Modern messenger Telegram has long ceased to be just a means of communication, having turned into a full-fledged platform for self-expression. One of the most popular communication tools has become stickers - bright, emotional images that often replace entire sentences. Many users ask the question: how to create their own unique sets without resorting to the help of a computer and complex graphic software? It turns out that the whole process can be performed directly on a smartphone under control Android.
Creating personalized stickers opens up wide possibilities: you can immortalize funny photos of friends, turn your favorite cat into a meme hero, or make a corporate pack for a work chat. Technically, this does not require deep knowledge of programming or design, since the main mechanism of operation is based on interaction with the official bot of the platform. In this article, we will analyze in detail the entire path from the idea to publishing the finished set in your account.
The process of creating a sticker pack on a mobile device has its own nuances related to the limitations of screen space and file system Android. However, by following certain technical requirements for image formats and sizes, you can avoid common mistakes. We will look not only at the standard method via a bot, but also discuss preparing graphics so that your stickers look professional and clear on any display.
Technical requirements for sticker images
Before you start uploading files to the messenger, you need to prepare the source material. Telegram sets strict requirements for image parameters, ignoring which will lead to an error when adding to the pack. The main rule concerns the file format: for static stickers it should be PNG with a transparent background, and for animated ones - WEBP or TGS (for vector animation). The use of JPEG is not allowed, since this format does not support the alpha channel of transparency.
The size of each image is also regulated by the rules of the platform. One of the sides of the square in which the sticker is inscribed must be exactly 512 pixels, the other side can be less than or equal to this value. For example, sizes 512x512, 512x400 or 300x512are acceptable. Exceeding this limit will cause the bot to refuse to accept the file, and reducing it without preserving the proportions will distort the picture.
⚠️ Attention: Make sure that there are no extra empty fields around the picture itself. The image must occupy the maximum area within the allowed 512 pixels, otherwise the sticker will look too small in the chat.
To prepare graphics for Android you can use various editors, such as PicsArt, Canva or specialized applications like Sticker Maker for Telegram. Save files with maximum lossless compression quality to avoid edge artifacts.
Use apps with a magic wand or smart highlight feature to quickly remove backgrounds from photos before saving them to PNG format.
Find and launch the official sticker bot
All the magic of creation dialing occurs through a special system bot, which is a gateway between your device and the messenger servers. To get started, you need to find a Telegram account with the name in the search @Stickers. This is the only official tool that has the rights to create, edit and delete sticker packs. Be careful with clones and third-party bots that may request unnecessary Permissions.
After finding the bot, click the Launch or Start button at the bottom of the screen. The bot greets you with a list of available commands, which appear as menu buttons or text prompts. To create a new set of static images, you need to select the command /newpack. If your goal is animated stickers, you should use the command /newanimated, which requires preparing files in the format WEBP.
The bot interface is completely text-based, but intuitive. He will ask you questions in turn: first he will ask you to come up with a name for the entire set, then he will ask you for the first image and the corresponding emoji. Don't be afraid of the lack of a graphical interface - the dialog mode allows you to control each stage of loading and immediately receive error notifications if the file does not meet the requirements.
The process of creating and filling a sticker pack
After entering the command to create a new set, the bot will ask you to come up with a name. This name will appear in the list of stickers for all users, so try to keep it short and memorable. The name may contain Latin letters, numbers and some symbols, but it is better to avoid special characters that may not be displayed correctly on different devices. As soon as the name is accepted, the bot proceeds to the most important stage - uploading files.
Click on the paperclip icon in the message input field and select "File" (not "Gallery" so as not to lose quality and transparency). Select a pre-prepared PNG file with a size of 512 pixels. The bot will process the image and ask you to attach any emoji from the standard set to it Android or iOS. This emoji will be used to quickly find a sticker through the emoji panel in chat.
The process is repeated for each image in your set. You can add stickers in batches or one at a time until you decide the collection is complete. When all the images are loaded, send the command /publishto the bot. After this, the system will prompt you to come up with a short link for your pack, which will look like t.me/addstickers/YourName. This link is needed to distribute your creativity among friends.
☑️ Ready for publication
Setting up animated stickers on mobile
Creating animated stickers on Android is a more complex task, but quite feasible. Unlike static, this requires converting video or GIF into a specific format WEBPthat supports animation and transparency. Standard phone galleries often do not know how to save videos in this format, so you will have to use third-party converters or stakemaker applications that have an export function built-in.
