Twitch emotes are custom images you upload to your channel that viewers can use in chat

A Twitch emote is a small image — usually between 28 and 112 pixels wide — that appears in chat when someone types a specific code. You create the image yourself, upload it to Twitch, and assign it a name. When a viewer types that name in chat (surrounded by colons, like :emote_name:), the image displays instead of the text.

Emotes fall into three categories based on who can use them. Channel emotes work only in your channel and require viewers to have a channel subscription or to have watched your channel for a certain time. Global emotes are available across all of Twitch and are created by Twitch itself. Affiliate and Partner emotes are a benefit of those statuses — Affiliates get three free emote slots, and Partners get more depending on their tier.

You do not need to be an Affiliate or Partner to create emotes. Any channel can upload custom emotes, but non-Affiliates can only make them available to subscribers or followers, depending on your channel settings.

Key Takeaways

  • Emotes must be square images in PNG format, at least 28 pixels wide, and follow Twitch's content rules — no real people, no copyrighted characters, no hate speech.
  • You create the image in any graphics program (Photoshop, GIMP, Canva, or even Paint), then upload it directly through your Twitch Creator Dashboard under Emotes.
  • Each emote needs a unique name of 4 to 25 characters with no spaces — viewers type this name to use the emote in chat.
  • Non-Affiliates can create emotes but must set them as subscriber-only or follower-only; Affiliates and Partners can make emotes available to all viewers.
  • Twitch stores your emotes at three sizes (28x28, 56x56, and 112x112 pixels), so design your image to look clear at the smallest size.

Design your emote image before uploading

Start by creating a square image file. Twitch accepts PNG files only, and the image must be at least 28 pixels wide and no larger than 4 MB. Most emotes are designed at 112x112 pixels because that is the largest size Twitch displays — designing at this size and letting Twitch scale it down ensures your emote stays clear at smaller sizes.

You can use any graphics program to create your emote. Photoshop and GIMP (free) are common choices, but Canva has free templates specifically for Twitch emotes, and even Microsoft Paint works if you keep the design simple. The key is that your emote must be a square — if it is not, Twitch will reject it during upload.

Twitch has content rules for emotes. You cannot use real people's faces, copyrighted characters (like Mickey Mouse or Pikachu), hate speech, or sexually explicit content. You can use your own face, your channel logo, original characters, memes you created, or simple shapes and text. If you are unsure whether your design breaks the rules, err toward simple and original.

Name your emote with a code viewers will type

Each emote needs a unique name that viewers type to use it in chat. The name must be 4 to 25 characters long, contain only letters, numbers, and underscores, and have no spaces. Common naming patterns are short words (like "pog" or "kekw"), your channel name plus a descriptor (like "channel_happy"), or inside jokes from your community.

The name is case-insensitive — typing "PogU" and "pogu" both display the same emote. Choose a name that is easy to remember and type, because viewers will use it frequently. If you plan to create multiple emotes, consider a naming scheme so they are easy to find in chat autocomplete.

Upload your emote through the Creator Dashboard

Log into your Twitch account and go to the Creator Dashboard. Click "Emotes" in the left menu under "Branding". You will see your current emotes and an option to upload a new one. Click "Upload Emote" and select your PNG file from your computer.

Twitch will ask you to name the emote (this is the code viewers type) and choose its tier. For Affiliates and Partners, you can set it as available to all viewers. For non-Affiliates, you must choose either "Subscriber Tier 1", "Subscriber Tier 2", "Subscriber Tier 3", or "Follower" — this determines who can use the emote in your channel. After you confirm, Twitch processes the image and makes it live in your channel within a few seconds.

If your upload fails, Twitch will tell you why — usually because the file is not PNG, the image is not square, or the file is too large. Fix the issue and try again. There is no limit to how many emotes you can upload, but non-Affiliates may have restrictions on how many can be active at once depending on your channel settings.

Understand emote tiers and who can use them

If you are an Affiliate or Partner, all your emotes are available to everyone in your channel by default. Non-Affiliates must assign each emote to a tier: Subscriber Tier 1 (the cheapest subscription level), Subscriber Tier 2, Subscriber Tier 3, or Follower. Only people in that tier can use the emote in your channel.

This means if you upload an emote as "Subscriber Tier 1", only viewers who pay for a Tier 1 subscription (or higher) can type it in chat. If you upload one as "Follower", anyone who follows your channel can use it. You can have multiple emotes at the same tier — for example, three different emotes all available to Tier 1 subscribers.

Becoming an Affiliate unlocks three free emote slots that anyone can use. Becoming a Partner unlocks more slots depending on your partnership tier. If you are working toward Affiliate status, emotes are a good reason to reach that milestone — they make your channel feel more established and give subscribers a reason to stay.

Edit or delete emotes after uploading

Once an emote is live, you can change its name or tier by clicking the emote in your Creator Dashboard and selecting "Edit". You cannot change the image itself — if you want a different picture, you must delete the old emote and upload a new one. Deleting an emote removes it from chat immediately, so viewers will no longer be able to type it.

If an emote violates Twitch's content policy, Twitch will disable it and notify you. You can then edit the image and reupload it, or delete it and start over. Twitch rarely removes emotes unless they contain hate speech, real people's faces, or copyrighted material.

Common mistakes to avoid when creating emotes

The most common mistake is uploading a non-square image — Twitch will reject it immediately. Make sure your image is exactly the same width and height in pixels. The second mistake is using copyrighted characters or real people's faces, which violates Twitch's rules and can get your emote disabled.

A third mistake is designing the emote too small or with too much detail. Remember that viewers will see it at 28x28 pixels in chat — if your design has thin lines or small text, it will be unreadable at that size. Test your design by viewing it at 28x28 pixels before uploading. Finally, do not use a name that is too long or hard to spell — if viewers cannot remember how to type it, they will not use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use someone else's art or character for my emote?

No, not without permission. Twitch prohibits emotes featuring copyrighted characters, trademarked logos, or real people's faces. You can use art you created yourself, original characters, or licensed artwork you have the right to use. If you hire an artist to create an emote for you, make sure you own the rights to the final image.

What size should I design my emote at?

Design at 112x112 pixels, which is the largest size Twitch displays. Twitch automatically creates smaller versions (56x56 and 28x28) by scaling down your image. If you design at a smaller size, it may look blurry when scaled up. Always make sure your image is square — if it is not, Twitch will reject it.

How many emotes can I upload?

There is no hard limit on the number of emotes you can upload to your channel. However, non-Affiliates may have restrictions on how many can be active at once, depending on your channel settings. Affiliates get three free emote slots available to all viewers, and Partners get more based on their tier. You can always upload more emotes and assign them to different subscriber tiers.

Can I change an emote after I upload it?

You can change the emote's name or tier by editing it in the Creator Dashboard, but you cannot change the image itself. If you want a different picture, delete the old emote and upload a new one. Deleting an emote removes it from chat immediately, so viewers will no longer be able to type it.

Do viewers need to install anything to see my emotes?

No. Emotes appear automatically in chat for anyone watching your channel. Viewers do not need to download anything or install an extension — Twitch handles displaying the image when someone types the emote code. They just need to know the emote's name to use it.