Uploading is a dashboard task, not an API one — Twitch has no public endpoint for emote uploads. The flow itself is short; the parts that trip people up are slots and review.
The upload flow
Codes are what chat actually types, so pick something short and guessable. Two or three syllables beats an abbreviation nobody will work out.
- Open the Twitch Creator Dashboard and go to Channel → Emotes.
- Pick the slot you are filling: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, Bits, or follower emotes.
- Upload the three required PNG files — 112×112, 56×56 and 28×28 — or one large image under 1 MB and let Twitch resize.
- Enter the emote code. Letters and numbers only, and it becomes the token people type in chat.
- Submit for review. Non-affiliates and new channels may wait for manual review.
How many slots you get
Since 13 May 2026 Twitch has offered emotes, badges, subscriptions and Bits to eligible streamers worldwide, not only Affiliates and Partners. That changed who can upload, though Affiliate and Partner status still unlock more slots.
Affiliates start with a small number of Tier 1 slots and unlock more through Sub Points milestones shown in the dashboard. Partners have a much higher ceiling. The exact thresholds live in your Creator Dashboard rather than a published table, so check there rather than trusting a blog post — including this one.
What review actually checks
Review is about content, not production method. Twitch assesses what an emote shows: no hateful imagery, no sexual content, no violence, no other people's trademarks or likeness. AI-generated emotes are accepted on the same terms as drawn ones.
Reviews are often automatic for established channels and manual for newer ones. A few days of waiting is normal and not an indication that something is wrong.
What to do if an emote is rejected
Getting the files right the first time
Square, transparent PNG, three sizes, under 1 MB each. The most common avoidable failure is a file that is not square, or a "transparent" emote that is actually a painted checkerboard — which happens constantly with generated art, because image models have no alpha channel.
Resize and export all three sizesMake a generated emote actually transparent
Questions
Can I upload emotes through the Twitch API?
No. Twitch has no public endpoint for emote uploads — it is a Creator Dashboard task. Third-party tools can prepare the files but you still upload them manually.
Do I need to be an Affiliate to upload emotes?
Not since May 2026. Emotes, badges, subs and Bits opened to eligible streamers worldwide beyond Affiliates and Partners. Only Affiliates and Partners can withdraw earnings as cash.
How long does review take?
Often automatic for established channels; newer channels may wait a few days for manual review.