2 min read
By Mike
Discord Application Emoji: Emoji That Belong to the Bot
An application emoji is a custom emoji uploaded to a Discord bot's own application rather than to any server. The bot can use it in messages and buttons in every server it is in, and it never takes one of a server's emoji slots.
How they differ from server emoji
A normal custom emoji lives in one server. Members of that server can use it, and Nitro users can use it elsewhere. Each server has a fixed number of slots, and it grows with the boost level.
Application emoji belong to the app. A developer uploads them in the Discord Developer Portal, or through the API, on the application's Emoji page. The bot can then use them in any message it sends, in any server, and the emoji are visible to everyone who sees that message, with or without Nitro.
Why bots use them
- Consistent buttons. A bot's panels look the same in every server.
- No slot cost. Your server's emoji slots stay free for your community.
- No shared server needed. The bot does not need a hidden "emoji server" to host icons.
- Easy updates. The developer changes an icon once and it changes everywhere.
The limit: members cannot type these emoji in their own messages, since they are not part of any server. They appear in the bot's messages only.
What owners should know
If a bot's buttons show a plain box or the emoji name in colons, the emoji could not be loaded, often because the bot was moved to a different application. Server emoji from another server can also fail to show for the same reason. Check the application ID in case a copy of the bot runs under a different app.
Server emoji in Noxyr
If you want emoji for your own members, add them to the server. The /addemoji command adds emoji from other servers, image links, up to five uploads, or a ZIP, up to 100 per run. Discord's limits still apply: 256 KB per emoji, names of 2 to 32 characters, and the server's slots, which are 50 static and 50 animated at Level 0 and rise with boosts. The bot needs Create Expressions and Manage Expressions, both in the default invite. See the emoji docs and the emoji resizer tool.
Noxyr's own button style options live under buttons and menus.
Quick checklist
Want an emoji for your own members? Add it to the server. Want a bot to show icons on its buttons? That is the bot developer's job through application emoji. The two systems do not mix, which avoids most of the confusion owners run into.
Common questions
Can members use application emoji in chat?
No. Only the bot can use them in its own messages and buttons.
Do application emoji use my server's emoji slots?
No. They belong to the bot's application, so your slots are untouched.
How do I add many emoji to my server with Noxyr?
Use /addemoji with images, links or a ZIP file, up to 100 per run.
