Adding stickers to Discord messages

You add stickers to Discord by clicking the smiley face icon in the message box, then selecting the sticker tab. Discord comes with built-in stickers you can use when ready. You can also read sticker packs from the Discord store, or upload custom stickers if you own a server. The process takes seconds once you know where to look.

Stickers work differently than emojis. An emoji is a single character that appears inline with your text. A sticker is a larger image that takes up its own space in the message and can be animated. You can send one sticker per message, or combine a sticker with text and regular emojis in the same message.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the smiley face icon in the message box, then tap the sticker tab to see stickers you already own.
  • Free sticker packs are available in the Discord store under User Settings, and you can add them to your account with one click.
  • Server owners can upload custom stickers to their own server, which only members of that server can use.
  • Stickers you add stay in your account across all servers, but server stickers only work in that specific server.

Finding and using built-in stickers

Discord includes a set of stickers by default. To see them, open any server or direct message and look at the message box at the bottom. On the right side of the text field, you will see a smiley face icon. Click it.

A menu will pop up showing different tabs. The sticker tab is usually the second or third one from the left, marked with a sticker icon. Click it to see all the stickers you currently own. You can scroll through them and click any sticker to send it. That sticker will appear as its own message in the chat.

Adding free sticker packs from the Discord store

Discord offers free sticker packs that you can add to your account. To find them, click your username in the bottom left corner of Discord and select User Settings. Then go to Stickers in the left menu.

You will see a button that says "Browse Sticker Packs" or similar. Click it to open the Discord store. You can scroll through available packs and click any one that interests you. A free pack will show a button that says "Add Stickers" or "Get Pack". Click it, and those stickers are now yours. They will appear in your sticker tab the next time you open the message box.

Some sticker packs cost money, usually between $0.99 and $4.99. These show a price instead of a free button. You do not have to buy them to use stickers in Discord.

Uploading custom stickers to your server

If you own or manage a server, you can upload custom stickers that only members of that server can use. Right-click on the server name at the top left and select Server Settings. Then click Stickers in the left menu.

Click the Upload Sticker button. You can upload image files in PNG, APNG, GIF, or LOTTIE format. The image should be between 128 and 320 pixels on each side. Give the sticker a name (like "happy_cat" or "thumbs_up") and click Upload.

Once uploaded, the sticker appears in the sticker tab for anyone in that server. Server stickers do not transfer to other servers you are in — they only work in the server where you uploaded them. You can upload up to 60 stickers per server, depending on your server's boost level.

The difference between personal and server stickers

Stickers you add to your own account from the Discord store follow you everywhere. If you add a sticker pack in one server, you can use those stickers in any other server you are in, and in direct messages.

Server stickers work only in that specific server. If you manage a server and upload a custom sticker, only members of that server will see it in their sticker tab when they are chatting in that server. The sticker does not appear in other servers or in direct messages, even for the person who uploaded it.

Troubleshooting stickers that do not appear

If you added a sticker pack but do not see it in your sticker tab, try closing and reopening Discord. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show newly added stickers. On mobile, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close Discord completely, then open it again.

If a sticker pack you bought or added is no longer showing, it may have been removed from the Discord store. Packs are sometimes taken down if the creator removes them. You can check your sticker collection by going to User Settings and clicking Stickers to see which packs are currently active on your account.

On older or slower devices, animated stickers may not play smoothly. If an animated sticker appears frozen or choppy, that is a performance issue with your device, not a problem with the sticker itself. Restarting Discord or your device may help.

Using stickers in different Discord apps

Stickers work the same way on Discord's desktop app, web version, and mobile apps. The smiley face icon appears in the same location on all versions. Stickers you add on your phone will show up on your computer, and vice versa, because they are tied to your Discord account.

The main difference is screen size. On a phone, the sticker picker may be smaller and harder to scroll through. On a desktop, you have more room to see sticker previews. But the stickers themselves are the same across all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send multiple stickers in one message?

No. Discord allows one sticker per message. If you want to send multiple stickers, you have to send them as separate messages. You can combine one sticker with text and emojis in the same message, but only one sticker.

Do people have to read stickers to see them?

No. When you send a sticker, everyone in the chat sees it automatically. They do not need to own the sticker pack or read anything. The sticker appears in their chat the same way a regular image would.

What happens if a sticker pack gets deleted?

If a creator removes a sticker pack from the Discord store, you keep the stickers you already own. They will continue to work in your messages. You just cannot add that pack again if you remove it from your account.

Can I make my own stickers without owning a server?

Not directly. Only server owners can upload custom stickers to Discord. If you want to use custom stickers, you need to create your own server (which is free) or ask a server owner to upload them for you.

Are there sticker packs for specific games or shows?

Yes. The Discord store includes sticker packs for popular games, TV shows, and franchises. These are created by Discord or licensed partners. You can browse the store to see what packs are currently available.