How to create a custom sticker pack in Telegram for personal use step by step?

Feature Positioning & Evolution

Telegram has long offered sticker packs as a way to express emotion, brand identity, or inside jokes more vividly than plain emoji. A custom sticker pack created for personal use is a private collection of stickers—static or animated—that only you (and anyone you share the pack link with) can access. This guide walks through how to create a custom sticker pack in Telegram for personal use step by step, covering everything from image preparation to final deployment.

Over the years, Telegram has moved from a purely bot-driven creation flow (via @Stickers) to also offering built-in sticker creation on some platforms. As of the latest versions in 2026, both methods coexist, but the @Stickers bot remains the universal, cross-platform approach. The difference between a personal and a public pack lies entirely in the sharing settings: packs created through the bot default to unlisted, accessible only via a direct t.me/addstickers/ link, while public packs are indexed in the sticker gallery. This distinction gives you control over who can find your pack.

It is important to note that all custom sticker packs—personal or public—must comply with Telegram’s content policies. Non-compliance can result in the pack being flagged or taken down. Personal use does not exempt you from this rule, but enforcement is usually less aggressive for unlisted packs. Therefore, review the guidelines before designing stickers to avoid surprises later.

Prerequisites for Creating a Custom Sticker Pack

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

Image editing software (e.g., Photoshop, GIMP, or any tool that supports transparency).
Sticker images in PNG (for static) or WebM/APNG (for animated) format. Telegram imposes specific dimensions: static stickers must be exactly 512×512 pixels; animated stickers (in WebM format) require 512×512 resolution as well.
Transparency support – the background must be transparent (or a solid color that blends well).
A Telegram account with an active internet connection.
For animated stickers: a tool like Adobe After Effects with Bodymovin plugin or a dedicated WebM converter.

If you plan to include many stickers (the limit is 200 per pack), prepare them all upfront. Reopening the pack later to add more is possible, but doing so in one batch saves time. In our experience, most personal packs contain between 10 and 50 stickers—enough to cover common expressions without becoming overwhelming. Additionally, ensure each image meets Telegram’s file size limits (512 KB for static, 256 KB for animated) to avoid upload errors.

Step-by-Step Workflow: Creating the Pack

Method 1: Using the @Stickers Bot (Universal)

The @Stickers bot is the official tool for managing sticker packs. Here is the complete workflow:

Start the bot. Open Telegram and search for @Stickers. Send /start to begin.
Create a new pack. Send the command /newpack. The bot will ask for a name for your sticker pack. Choose a name that is descriptive but also unique (it will form part of the pack’s short name). For example, “MyPersonalStickers”.
Upload the first sticker. After naming, the bot asks for the first sticker image. Send a PNG file (not a compressed photo). The bot will automatically resize it to 512×512 if it’s not already that size, but it is best to supply pre-sized images to avoid distortion.
Assign an emoji. After upload, the bot asks for an emoji that represents the sticker. This emoji will appear as a quick-access tag. You can associate up to two emojis per sticker.
Add more stickers. Repeat the upload-and-emoji cycle for each sticker. The bot will confirm after each addition. You can send /done when finished.
Set a pack icon. The bot will ask if you want to set a cover image for the pack. If yes, you can send an image, or choose an existing sticker as the icon. The icon should be 100×100 pixels for best display.
Publish. Once all stickers are added, the bot provides a link like t.me/addstickers/MyPersonalStickers. Tap it to install the pack into your own account. It will then be available in your sticker panel.

This method works identically on Android, iOS, and desktop. The only difference is how you send the image file: on mobile, you can attach from the gallery; on desktop, you drag or browse. For users who want a consistent experience across platforms, the @Stickers bot is the most reliable choice, especially for creating a full pack with multiple stickers.

Method 2: Built-in Sticker Creator (iOS and Android)

In recent updates, Telegram introduced a built-in sticker creation tool that does not require a bot. The availability varies by platform and app version. Here’s how to find it:

On iOS: Open a chat, tap the emoji/sticker button, then the sticker icon. Tap the “+” icon (add sticker). You may see a “Create” option. This allows you to use a photo from your gallery, automatically remove the background (Apple’s Visual Look Up), and save as a sticker. The sticker is added to a new pack created on the fly.
On Android: The path is similar: in the sticker panel, tap the gear icon (manage stickers), then “Create Sticker”. You can crop and adjust, or use the automatic background removal (if available).

These built- in tools are convenient for quick, single-sticker creation, but they offer less control over details like exact emoji mapping and pack ordering. For a full, organized pack, the @Stickers bot remains the better choice. Example: If you only need one or two stickers for a specific conversation, the built-in creator lets you finish in seconds without typing any commands.

Method 2: Built-in Sticker Creator (iOS and Android)

Platform Differences & Shortest Reachable Paths

While the @Stickers bot works uniformly, some platform-specific notes can save you time:

Desktop (macOS/Windows/Linux): Use the Telegram Desktop app. Open @Stickers in the left sidebar. All commands are typed. The desktop client supports drag-and-drop of images, which is faster than clicking “Attach”.
iOS: When sending files to the bot, ensure you send as “File” (not Photo) to preserve transparency. Telegram’s iOS client sometimes compresses photos, which can ruin the transparent areas. Use the share sheet > “Send as File”.
Android: Similar issue—send as “File” or use the “Gallery” attachment with “Compress off” if available. Some Android skins (e.g., MIUI) may strip transparency; test with a small sticker first.
Web version: The web client (web.telegram.org) also supports @Stickers. It behaves like the desktop app. Be aware that file size upload limits are the same as the bot’s (512 KB for static, 256 KB for animated). Ensure your images comply.

If you encounter upload failures, the most common cause is image file size or dimension mismatch. Recheck your images against the specifications. In practice, preparing assets correctly beforehand eliminates most platform-specific hiccups.

Edge Cases & Trade-offs

Animated vs. Static Stickers

Telegram supports animated stickers in WebM format (using a specific frame size and fps). Creating animated stickers requires more effort (tools like After Effects or Lottie export). For personal use, static stickers are often sufficient. Animated stickers add visual appeal but increase file size and creation time. We recommend starting with static unless you have a specific need for animation, such as a reaction GIF pack. Note that animated stickers cannot be mixed with static stickers in the same pack—you must choose one type when creating the pack via @Stickers (/newanimated vs. /newpack).

Sticker Pack Size and Organization

While Telegram allows up to 200 stickers per pack, managing a large pack can become unwieldy. For personal use, consider grouping related stickers into separate packs (e.g., “ReactPack” and “WeekendVibes”) instead of one massive collection. This makes them easier to browse and share selectively. If you later decide to make a pack public, a focused theme will also help it gain traction.

To wrap up, creating a custom sticker pack on Telegram is straightforward once you understand the available tools and their trade-offs. The @Stickers bot gives you full control and cross-platform consistency, while the built-in creator offers speed for quick needs. By preparing your images correctly, respecting content policies, and planning your pack’s size, you can build a personal sticker collection that enriches your conversations without unnecessary friction. As Telegram continues to evolve, expect the built-in tools to gain more features, but the bot-based workflow will likely remain a reliable fallback.