The animation should be looped and last no more than 3 seconds for optimal playback. The frame rate is usually 30 or 60 FPS, but for stickers a lower value is often enough to reduce file weight. The weight of one animated sticker should not exceed 64 KB, which is a serious limitation for mobile devices with high-resolution cameras.
up to 300 KB (recommended)
| Option | Static sticker | Animated sticker |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PNG |
WEBP |
| Maximum size | 512 x 512 pixels | 512 x 512 pixels |
| Transparency | Required | Required |
| File weight | up to 64 KB (strictly) |
When loading animation through a bot @Stickers the command /newanimatedis used. The principle of the dialogue remains the same: the bot requests a file, you send it as a document, then select an emoji. If the file is larger than allowed or has an incorrect codec, the bot will return an error indicating the reason. In this case, additional compression of the image in the editor will be required.
⚠️ Attention: The messenger interface and file requirements may change slightly with application updates. Always check the current weight and format limits in the help of the official bot before starting mass file conversion.
Managing a set and editing stickers
After publishing a pack, you still have the opportunity to manage it. You can add new stickers to an existing set, replace old images, or delete them altogether. To do this, commands /addsticker, /editsticker and /delstickerare available in the dialogue with the bot. First, the bot will ask you to send any sticker from your set to identify it, and then offer to choose an action.
The replace function (/editsticker) is especially useful if you notice a typo in the drawing or want to improve the quality of the image without creating a new pack and without losing accumulated usage statistics. You simply upload a new file, and it automatically takes the place of the old one in the set for all users who already have this pack installed. This allows you to quickly respond to comments from the community.
It is also possible to change the set of emoji associated with stickers. If you realize that a picture with a sad cat is better associated with the crying face emoticon rather than the sad face, you can correct this. The bot allows you to change the link for each image separately, which improves the search and relevance of results when typing in a chat.
What happens if you delete the sticker pack?
If you delete a pack using the /delpack command, it will disappear for all users. It is impossible to restore it; you will have to create a new one from scratch and send out the link again.
Promotion and installation of created stickers
When your set is ready and published, the bot will give you a permanent link like t.me/addstickers/Name. This link is the key to spreading your creativity. You can send it to friends in private messages, publish it in channels, or add it to your profile description. The user, by clicking on the link, will see a preview of all the stickers and the “Add stickers” button, which will instantly install the pack in his application.
In order for stickers to become popular, it is important that they are really useful or funny. People are more willing to install sets that reflect trending memes, local humor of the company, or universal emotions that are missing in the standard set. Don't forget that the quality of the drawing directly affects the desire of users to share your link further.
Install other people's stickers is as easy as creating your own. Just follow the link or click on any sticker from this set in the chat if it is already used by one of your interlocutors. The system will offer to add the entire pack. This creates a viral effect: one person starts using original stickers, and soon the entire chat picks up this trend, installing a set for themselves.
The success of a sticker pack depends not only on the quality of the graphics, but also on the convenience of the link for installation and the relevance of the images for your audience.
Is it possible to create stickers without a transparent background?
No, for static and animated stickers, a transparent background is a mandatory requirement. If you upload a picture with a white or other background color, it will appear as a square with a border, which breaks the visual style of the chat. The bot can accept the file, but it will not look correct.
How many stickers can be in one pack?
Officially, the maximum number of stickers in one set is not limited to a hard number, but it is technically recommended not to exceed 120-200 images for easy navigation. Packs that are too large can take a long time to load on weak devices or a slow Internet.
Is it possible to monetize your stickers in Telegram?
At the moment, direct monetization of regular sticker packs is impossible. You cannot sell access to them through a bot. However, there are ecosystems of NFT stickers or paid sets for premium users created by artists at the invitation of the platform, but this is a separate app.
Why won’t the bot accept my PNG file?
Most likely, the size requirements were violated (the sides are not 512px) or the file was saved without transparency (alpha channel). Also check whether the file weight does not exceed reasonable limits, although the limits for static files are looser than for animation. Try resaving the image in another editor.
How to add stickers from someone else's pack to yours?
Technically, you cannot automatically copy stickers from someone else's pack to yours due to copyright. You need to save the sticker image to your phone (if the author has not prohibited copying), process it in the editor according to the 512px requirements and upload it to your pack via the bot as a new file.