BTTV Emote Upload Guide: Everything You Need in 2026
How to upload custom emotes to BetterTTV — exact file requirements, the approval process, shared vs personal emotes, and tips for getting approved first time.
Yes, viewers need the BetterTTV browser extension (Chrome/Firefox/Edge). Without it, the emote code appears as plain text.
BetterTTV (BTTV) is one of the oldest and most widely used Twitch chat enhancement extensions. Its global emote library is iconic — emotes like OMEGALUL and PogChamp variants live here. Even in 2026, with newer platforms like 7TV gaining ground, BTTV remains a staple extension for Twitch viewers.
BTTV emote specifications🔗
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 28×28, 56×56, 112×112 px |
| Format | PNG, GIF (animated) |
| Transparency | Supported and recommended |
| Animated | Yes (GIF) |
| Max file size | 2 MB |
| Background | Transparent preferred |
BTTV offers two types of emotes. Shared emotes are submitted to the global library and must be approved by BTTV staff — once live, anyone can add them to their own personal set. Channel emotes are private to your channel set and only visible to viewers watching your stream with the BTTV extension.
- •Shared emotes: require manual review, higher quality bar, visible globally.
- •Channel emotes: go live instantly, visible only in your chat, no approval needed for existing BTTV users.
- •You can have up to 50 channel emotes on a connected BTTV account.
- •Go to betterttv.com/dashboard and sign in with Twitch.
- •Navigate to the Emotes section and click 'Upload Emote'.
- •Upload your PNG or GIF — BTTV accepts a single file and generates all sizes internally.
- •Set the emote name (the text trigger viewers will type).
- •Save — channel emotes go live immediately for viewers with BTTV installed.
Shared emote approval is competitive. BTTV reviewers look for high quality, originality, and cultural fit. The emote must be clean at 28 px, have a transparent or simple background, and not replicate an existing popular emote.
- •Original artwork only — no game screenshots or celebrity photos without heavy editing.
- •The name must be descriptive, unique, and not already taken.
- •Perfect transparent background — no anti-aliasing fringe on coloured backgrounds.
- •Expressive faces and reaction emotes tend to perform best.
- •Avoid emotes that are too similar to existing OMEGALUL, PogChamp, or monkaS variants.
Both are worth having. 7TV has grown significantly and offers more emote slots, but BTTV has a larger existing user base. Upload to both — the file format is identical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, viewers need the BetterTTV browser extension (Chrome/Firefox/Edge). Without it, the emote code appears as plain text.
BTTV allows up to 50 channel emotes per streamer, accessible to viewers who have the BTTV extension installed.
Yes. Both platforms use the same 28/56/112 px PNG or GIF format. One export from EmoteForge works for both.
If you want the export side handled automatically, open the relevant EmoteForge tool and generate every required size in one pass.
Open the BTTV Emote Maker