Discord has become a place where emojis often called emotes are not just decoration they are part of the language. In fact a Unicode Consortium study found that 92% of people worldwide use emojis in digital communication. On Discord these Discord Emojis inject personality and clarity into chats. In this guide we will explore both the built in default Discord Emojis and the custom server emojis you can create including how to use them how many you can have and tips for engaging your community with emojis.
What Are Discord Emojis?
Discord supports all standard Unicode emojis the yellow smileys, animals, food etc. and displays them using its own Twemoji style designs. In Discord we often just say emoji but here Discord Emojis refers to both the default set and any custom images a community uploads often called server emojis or emotes. You can insert a default emoji by clicking the smiley icon next to the chat box or typing a shortcode like.
Emojis appear in your message at normal size or larger if your message contains only emojis. You can also react to any message with an emoji: just hover over the message and click Add Reaction. If multiple users react with the same emoji Discord tallies them and shows a count.
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Built in categories: Discord emoji picker organizes Discord Emojis into categories.
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Emoji shortcodes: Type a colon and the emoji name to autocomplete an emoji.
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Message reactions: Use Add Reaction on any message to attach an emoji. Users can pile on the same reaction for example four people reacting with will show 4 on the message.
Custom Server Emojis
Custom emojis sometimes called server emojis or server emotes are images that a server admins upload for that community. Think of them as your own unique stickers. They work just like normal emojis: anyone in the server can type its short name or select it from the emoji menu to use in messages or reactions. However custom emojis are tied to the server:
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Server specific: When you upload a custom emoji it is only available in that server. Any member can use it there but without Nitro they can not use it elsewhere.
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Global use Nitro: If you have Discord Nitro or Nitro Basic any custom Discord Emojis you upload can be used anywhere on Discord other servers DMs and even on your profile. Discord Nitro info emphasizes Use custom emojis anywhere including on your profile in other servers.
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Animated vs static: Animated emojis are GIF or WebP images you upload. By default servers have 50 slots for static and 50 for animated emojis. Nitro Basic subscribers get 50 animated slots (so up to 100 slots total).
How to Add Custom Emojis
If you have the Manage Emoji permission in a server you can upload custom emojis via Server Settings. Here is how:
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Open Server Settings: Click the server name and choose Server Settings.
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Go to Emoji: In the left menu select Emoji.
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Upload: Click Upload Emoji then select a JPEG, PNG or GIF file from your computer.
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Name it: Give it a short name. Names must be 2 or 32 characters using only letters, numbers and underscores.
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Done: The emoji is now on your server. It will appear under Static or Animated depending on the file type.
Make sure your file meets Discord’s requirements: under 256 KB in size and ideally 128×128 pixels. Discord will auto resize or compress if needed. Once uploaded all members can use to post that emoji. For example uploading a fun GIF cat and naming it lets anyone type to share the dancing cat.
Animated Emojis and Nitro
Animated emojis add a fun twist. If you upload a GIF or WebP it will animate when used though only Nitro users see the animation. Remember: each server has 50 animated slots by default and Nitro Basic unlock those 50 animated emojis. This means a Nitro enabled server can have 100 total custom emojis 50 static + 50 animated. Nitro subscribers can breathe life into images and memes by turning them into animated Discord Emojis emojis with motion.
Emoji Limits and Server Boosts
How many custom emojis can a server have? It depends on server boosts. By default a server starts with:
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50 custom emojis static + 50 animated emojis.
Boosting raises these limits:
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Level 1- 2 boosts: +50 each = 100 static + 100 animated.
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Level 2- 7 boosts: +50 more = 150 static + 150 animated.
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Level 3- 14 boosts: +100 more = 250 static + 250 animated.
As Discord blog explains Level 1 servers can hold up to 100 standard and 100 animated emoji going up to 150 at Level 2 and 250 at Level 3. Note: Nitro users get 2 server boosts included helping communities hit Level 1 faster. If a server loses boost level any custom emojis beyond the new limit become disabled grayed out until boosts are restored.
Using Emojis and Reactions
Emojis are powerful: they boost engagement and express emotions quickly. For example a WordStream study found that adding emojis to social posts can increase engagement by around 25%. On Discord you can use emojis to react instantly or add color to your text.
