You can create custom emoji on most devices, but the method depends on whether you want a personal emoji, a sticker, or an emoji for a group chat

Creating emoji is not the same as designing the official Unicode emoji that appear on every device. What you can actually do is make custom images that look and feel like emoji — either for your own use, for a specific app, or for a group of people in a chat. The easiest route for most people is to use an existing emoji-creation tool online or in an app, rather than drawing from scratch.

The distinction matters because official emoji go through a formal approval process with the Unicode Consortium, which takes years. But personal emoji, group emoji, and stickers can be made and shared in minutes. This guide covers the practical methods you can use right now.

Key Takeaways

  • Online emoji makers like Emoji Kitchen, Bitmoji, and Zepeto let you create custom emoji without design software, and most are free.
  • Sticker packs in apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord are the easiest way to share custom emoji with a group.
  • If you want emoji for a Slack workspace, you can upload PNG or GIF files directly in Slack's custom emoji settings.
  • Drawing your own emoji requires design software like Photoshop, Procreate, or the free tool Pixlr, and should be at least 128 × 128 pixels.

Using an online emoji maker (fastest method)

The quickest way to create a custom emoji is to use a web-based tool that generates emoji from templates or your photos. Emoji Kitchen, made by Google, lets you combine two existing emoji to create a new one — you pick a base emoji and a modifier, and the tool blends them. It is free and requires no account. You can screenshot the result and use it anywhere.

Bitmoji creates a cartoon avatar of you, then generates emoji expressions of that avatar. You take a selfie or upload a photo, customize the cartoon version, and the app generates dozens of emoji showing your avatar in different poses and emotions. Bitmoji is free but requires an account. The emoji you create sync across apps like Snapchat, Gboard (Google's keyboard), and some messaging apps.

Zepeto works similarly — you create a 3D avatar of yourself and the app generates emoji and stickers from it. It is free and popular for sharing in group chats. The emoji are saved to your account and can be added to most messaging apps.

Creating sticker packs for group chats

If you want to share custom emoji with friends or a group, the easiest path is to create a sticker pack. Telegram and WhatsApp both support custom sticker packs, and the process is simpler than it sounds. You need a set of PNG images (usually 10 to 30 stickers), each one at least 512 × 512 pixels. You can draw these yourself, use an online tool, or find free sticker templates online.

In Telegram, you use the Sticker Maker bot to upload your images and create a pack. The bot walks you through naming the pack and assigning each image an emoji tag. Once created, you can share a link to the pack with anyone, and they can add it to their Telegram stickers with one tap. WhatsApp has a similar process through its sticker creation tools, though the exact steps vary by phone type.

Discord servers can have custom emoji that only members of that server see. To add one, you need to be a server admin or have the right permissions. Go to Server Settings → Emoji, upload a PNG or GIF file (up to 256 KB), name it, and it appears in the emoji picker for that server only. This is useful for inside jokes or community-specific emoji.

Adding custom emoji to Slack

Slack workspaces let any member upload custom emoji that the whole workspace can use. Go to your workspace name → Customize Slack → Emoji. Click "Add Custom Emoji" and upload a PNG, GIF, JPG, or BMP file. The image should be at least 128 × 128 pixels, though larger is better. Name the emoji and click Upload.

Once uploaded, the emoji appears in your workspace's emoji picker and anyone can use it in messages and reactions. Slack admins can delete emoji or restrict who can upload them. If you want emoji that only you see, that is not possible in Slack — all custom emoji are workspace-wide.

Drawing emoji from scratch with design software

If you want full control over the design, you can draw emoji yourself using design software. Photoshop and Illustrator are industry standard but cost money. Procreate is $12.99 one-time on iPad and is popular for digital drawing. Pixlr is free and works in a web browser — it has a simpler interface than Photoshop but covers the basics of drawing and editing.

Start with a canvas that is at least 128 × 128 pixels, though 256 × 256 or 512 × 512 gives you more room to work. Emoji are usually simple, bold shapes with thick outlines and bright colors. Draw your design, then export it as a PNG file (which preserves transparency, so the background is see-through). Test it at small sizes to make sure it is still recognizable.

Once you have a PNG file, you can upload it to any of the platforms above — Slack, Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp, or a sticker app. The file size limits vary by platform, but most accept files under 1 MB.

Getting emoji approved by Unicode (the long path)

If your goal is to create an official emoji that appears on every device, the process is formal and slow. You submit a proposal to the Unicode Consortium, a nonprofit that maintains the Unicode standard. The proposal must include research showing why the emoji is needed, examples of how people would use it, and detailed design mockups.

The Consortium reviews proposals twice a year. If approved, the emoji is added to the next Unicode release, which then has to be adopted by device makers like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. This can take one to three years from submission to the emoji appearing on phones. Most proposals are rejected. This path is for people or organizations with a genuine case for a widely-needed emoji, not for personal or group use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo as an emoji?

Yes, but it works better if you crop the photo to a square and make sure the subject is recognizable at small sizes. Most emoji-creation tools let you upload a photo and turn it into a sticker or emoji. For Slack or Discord, you can upload a JPG or PNG photo directly, though it will not look like a traditional emoji — it will just be a small image.

What size should my emoji be?

The minimum is 128 × 128 pixels for most platforms, but 256 × 256 or 512 × 512 is better because it gives you more detail and scales down cleanly. If you are creating a sticker pack, aim for 512 × 512. Check the specific platform's requirements before you start — they vary.

Can I make emoji that work across all apps?

No. Emoji you create for Slack only work in Slack. Sticker packs in Telegram only work in Telegram. The exception is Bitmoji, which syncs across multiple apps because it is built into Gboard and Snapchat. For maximum reach, create a sticker pack instead of a single emoji.

Do I need to pay to create emoji?

No. All the tools mentioned — Emoji Kitchen, Bitmoji, Zepeto, Pixlr, and the built-in emoji uploaders in Slack, Discord, and Telegram — are free. Paid design software like Photoshop or Procreate is optional and only needed if you want professional-level control.

What file format should I use?

PNG is the best choice because it supports transparency (a see-through background) and works on all platforms. GIF works too if you want animation. JPG works but does not support transparency, so you will get a white or colored background. Most platforms accept all three, but PNG is safest.