meshtastic/blog/2024/December/meshtastic-emoji-short-names.mdx
2024-12-04 17:24:51 -07:00

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---
title: "Personalize Your Meshtastic Device with Emoji Short Names"
description: "Learn how to make your Meshtastic device stand out with custom emoji short names."
slug: meshtastic-emoji-short-names
authors: crichton
tags: ["meshtastic", "customization", "emoji"]
date: "2024-12-04T17:00"
hide_table_of_contents: false
image: "/img/blog/image-8.webp"
---
Did you know you can personalize your Meshtastic devices with emojis, making them stand out in a unique and fun way! By default, the `Short Name` for your device is auto-generated using the last four characters of its MAC address. However, you can customize this `Short Name` to make it truly yours. Even better, using **emojis** adds a visually distinctive touch, making it easier to identify your node at a glance!
{/* truncate */}
## How It Works 🛠️
Your Meshtastic devices `Short Name` is limited to **4 bytes**. Many emojis are a great fit because they use only 14 bytes; however, some—such as certain flags or more intricate emojis—exceed the 4-byte limit and wont work.
Thankfully, most Meshtastic client apps include validation to ensure you dont accidentally use an emoji that exceeds the 4-byte limit. However, not all clients enforce this restriction directly. Regardless, the protocol enforces a strict 5-byte limit (1 byte for overhead, leaving 4 bytes for the emoji itself). If you attempt to set a larger emoji, either the client app or the firmware will prevent it from being saved.
To customize the `Short Name`, refer to the [User Config documentation](/docs/configuration/radio/user/#user-config-client-availability) for instructions on where to make the change for your preferred client.
Once youve saved the changes, your device will appear with your custom emoji `Short Name` in the client applications.
> ![Father_Nodes_Best Example](/img/blog/image-7.webp)
## Why Use Emojis as Your Short Name? ✨
Customizing your `Short Name` with emojis isnt just a quirky feature—its a creative way to express the purpose or personality of your device. For instance:
- If your nodes Long Name is **“Crichtons Car”**, you could set the `Short Name` to 🚗.
- Deploying a node near your campsite? 🏕️ would be perfect.
- Setting up a device for a hiking trip? Try 🥾 or 🌲.
This adds both customization and a unique identity, making it easier for others to recognize your device in the network. For example, each emoji can convey the purpose or personality of the node, adding a touch of creativity to your setup.
> ![Nodesferatu Example](/img/blog/image-8.webp)
## Get Creative! 🎨
The possibilities are endless. You can pick emojis based on:
- **Location**: A 🌊 for coastal areas, 🏜️ for deserts, or 🏔️ for mountain regions.
- **Purpose**: 📡 for a relay node, 🏠 for a home base station, or 🛶 for boating adventures.
- **Personality**: 😎 for a cool vibe, 💡 for an innovative setup, or 🧙‍♂️ for something magical.
The nodes list becomes much more visually engaging and easier to navigate when each node is represented by a unique emoji. Its a fun and functional way to distinguish between devices at a glance.
> <img
> src="/img/blog/image-10.webp"
> alt="Nodes List"
> style={{ maxHeight: "400px", width: "auto" }}
> />
## Share Your Emoji Creations! 💬
Wed love to see how youve personalized your Meshtastic devices! Share your most creative and functional emoji `Short Names` in the comments below. Whether its 🐕 for a dog-tracking node, 🎸 for a festival setup, or 🤖 for a robotics project, show off your unique style!