YouTube's own custom emoji are a channel membership perk: when a creator uploads them, the channel's paying members can use those exclusive emoji in comments on that channel's videos and in its live chats. Channels start with no custom emoji, so the creator has to upload every one.
That's why you sometimes see little faces, logos and in-jokes in a live chat that you can't find on your own keyboard. They aren't hidden YouTube emoji anyone can use. They belong to that channel, and you get them by joining its membership.
I'll cover both sides here: what you get as a viewer, and what you need to know as a creator before you design a set, because a couple of YouTube's rules catch people out.
How members use a channel's emoji
Once you join a channel's membership, the emoji the creator has uploaded become available to you on that channel. YouTube says members can use them in comments on the channel's videos and in its live chats.
- Join the channel's membership. You can see its perks before you pay by selecting Join on the channel.
- Go to a comment box or live chat on that channel.
- Type the channel's emoji family name to bring up its emoji, or type :_ to autocomplete them.
- Pick the emoji you want and post as normal.
Every member gets every emoji. YouTube is clear that all members, regardless of level, get access to the emoji a creator uploads. So if you're on the cheapest level, you're not missing any. If you're already a member and can't remember what's included, go to the channel's homepage and select See perks.
How creators upload custom emoji
Custom emoji live inside your memberships settings, so you need memberships switched on first. YouTube's route is short:
- Go to the Memberships page in YouTube Studio.
- Select Edit on the "Your badges and emoji" card.
- Upload your images, set your family name and give each emoji a name.
Your membership levels and perks are reviewed against YouTube's channel membership policies before they go live, which YouTube says takes about a day. You can have up to 6 levels, and each level needs between 1 and 5 perks, so emoji can count as one of those perks.
The naming rules nobody reads first
| Rule | What YouTube says |
|---|---|
| Family name | A prefix for all your emoji, set when you upload the first one. 3 to 10 characters |
| Is the family name unique? | No. Family names aren't unique across YouTube |
| Emoji name | 3 to 10 alphanumeric characters, unique within your family but not across YouTube |
| Renaming an emoji | You can't edit it. Delete the emoji and upload it again with the new name |
Here's my advice on the family name: make it obviously yours. YouTube itself recommends picking something easily recognisable as your brand, and because members type it to bring up your emoji, a short version of your channel name is the easiest thing for them to remember.
Image sizes and file rules
| Spec | Custom emoji | Loyalty badges |
|---|---|---|
| File types | JPEG, PNG and GIF preferred | JPEG or PNG |
| File size | Under 1 MB | Under 1 MB |
| Dimensions | 48 x 48 px preferred, up to 480 x 480 px | At least 32 x 32 px |
| How they display | 24 x 24 points, 48 x 48 points or higher on Retina and HiDPI screens | 14 x 14 in comments and Posts, 16 x 16 in live chat |
The one that trips people up: GIFs show as a static image, not an animation. So if you've designed a lovely animated wave, members will only ever see one frame of it. Design every emoji to read at a tiny size, with a thick outline and one clear idea, because at 24 points fine detail just disappears.
How many emoji you can upload
You don't get your full set on day one. YouTube says you open up more slots for new custom emoji as you gain members, and its slot table runs from the first members all the way up to 5,000+ members. It also says you won't be told when a new slot opens, so check your Memberships page now and then if you're growing.
That's a good reason to plan your emoji in order of importance. Upload the two or three your community will use most, like a greeting, a laugh and your logo, then add the rest as more slots appear.
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Where emoji fit with other member perks
Emoji are one perk among several. YouTube's list includes loyalty badges (8 of them, based on how long someone's been a paying member), members-only posts, members-first videos, members-only live chat and live streams, member milestone chats and a member recognition shelf. If you're planning what to offer, it helps to see how members-only videos work and how gifted memberships bring new members in.
Viewers also get a one-month free membership trial, which YouTube offers automatically to eligible viewers. Each viewer can only redeem one trial across all creators on YouTube, so if a viewer has used theirs on another channel, they won't get one on yours.
My verdict
Custom emoji won't be the reason someone joins your membership, but they're one of the few perks other viewers see, so they do a little promotion for you every time a member drops one in a chat. Keep the family name short and branded, design for tiny sizes, skip animation because GIFs won't move, and treat new slots as a reward for growth rather than something to fill on day one. As a viewer, if a channel's emoji are what you're after, any level gets the full set.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get custom emoji on YouTube?
Join the channel's membership. Custom emoji are a members-only perk, so once the creator has uploaded them, members can use them in comments on that channel's videos and in its live chats.
Can anyone use a YouTube channel's emoji?
No. A channel's custom emoji are for its members. All members get them, whatever level they're on, but people who aren't members can't use them.
Why isn't my YouTube emoji GIF animated?
YouTube says GIFs are displayed as a static image, not an animation. Members will only see one frame, so design emoji that work as still images.
What size should YouTube custom emoji be?
YouTube prefers 48 x 48 pixels, up to 480 x 480, under 1 MB, as JPEG, PNG or GIF. They display at 24 x 24 points, or larger on Retina and HiDPI screens.
How many custom emoji can a YouTube channel have?
It depends on your members. YouTube opens up more emoji slots as your member count grows, up to 5,000+ members, and it won't tell you when a new slot opens.
