How to Use Maker Codes in Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets you design custom clothing, patterns, and decorations using a built-in tool called the Custom Designs app. But not everyone has the time or skill to create pixel art from scratch. That's where maker codes come in they let you download designs made by other players directly into your game. If you've seen a cool outfit, path pattern, or sign on someone's island and wondered how to get it yourself, learning to use maker codes is the answer.

What are maker codes in Animal Crossing?

Maker codes are unique alphanumeric codes tied to a specific player's Custom Designs portal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When you enter someone's maker code at the Able Sisters shop kiosk, you gain access to every custom design that player has shared. This includes clothing tops, dresses, hats, face paint, umbrellas, and ground patterns.

Each maker code starts with the letters "MA" followed by a string of numbers. These are different from individual design codes (which start with "MO"), though they work through the same system. A single maker code can give you access to an entire collection of designs from one creator, which makes it a much more efficient way to browse and download patterns.

Why would you want to use maker codes?

There are several reasons players search for maker codes:

Faster island decoration: Custom path patterns, signs, and floor tiles from talented designers can make your island look polished without hours of pixel-by-pixel work.
Themed outfits: Whether you want a witch costume, a maid dress, or a replica of a real brand's logo, someone has probably already made it.
Matching villagers' homes: Some players create custom designs specifically to match furniture sets or seasonal themes.
Creative inspiration: Studying how other players structure their designs can help you improve your own custom creations over time.

Players who enjoy building themed islands like cottagecore, urban city, or Japanese-inspired layouts rely heavily on maker codes to achieve a consistent aesthetic across their entire island.

How do you unlock the ability to use maker codes?

Before you can enter any maker code, you need two things:

The Custom Designs app on your NookPhone you already have this from the start of the game.
Able Sisters tailor shop this must be built on your island first. Mabel will visit your island as a vendor at Resident Services, and after you've bought enough items from her over several visits, she'll ask you to help set up a permanent shop. Once the Able Sisters shop opens (usually within the first couple of weeks of playing), a kiosk inside the shop lets you search for and download designs using codes.

You also need a Nintendo Switch Online membership, since the kiosk connects to the internet to pull designs from other players worldwide.

How to enter a maker code step by step

Once you have everything set up, here's how the process works:

Go to the Able Sisters shop on your island.
Walk to the pink kiosk in the back-right corner of the shop.
Interact with the kiosk by pressing A.
Choose "Search by creator ID" this is the option for maker codes (the MA codes).
Enter the maker code using the on-screen keyboard. Type the code exactly as shown, including the "MA" prefix.
Browse the creator's designs. You'll see all the custom designs that player has uploaded.
Select a design and choose "Download." It will be saved to an empty slot in your Custom Designs app.
Repeat for any other designs you want from that creator.

If you only have one design code (the MO code for a single pattern), you'd choose "Search by design ID" instead. The steps are otherwise the same.

Where can you find good maker codes?

Finding maker codes is easy once you know where to look:

Reddit communities Subreddits like r/AnimalCrossing and r/ACQR are packed with creators sharing their codes.
Twitter/X and Instagram Search hashtags like #ACNHDesigns or #AnimalCrossingCustomDesigns.
Design gallery websites Sites dedicated to Animal Crossing patterns let you filter by category, style, and theme.
YouTube videos Many creators showcase their designs in video form and include codes in the description.
Pinterest A surprisingly rich source for curated collections of codes organized by aesthetic.

If you're specifically looking for game-themed designs, you might also be interested in how maker codes work in Animal Crossing with game-specific codes for crossover designs inspired by other franchises.

What's the difference between a maker code and a design code?

This trips up a lot of new players, so here's a clear breakdown:

Maker code (MA code): Links to a creator's profile. Gives you access to all designs that person has shared. You use "Search by creator ID" at the kiosk.
Design code (MO code): Links to a single specific design. You use "Search by design ID" at the kiosk.

