The fastest way to add stickers to Discord

You can add stickers to Discord in three ways: use stickers that Discord provides for free, download sticker packs from the community, or upload your own custom stickers if you have Nitro. The method you choose depends on whether you want stickers that already exist or want to create something new.

To use Discord's built-in stickers, open any server or direct message, click the smiley face icon in the message box, then select the sticker tab. You'll see free stickers organized by category. Click any sticker to send it. To browse more stickers, click "Browse Stickers" at the top of that panel.

If you want stickers created by other users, you can search for sticker packs in Discord's official sticker directory or join servers that share them. Custom stickers require a Discord Nitro subscription and a few extra steps, which are covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Discord provides free stickers built into the app that you can send immediately without downloading anything.
  • You can browse and add community-created sticker packs through the sticker search feature in Discord.
  • Custom stickers that you upload yourself require a Discord Nitro subscription and must be under 512 KB in size.
  • Stickers you add to a server are visible to everyone in that server, but personal stickers are only visible to you.

Using Discord's free built-in stickers

Discord includes a library of free stickers that come with the app. These are the easiest stickers to use because they require no download or setup. Open any chat window, click the smiley face icon at the bottom of the message box, and select the sticker tab (it looks like a square with a folded corner).

You'll see stickers organized into categories like "Dabbing," "Wumpus," and "Animations." Scroll through the categories or use the search bar at the top to find a sticker you want. Click it once to send it to the chat. These stickers are the same for all Discord users, so everyone will see the same image.

Finding and adding community sticker packs

Beyond Discord's built-in stickers, the community has created thousands of sticker packs that you can add to your server. To find them, click "Browse Stickers" in the sticker panel. This opens a search interface where you can look for packs by name or browse by category.

When you find a sticker pack you want, click it to see a preview of all the stickers inside. Click "Add to Server" and select which server you want to add it to. You must have permission to manage stickers in that server for this to work. Once added, all members of that server can use those stickers in their messages.

Some sticker packs are created by Discord itself, while others are made by users. The search results show the creator's name so you can see who made each pack. Popular packs often have thousands of uses, which can help you find high-quality stickers quickly.

Creating and uploading your own stickers with Nitro

If you have a Discord Nitro subscription, you can upload custom stickers to your server. These can be images you create yourself, edited versions of existing images, or anything else you want to turn into a sticker. Go to your server settings, click "Stickers," then click "Upload Sticker."

Your image must be a PNG, APNG, GIF, or LOTTIE file and cannot be larger than 512 KB. Discord recommends 320 × 320 pixels as the ideal size, though other dimensions work. You'll also need to give the sticker a name — this is what appears when someone hovers over it or searches for it.

Once uploaded, the sticker belongs to that server only. Members of the server can use it in their messages, but people in other servers won't see it. If you want the same sticker in multiple servers, you'll need to upload it separately to each one.

The difference between server stickers and personal stickers

Server stickers are added to a specific server and visible to everyone in that server. Personal stickers are stickers you add to your own account and only you can see them. To add a personal sticker, you need Nitro. Go to your user settings, click "Stickers," then "Upload Sticker."

Personal stickers follow the same size and format rules as server stickers (512 KB maximum, PNG, APNG, GIF, or LOTTIE). The main difference is that only you can use them. They won't appear in other people's sticker searches, and they won't show up when you're in servers that don't have Nitro members.

Troubleshooting sticker problems

If you can't see the sticker button in your message box, make sure you're using the latest version of Discord. Update the app through your device's app store or download the latest version from Discord's website. On web, clear your browser cache and refresh the page.

If you're trying to upload a custom sticker and get an error, check that your file is under 512 KB and in one of the supported formats (PNG, APNG, GIF, or LOTTIE). If the file is too large, you can compress it using free tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh. If you don't have Nitro, you won't be able to upload custom stickers at all — this feature is Nitro-only.

If a sticker pack you want to add isn't showing up in search, it may have been removed by its creator or Discord. Try searching for similar packs or browse by category instead. If you added a sticker pack but can't find it in your server, check that you have permission to manage stickers — server admins may have restricted who can add stickers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use stickers in direct messages?

Yes. Open a direct message with someone, click the smiley face icon, select the sticker tab, and choose a sticker. You can use Discord's free stickers and any community packs you've added to servers. Personal stickers (ones you uploaded to your account) also work in DMs.

What happens if I delete a sticker pack from my server?

Once deleted, no one in that server can use those stickers anymore. Messages that already contain those stickers will still show them, but new messages won't be able to use them. If you want to use the pack again, you'll need to add it back through the sticker search.

Do I need Nitro to use stickers other people created?

No. You can use Discord's free stickers and any community-created sticker packs without Nitro. You only need Nitro if you want to upload your own custom stickers to a server or to your personal account.

Can I edit a sticker after I upload it?

You can change a sticker's name and description after uploading it, but you cannot change the image itself. To use a different image, you'll need to delete the old sticker and upload a new one.

Why can't I add stickers to a server?

You need permission to manage stickers in that server. Ask a server admin or owner to give you the "Manage Stickers" permission in the server's role settings. If you're trying to upload a custom sticker, make sure you have Nitro — custom uploads require a subscription.