Messenger Telegram has long ceased to be just a means for exchanging text messages, turning into a powerful platform for self-expression. One of the most popular features is stickers, which allow you to convey emotions brighter than regular emojis. Many users are wondering how to create their own set of unique stickers directly from their smartphone, without resorting to a computer.
The process of creating a sticker pack on a device running Android has become as simplified as possible thanks to the official bot @Stickers. You don't need complex graphics editors or programming skills. It is enough to prepare the images according to the technical requirements and follow the step-by-step algorithm, which we will discuss in detail in this article.
Creating a personal collection of stickers is a great way to personalize communication with friends and colleagues. You can turn your photos, drawings, memes or brand logo into stickers. The main advantage of the mobile method is that the entire cycle from idea to publication takes a matter of minutes if you already have the source files ready.
Technical requirements for images for stickers
Before you start uploading files to the bot, it is critically important to properly prepare the source images. Telegram has strict requirements for the format and size, failure to comply with which will result in an error when creating the pack. Ignoring these rules is the most common cause of failure for beginners.
The image must be saved in the format PNG. This format supports transparency, which is a must for stickers. If you upload a picture in JPGformat, it will have a white background, which will ruin the appearance of the sticker in the chat. The format is also allowed WEBP, but PNG remains the most versatile and easiest to process.
The size of each side of the image should not exceed 512 pixels. In this case, one of the sides (either width or height) must be strictly equal to 512 pixels, and the second side can be smaller. For example, acceptable sizes are 512x512, 512x400, or 300x512. Exceeding this limit will result in automatic compression, which may degrade quality.
- 🖼️ File format: required PNG with a transparent background.
- 📏 Maximum size: 512 pixels on one side.
- 🎨 Outline: white outline and shadow are recommended for readability.
- 📁 File weight: preferably no more than 30-50 KB for fast loading.
⚠️ Attention: The bot will not accept an image if it does not have an alpha channel (transparency). Even if the background appears transparent in the gallery, check the file in the editor before sending.
You can use applications like PicsArt, Background Eraser or online services to process images on Android. It is important to make sure that after removing the background, the edges of the object look neat, without jagged pixels. High-quality preparation is the key to ensuring that your stickers look professional.
Use the "Save for Web" function in image editors to reduce the weight of a PNG file without any visible loss of quality. This will speed up the loading of the sticker pack.
Search and launch the official Stickers bot
All manipulations for creating, editing and deleting sticker packs Telegram occur through a special system bot. His name is @Stickers. This is the only official tool that guarantees that your sticker pack will work correctly in all versions of the client.
To find a bot, open the application and use the search bar at the top of the screen. Enter the name @Stickers and select the result with the blue verification checkmark. After entering the dialogue, click the button Run or Start at the bottom of the screen.
The bot will respond with a welcome message in English or Russian (depending on your account settings), in which it will offer a list of available commands. To create a new set we need the command /newpack. Enter commands exactly as they are written in the hint menu to avoid recognition errors.
| Command | Description of action | When to use |
|---|---|---|
/newpack |
Creating a new sticker pack | At the very beginning process |
/addsticker |
Adding a sticker to an existing pack | When the pack has already been created |
/delsticker |
Removing a specific sticker | To clean the set |
/editsticker |
Changing the anchor emoji | If the sticker reacts incorrectly |
The bot's interface is completely text-based, but intuitive. After entering the command /newpack the system will ask you to come up with a name for your set. This name will be visible to other users when viewing information about the pack, so choose it wisely.
The process of creating a new set of stickers
After sending the command /newpack the bot will ask you to enter the name of your future sticker pack. It could be anything: “My cats”, “Work moments” or just your name. The name does not affect the technical part, but helps to identify the set in the list.
Then the main stage will begin - loading images. You need to send the prepared files PNG to the chat with the bot in the form of files (documents), and not as photos. If you send as a photo, Telegram will compress the image and remove transparency, which will lead to an error.
To send the file correctly, click on the paperclip icon 📎 in the message input field, select File (or Document) and find your image in the phone memory. After sending the file, the bot will ask you to select an emoji that will correspond to this stick.
Selecting an emoji is an important step. It determines which character will appear in tooltips when entering text related in meaning to the sticker. For example, for a sticker with the sun it is logical to choose ☀️, and for a sad cat - 😿. You can send one or more emoji.
- 📤 Send images strictly as File, and not as Photo.
- 🔢 You can upload stickers one at a time or in groups of up to 10 pieces.
- 😊 Select emoji as accurately as possible to the meaning of the image.
- ⏳ Wait for confirmation from the bot before sending the next file.
The process is repeated for each image in your set. You can keep adding stickers one by one. When all the images are loaded and linked to emoji, you need to inform the bot that the work is complete.