If you found a specific pattern like a cobblestone path tile and only want that one, you'd use the MO code. If you want to browse everything a talented designer has made, use their MA code.

How many custom designs can you store?

Your Custom Designs app holds 50 basic slots and 50 pro design slots (100 total). This means you need to be selective about which maker codes you download from. If your slots are full, you'll need to delete an existing design to make room for a new one.

A helpful tip: download designs in batches when you visit a creator's profile. Pick the ones you truly plan to use rather than downloading everything "just in case." Running out of slots is one of the most common frustrations players face.

Can you use custom designs for more than clothing?

Absolutely. Custom designs from maker codes can be applied in several ways:

Ground patterns: Lay them down as paths, sidewalks, or decorative floor tiles across your island.
Furniture display: Use the "Display on ground" or "Display on easel" options to place them as wall art or signs.
Umbrellas and fans: Apply patterns to handheld items for extra flair.
Face paint: Use delicate designs as makeup, freckles, or themed face markings.
Stall designs: Customize market stalls with signage and themes for shops, cafés, or carnival booths.

Pro designers often create matching sets like a full set of café signage, menu boards, and tile flooring all under one maker code so you can grab a complete look at once.

Common mistakes when using maker codes

Here are pitfalls to avoid:

Entering the wrong code type: MA codes go in "Search by creator ID," MO codes go in "Search by design ID." Mixing them up will give you an error.
Forgetting Nintendo Switch Online: The kiosk requires an active internet connection through a Switch Online subscription. Without it, you can't access the kiosk's online features.
Not checking for Able Sisters first: If the shop hasn't been built yet, you can't use the kiosk at all.
Ignoring design slots: Downloading too many patterns at once fills your limited storage quickly.
Misspelling codes: Even one wrong character will return an error or the wrong design. Double-check before confirming.

Tips for organizing your downloaded designs

Once you start collecting patterns from multiple maker codes, organization matters:

Replace temporary designs first. If you used a basic path tile early on and found a better one, swap it out.
Group related designs in adjacent slots. For example, put all your path tiles in slots 1–5 and your signage in slots 6–10. The app doesn't have folders, so this is the next best thing.
Take screenshots of codes you like but can't download yet. That way you can come back later when you free up a slot.
Test designs on your character before committing to a slot. Some patterns look different on clothing versus on the ground.

Custom designs aren't just for Animal Crossing, either. Players of other sandbox games use similar systems. For example, Minecraft adventure maps use custom codes to load pre-built worlds, and Roblox custom maps work with their own code system as well.

Can you create your own maker codes to share?

Yes. If you design your own patterns using the Custom Designs app, you can upload them to the kiosk and generate shareable MA and MO codes. This is how most community designers distribute their work. To do this:

Open the Custom Designs app and select a design you've made.
Choose the "Post" or "Upload" option.
The game will generate both a maker code (for your whole profile) and individual design codes for each pattern.
Share those codes on social media or forums for other players to use.

Your maker code stays the same for every design you upload, so players who follow you can always find your latest work by searching your MA code.

What if a maker code doesn't work?

If you enter a code and get an error, try these steps:

Make sure you're using the correct search option (creator ID for MA codes, design ID for MO codes).
Check for typos. The code is case-sensitive and must be exact.
Verify the code hasn't expired or been removed by the original creator. Some players delete old designs or reset their profiles.
Confirm your Nintendo Switch Online subscription is active and your internet connection is stable.
Restart your game and try again if you're getting persistent connection errors.

Quick checklist before using your first maker code

Able Sisters shop is built and open
Nintendo Switch Online subscription is active
Internet connection is working on your Switch
You have empty custom design slots available
You know whether your code is an MA (creator) or MO (single design) code
You have the code written down or visible for easy reference

Once you've confirmed all of the above, head to the kiosk and start browsing. You'll be decorating your island and dressing your character in community-made designs in just a few minutes.