-wise, the limits Discord sets, and the common reasons an upload fails. I've followed Discord's own help article and its beginner's guide to custom emoji.

Uploading custom emoji to a Discord server from a computer

Emoji belong to a server, so you add them in a server where you have the right permission. Discord's beginner's guide gives this route on desktop:

1. Go to a server where you can upload emoji.
2. Open Server Settings and select Emoji.
3. Upload your image.
4. Resize or crop it if Discord offers the option, then confirm.

There's a shortcut too. Discord says you can also open the emoji picker and click Add Emoji, an option that appears if you have the right server permissions. In the settings screen you can upload new emoji, delete current ones or rename them.

Who can add emoji to a Discord server

This is the question behind most failed attempts. Discord's help article says you need to be the server owner or have the Create Expressions permission for your role to add custom emoji. If the Add Emoji option is missing for you, it's nearly always this setting rather than a bug.

If you run the server, that means deciding who gets the permission. A small team of moderators is usually plenty. My guide to making roles on Discord shows how to set up a role and choose what it can do.

Discord emoji file types, size and name rules

Before you export your artwork, check it against Discord's requirements. According to its beginner's guide:

• Accepted files are JPEG, PNG, GIF, WEBP or AVIF.
• Files are limited to 256 KB, and larger files are compressed.
• A size of 128x128 is recommended, though other sizes work and Discord handles the resizing.
• The emoji name needs at least 2 characters.

Discord's help article also says names can only contain letters, numbers and underscores. The help article and the blog describe file size slightly differently, so if an upload is refused, shrink the file and check the requirements shown in the upload screen, which are the current ones.

How many custom emoji slots a Discord server has

Every server has a fixed number of slots, shared by everyone in it. Discord's beginner's guide lists them by Server Boost level:

Server level	Standard emoji	Animated emoji
Standard	50 still	50 animated
Boost Level 1	100 still	100 animated
Boost Level 2	150 still	150 animated
Boost Level 3	250 still	250 animated

When the slots are full, delete an emoji nobody uses before you upload a new one. It's worth reviewing the set every few months.

Animated emoji and Nitro on Discord

The beginner's guide says animated emoji are uploaded the same way as still ones, but you need Nitro to use them. Using custom emoji from other servers also needs Nitro, so members without it will only see your emoji working inside your own server. That's worth remembering if you plan to promote the emoji elsewhere.

What members see when you add Discord emoji

Once an emoji is uploaded, it joins the emoji picker for that server, and members can use it in messages and as reactions. Because emoji belong to the server, they're tied to the community rather than to you personally, so a member who leaves takes none of them with them. It's a good reason to keep a tidy, on-brand set instead of uploading everything you can think of.

If you're running a launch, a course cohort or a membership group, a single emoji for each milestone gives people something to react with and share. It takes a few minutes of design time and gives the community a shared language.

Designing custom emoji for a Discord community

A good emoji reads clearly when it's tiny. A few habits help:

• Use bold shapes and a simple background. Fine detail turns to mush at small sizes.
• Make your emoji from your own artwork, photos or logo, or from images you have the right to use.
• Pick names that members will remember, like a short word for the reaction.
• Keep a consistent style so the set looks like one family.
• Test the emoji in a chat before you tell everyone about it.

If you want your community to feel looked after, pair emoji with a clear welcome area. My guide to joining a Discord server is a handy one to share with newcomers who haven't used Discord before.

If you can't add emoji to your Discord server

Work through these in order:

• Check you're the server owner or your role has Create Expressions.
• Check the server hasn't used all its emoji slots.
• Make sure the image type is on Discord's accepted list.
• Try a smaller file if the upload is rejected.
• Check the name has at least 2 characters and only letters, numbers and underscores.

If you've run out of slots and want more, Server Boosts raise the limits, as the table above shows. And if a rogue member keeps misusing the set, reporting someone on Discord is the route for serious problems.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add emojis to Discord?

On a computer, open Server Settings, select Emoji and upload your image. You can also open the emoji picker and click Add Emoji if you have the right permissions.

Why can't I add emoji to my Discord server?

Discord's help says you need to be the server owner or have the Create Expressions permission. Also check the server hasn't reached its emoji slot limit.

How many custom emoji can a Discord server have?

Discord's beginner's guide lists 50 standard and 50 animated by default, rising to 100 each at Boost Level 1, 150 each at Level 2 and 250 each at Level 3.

What file types can I use for Discord emoji?

JPEG, PNG, GIF, WEBP or AVIF. Discord recommends 128x128, and the file limit is 256 KB, with larger files compressed.

Do I need Nitro to use custom emoji?

Nitro is needed to use animated emoji and emoji from other servers, according to Discord's guide. Anyone can use a server's own still emoji there.