Creating stickers in Telegram on Android: step-by-step guide

Personalization of messengers has long ceased to be just a pleasant option and has turned into a full-fledged way of self-expression. Creating your own stickers Telegram based on the operating system Android is a fascinating process, but requires strict adherence to technical parameters. Many users mistakenly believe that this requires a computer, but modern mobile tools allow you to do all the work right on your smartphone.

In this article we will analyze in detail each stage: from preparing the original image to the final upload through the official bot. You will learn about the nuances of a transparent background, the correct sizes and methods for optimizing graphics for fast loading. Telegram requires strict adherence to the PNG format with an alpha channel for the correct display of contours. If you want to surprise your friends with a unique set of emotions, follow our recommendations.

Before proceeding with the active phase, it is necessary to prepare the “foundation”. It's not just about finding inspiration, but also about the basic requirements for files that the system dictates. Ignoring these rules will result in the bot simply not accepting your images. Let's take a look at what exactly you need to have on hand before starting the creative process.

Technical requirements for images

The foundation of a high-quality sticker pack is the correct technical execution of the files. System Telegram is extremely demanding on loading parameters, and any deviation from the norm can cause errors when rendering or sending. The main format without any alternative is PNG, which supports the necessary transparency. JPEG or JPG are not suitable here, since they cannot work with a transparent background, replacing it with white or black.

The size of each image in the package should not exceed 512 pixels on one side. The second side may be less, but not more than the specified value. This is a critical parameter for adaptability on the screens of various Androiddevices. In addition, the weight of one file is strictly limited - it should not be heavier than 64 KB. For modern smartphones with their powerful cameras, this is very small, so compression is inevitable.

• 📐 Maximum size: 512x512 pixels (one side).
• 💾 File weight: strictly up to 64 KB (kilobytes, not megabytes!).
• 🖼️ Format: PNG with support for transparency (alpha channel).
• ⚪ Background: transparent, without frames and margins required.

It is also worth paying attention to the presence of a white outline. While it's not always strictly necessary, having a thin white outline (about 1-2% of the size) or a white background underneath the image itself greatly improves the readability of the sticker on any chat background. Without this, the image may merge with the dark theme of the design or, conversely, with the light background of the interlocutor.

⚠️ Attention: If you use photos taken with a phone camera, their resolution is usually several thousand pixels. They need to be reduced before loading into the bot. Automatic compression inside the messenger can greatly spoil the quality, so it is better to prepare files in advance in the required size.

Preparing graphics on a mobile device

To process images on Android you will need a specialized graphics editor. Standard galleries cannot work with layers and transparency as required to create stickers. You need an application that supports working with alpha channels. Popular and functional options are PicsArt, PixelLab or more professional Ibis Paint X.

The preparation process begins with removing the background. If you have a ready-made image of a character or object against a uniform background, most mobile editors will offer a Magic Wand or Color Selection tool. In more complex cases, you will have to use the Lasso tool or draw a mask manually. The accuracy of edge selection directly affects the final quality.

After removing the background, the scaling stage follows. Create a new canvas with a size of, for example, 512x512 pixels. Place your image on this canvas. It is important to leave small margins from the edges so that when adding a stroke it will not be cut off. Then export the result exactly to PNG format. When saving in some applications (for example, in standard export JPEG), the transparency may disappear, replaced by a checkerboard background or white color - this is a signal that the format was selected incorrectly.

Pay special attention to compression. Files created in graphic editors often weigh more than 64 KB. To reduce weight, you can reduce the number of colors (for example, to 256) or use online compressors directly in your phone browser, such as TinyPNG. They effectively remove unnecessary metadata without any visible loss of quality to the eye.

Launch a bot to create stickers

When the set of images is ready, it’s time to interact with the interface of the messenger itself. In Telegram the entire mechanics of creating packs is tied to special bots. The official and main tool is a bot named @Stickers. It is he who receives files, requests names and creates the final set.

To get started, find this bot through a global search by name or follow a direct link. Press the button Start or /start at the bottom of the screen to activate the dialog. The bot will respond with a welcome message in English, offering a list of available commands. The bot's interface is text-based, but very logical.

The first step is always to create a new set. To do this, you need to send a command to the bot /newpack. After this, the system will ask you to come up with a name for your sticker pack. This name will be seen by the user when he wants to add your stickers. It can be anything, in any language, and can contain emoji.

After entering the name, the bot will ask you to send the first image. It is important to follow the order here: you send the picture as a file (document), and not as a photo. If you send it as a photo, Telegram will compress it and add its own metadata, which will break the format. In the sending interface, select “File” or “Document”, then find the prepared PNG.