☑️ Ready for loading
Publishing and receiving a link to the sticker pack
When you have uploaded all the desired images, enter the command /publish. The bot will ask you to come up with a short name for the link (URL) of your sticker pack. This name must be unique throughout the system Telegram and consist of Latin letters, numbers and underscores.
For example, if you want to name the pack "SuperCats", the link might look like t.me/addstickers/SuperCatsByUser. If the selected name is already taken by another user, the bot will report an error and ask you to come up with another option. Often you have to add numbers or your username.
After successfully creating the link, the bot will offer to download the cover for the sticker pack. This is a 100x100 pixel image that will be displayed in the sticker store. If you skip this step (command /skip), the cover will be the first sticker from your set.
⚠️ Attention: The link name (short name) cannot be changed after creating the pack. If you make a typo in the URL, you will have to delete the entire pack and create a new one.
Upon completion of all stages, the bot will display a final message with a link like t.me/addstickers/PackName. By clicking on this link, you will see a preview of your set and a Add stickersbutton. From now on, the pack is available to you and everyone who follows the link.
The link to the sticker pack is eternal and public. Any Telegram user can add your set if they have a direct link.
Adding and editing stickers in the future
Your sticker pack is not frozen in time. You can always supplement it with new images or remove unsuccessful options. To add new stickers to an existing set, use the command /addsticker.
The bot will ask you to send a link to an existing sticker pack (the same one you created earlier) or select it from the list if you have recently used it. After selecting a pack, the adding procedure is similar to creating a new one: send the file, select an emoji.
If a sticker is boring or was loaded with an error, you can delete it with the command /delsticker. You will need to send any sticker from the set to be deleted into a chat with the bot, and it will offer to confirm the deletion of this particular image.
The function of changing the emoji association through the command is also available /editsticker. This is useful if you realize that the selected symbol does not quite fit the meaning of the picture. Just send the sticker that needs to be corrected and a new emoji.
- ➕ The command
/addstickerallows you to expand the pack endlessly. - ❌ The command
/delstickerdeletes only a specific sticker. - ✏️ The command
/editstickerchanges the emoji binding. - 🗑️ Removing the entire pack is only possible through the command
/delpack.
Remember that changes take effect instantly. As soon as you add a new sticker, it immediately becomes available in all chats where this set is installed. Synchronization occurs automatically through servers Telegram.
Sticker pack limits
One static sticker pack can contain up to 120 stickers. If you have reached the limit, the bot will not allow you to add new images until the old ones are deleted.
Common errors and ways to solve them
Despite the simplicity of the process, users often encounter technical problems. The most common mistake is "Invalid images sent". It occurs when the image does not meet the requirements: incorrect size, lack of transparency, or sent as a photo.
Another problem is an error when creating a link Short name is occupied. This means that the desired URL name is already in use by someone else in the world. There is only one solution: come up with a more unique name by adding numbers, underscores or parts of your nickname.
Sometimes the bot does not respond to commands or displays a server error message. In such cases, you should check your Internet connection and try restarting the application Telegram. Also make sure that you are not using third-party clients that may not work correctly with the bot API.
| Error | Probable cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid images sent | JPG format or no transparency | Convert to PNG with alpha channel |
| Sorry, this name is taken | Link name taken | Create a unique URL with numbers |
| Sticker is too big | Size greater than 512px | Change the size in the editor to 512px |
| Too many requests | Frequent requests to the bot | Wait 1-2 minutes before repeat |
⚠️ Attention: The interface and bot commands may be slightly updated by Telegram developers. If some command does not work, check the list of available commands through the bot menu.
If you are using older versions of Android or an outdated messenger client, you may have problems displaying some types of stickers. Always try to keep the application Telegram up to date via the Google Play Market.
Test one sticker before bulk downloading. Create a test pack with one image to make sure that your method of preparing files works correctly.
Is it possible to create a sticker pack without a computer?
Yes, absolutely. The entire process of preparing images (via mobile editors) and uploading via a bot @Stickers can be fully implemented on a smartphone running Android. No computer required.
How many stickers can be in one pack?
For static stickers (pictures) the limit is 120 pieces in one set. For animated stickers, the limits may vary, but are usually high enough for personal needs.
Why are stickers sent as pictures and not stickers?
This happens if you send an image to chat as a "Photo". For a sticker to work correctly, it must be added to your set through a bot, and only then selected from the sticker panel when sending.
Is it possible to make animated stickers on your phone?
Yes, but this requires the format TGS (Lottie). Creating such a file on your phone is more difficult than creating a static PNG. You will need specialized software to export the animation to the Lottie format before loading it into the bot.
What to do if the bot does not accept the file?
Check the file extension (should be .png), make sure you are submitting it as a "Document/File" and not as an image. Also check that the side size does not exceed 512 pixels.