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Opening the emoji picker: Click the icon next to the chat box to open Discord emoji panel. Here you can browse and search all Discord Emojis by category.
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Typing emojis: You can also type a colon and an emoji name like to insert it.
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Size and Jumbojis: If you send a message containing only emojis they will appear larger in the chat (up to 27 emojis. This jumboji effect is great for emphasizing a reaction.
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Disabling emoticons: If you want classic emoticons go to User Settings Text and Images and toggle off Automatically convert emoticons. Then your will stay as typed instead of turning into.
Super Reactions (Animated Reactions
Discord Nitro introduced Super Reactions which animate emoji reactions for extra flair. With Nitro when you click Add Reaction on a message you will see a Super Reaction option. Pick any emoji then choose Super Reaction to make it burst to life. For example a reaction will launch with sparkles. Nitro users have unlimited Super Reactions and can use any emoji default or custom as a Super Reaction. Super Reactions are just a fun way to express yourself with animated Discord emojis.
Discord Emojis and Emotes
On Discord emoji and emote are essentially the same thing. We often say Discord Emojis here for clarity. The word emote is just a casual term especially for custom images. In practice whether you call them emojis or emotes they work identically as those little chat icons.
Tips for Creating and Using Discord Emojis
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File types and size: Use PNG or GIF or WebP. Keep files under 256 KB and around 128×128 px for best results. Discord will handle the rest.
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Naming: Choose memorable short names. Names can include letters numbers or underscores.
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Follow the rules: Custom emojis must comply with Discord’s Community Guidelines no hate symbols harassment or adult content.
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Emoji servers: Some communities boost to Level 3 just to host hundreds of emojis. If you have Nitro joining these emoji servers lets you use their emojis anywhere. It is a fun way to expand your emoji collection.
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Engage your community: Encourage members to suggest or create emojis. People love seeing their memes or artwork become server emojis. It makes chats more vibrant and encourages participation after all as Discord blog says people like emojis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between default Discord Emojis and custom server emojis?
Default Discord Emojis are the built in Unicode emoji images everyone can use anywhere on Discord. Custom server emojis are images uploaded to a specific server. Without Nitro you can only use a custom emoji in its home server with Nitro you can use it anywhere. Custom emojis let communities inject inside jokes and original art into chat.
Q: How do I add a custom Discord emoji to my server?
Go to your server Server Settings Emoji section. Click Upload Emoji choose a PNG or JPEG or GIF file and name it. The file must be under 256 KB. Once uploaded type in chat to use it in that server.
Q: How many emojis can my Discord server have?
A non boosted server can have 50 static + 50 animated emojis. Boosting raises that limit Level 3 servers can have up to 250 static + 250 animated. Nitro users effectively expand emoji access by allowing emojis from other servers.
Q: Why are some emojis grayed out or unusable?
If you try to use an emoji from a different server without Nitro it will be grayed out. Also if a server loses boost levels excess emojis become locked until boosts return. Ensure you have the needed permission or Nitro to use an emoji.
Q: Can I animate my emojis?
Yes if you have Nitro or Nitro Basic you can upload animated emojis. They will play their animation when used. Non Nitro users will see only the first frame.
Q: How do I react to a message with an emoji?
Hover over the message and click the Add Reaction icon. Choose any emoji default or custom to attach. Nitro users can even use any custom emoji from any server as a reaction.
Q: Are Discord emotes different from emojis?
Not in function. Emote is just a friendly term for an emoji especially custom ones. On Discord they function the same way.
Conclusion
Discord Emojis or emotes both custom and default are a fun way to express feelings and reactions in chats. Use the emoji picker or type to insert default emojis and upload your own images to create custom Discord Emojis for your server. Remember that a non boosted server gets 50 static + 50 animated slots and that custom emojis must meet the 256 KB size and naming rules. Nitro users can take these emojis further using them anywhere and even animating them with Super Reactions.
Ready to add some spice to your server? Try creating a new Discord Emoji maybe a meme or logo and watch your friends use it! What is your favourite Discord emoji or emote? Share it below and if this guide helped you do not forget to share it with your Discord pals.