The process of downloading and setting up stickers

After you have sent the image to the dialogue with the bot @Stickers, you will be asked to link an emoji. This is necessary so that when you enter the appropriate emoticon in the text input field, Telegram offers your sticker. You can select one or more emoji that best describe the emotion in the picture.

The process is then repeated for each image in your set. You send a file, the bot confirms receipt and asks for an emoji. The cycle continues until you decide to complete the pack formation. When all the pictures are loaded, you need to send the command /publish. This action publishes the set and makes it available to other users.

⚠️ Attention: The bot interface may change slightly depending on updates to the Telegram platform. If the command is not recognized, try pressing /start again to update the list of available actions. Also make sure that you do not send compressed images through the standard Photo menu.

During the publishing process, the bot may suggest adding a typing icon. This is a 100x100 pixel image that will be displayed in the sticker menu. If you skip this step or don't upload an icon, Telegram will automatically take the first image from your pack and make it smaller, which may look unsightly. It is better to prepare a separate icon file in advance.

After successfully executing the command /publish the bot will provide you with a link to the created set. She looks like t.me/addstickers/Name of the Pack. By clicking on it, you will see a preview and the “Add stickers” button. From now on, the pack is installed on your account.

Managing and editing the set

Creating stickers is not a one-time action. Often there is a need to remove a bad sticker, replace it or add a new one if you have forgotten some important emotion. To manage existing sets in the bot @Stickers a command is provided /editpack.

When you enter this command, the bot will ask you to select a set from the list of those that you have created. After selecting, a control menu will open where you can:

- Add new stickers (command /addsticker).

- Delete existing ones (command /delsticker).

- Change the order (command /ordersticker).

- Replace linked emoji.

The replacement function is especially useful. If you notice that there is a compression artifact or a crooked outline on a sticker, you do not need to create a new pack. Just delete the problematic sticker and upload the corrected version in its place, maintaining the link to the emoji. This allows you to maintain the quality of the collection at a high level.

What to do if the bot writes “Invalid image”?

The "Invalid image" error most often means that the file weighs more than 64 KB or does not have a transparent channel. Check the file in properties. Sometimes it helps to resave the file in another editor and reduce the quality to 80-85%.

It is also worth remembering about the limits. You can add up to 120 stickers to one static pack. If you need more, you'll have to create a second set. For animated stickers (format WEBM), the limits and requirements for file weight are different, but the principle of working through the bot remains similar.

Animated stickers and video formats

Animated stickers deserve special attention, as they make communication more lively. On Android their creation is more difficult, since it requires converting video or GIF into a specific codec VP9 with extension .webm. Standard phone galleries are not able to save videos in this format with the necessary parameters.

To create such stickers on your phone, you usually use third-party converter applications or online services that can transcode videos. Basic requirements for animation:

- Duration: up to 3 seconds.

- Size: 512x512 pixels.

- Weight: up to 64 KB (a very strict limitation for video!).

- Format: WebM with codec VP9.

The process of loading animation is similar to static: you send the file to the bot as a document. However, due to difficulties with coding on mobile devices, many users prefer to prepare animated stickers on a PC, and download ready-made files to their phone for final sending to Telegram.

Parameter	Static sticker	Animated sticker	Video sticker
File format	PNG	WebM (VP9)	MP4 (H.264)
Max. size	512x512 px	512x512 px	512x512 px
Max. weight	64 KB	64 KB	256 KB
Duration	-	up to 3 seconds	up to 60 seconds
Transparency	Required	Required	Not required

Often asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to create a sticker from a finished photo without removing the background?

Technically, the bot will accept the file, but it will look like a square picture with a white or black background, which is considered a violation of the aesthetics of sticker packs. For a full-fledged sticker, the background must be transparent. If you leave the background, it will be more of a smiley picture rather than a sticker in the classical sense.

Why does the bot write that the file is too large, although it is less than 1 MB?

The limit for static stickers is only 64 Kilobytes, not Megabytes. Modern photos weigh 2-5 MB, which is 50-80 times more than acceptable. It is necessary to compress the image, reduce its resolution or the number of colors.

How to add stickers created by another person?

You cannot edit other people's sets. To use other people's stickers, you need an invitation link (like t.me/addstickers/...). If you only have a link to the sticker itself in the chat, click on it, select “Add stickers” in the menu, and Telegram will offer to install the entire pack.

Can you make money on your stickers?

There is no direct monetization from Telegram for creating regular stickers. However, popular creators can receive donations from users or use stickers to promote their brands and channels. In some regions, a platform for selling copyright stickers is being introduced, but this requires separate verification.