How to Make Stickers on iPhone

Emojis not quite cutting it for you lately? I’ve found that text stickers on Apple iPhones are an easy way to add more fun and personalization to your text messages.

But what exactly are iPhone stickers? By using the Photos app, you can select an object in a picture, like a pet or person, and paste a cutout of the image into an iMessage text thread to create a custom sticker. If you use a Live Photo, you can even make your stickers animate.

In this guide, I'll walk you through how to make stickers on iPhone so you can take your texting skills to the next level.  

Making Stickers on iPhone: 5 Simple Steps

You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to create stickers on your iPhone. But before you get started, I recommend updating to the latest version of iOS or at least having iOS 17 installed on your iPhone. 

Whether you want a regular sticker or an animated one from a Live Photo, here's how to make your own:

1. Start by heading to the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Open the photo you'd like to turn into a sticker.
3. Long press on a subject in the picture (like a person or object) until a shiny outline appears, and you can lift it from the background. 
4. When you release, a new pop-up menu will appear. 
5. Tap Add Sticker. 
   

That's it—your sticker is now saved in your Sticker Drawer, which is your personal sticker library. (The sticker drawer’s icon is a circle with a fold on its right side, which you can see in the image below.) 

Now, you can bring some extra personality to your conversations—and you can add even more if you use other iPhone text effects or other secret iPhone tricks.

Below, I'll go into more detail on how to use stickers.

How to Use Stickers on iPhone

Once you've made your stickers, it's time to use them in Messages. Here's a quick tutorial on how to use stickers on iPhone:

1. Open the Messages App
2. Start a new conversation or open an existing one.
3. Access Stickers by tapping the “+” icon to the left of the text field, then select Stickers. You'll see all your created stickers along with other packs you've downloaded.
4. Once you decide on a sticker, you can either send it as a message or use your finger to drag it up onto a text message bubble. Use two fingers to resize or rotate the sticker before placing it.
   

I think one of the coolest things about stickers on iPhones is that they sync across multiple Apple devices. With iCloud, your stickers are available on any device you're signed in with your Apple ID, whether an iPad, Mac, MacBook, or even an Apple Watch.

Stickers aren’t just limited to the Messages app; you can use stickers in other Apple apps by simply dragging them into places like your emails or notes.

How to Edit Stickers on iPhone

If you want to edit a sticker, changing it on iPhone is easy. Here's how:

1. In a text conversation, tap the “+” icon and select Stickers.
2. Tap and hold the sticker you want to change. You can resize or rotate it using two fingers.
3. To add or change an effect, press and hold the sticker, tap Add Effect, and select a new style like Comic, Outline, or Puffy to give your sticker some more flair.
   

How to Delete Stickers on iPhone

Do you have a sticker you no longer want? Here's how to delete stickers on iPhone:

1. In a text conversation, tap the “+” icon and select Stickers.
2. Tap and hold the sticker you want to delete.
3. Select the Delete option from the menu.
   

Deleting stickers is quick, so you can clean up your library whenever you need.

How to Retrieve Stickers from iPhone Messages

Have you seen a cool sticker someone sent you and want to use it yourself? Here's how to retrieve stickers from iPhone messages:

1. Open the Messages app and go to the conversation with the sticker you want to keep.
2. Tap and hold the sticker, then tap Save to Stickers. This saves it to your sticker collection so you can use it later.
   

This feature is helpful if a friend sends you a sticker you like—you can add it to your library without recreating it from scratch.

How to Get More Stickers with Sticker Packs

Want even more stickers? You can explore sticker packs in the App Store to expand your collection. Many packs are free, while others offer paid options.

1. Tap the “+” button in Messages, then scroll down and select the App Store icon.
2. Search for sticker packs (Apple may feature some on the store's home page).
3. Once you find one you like, download it, and it will appear in your Stickers window.
   

This is a great way to use seasonal or themed stickers to match your mood without creating some yourself. Below is a preview of some of the stickers available in the “Classic Mac” sticker pack from Apple. 

Why Don't I Have the Sticker Option on My iPhone?

Stickers on iPhone were introduced with iOS 16 and have received several updates since then. If your iPhone doesn’t have the option, it might be time to download an iOS software update or upgrade your device. 

If you’re looking for a deal on the newest iPhone, check out our running list of the best iPhone 16 deals across carriers updated as soon as we detect a change. Also, our free and unbiased Phone Deal Finder below can help you find the best iPhone deals you qualify for based on your criteria. 

Difference Between a Sticker and Memoji 

While they can be used in similar ways, iPhone stickers and Memojis are very different. Memojis are a customizable avatar that you can make look like you, with options to choose its eye color, hair, accessories, and other features. 

If you have a compatible iPhone, your Memoji can mimic your voice and expressions, making it feel like a little animated version of yourself. 

But you can also choose other Memoji formats that look like something else entirely, like a bear, koala or even a ghost emoji. 

Like iPhone stickers, you can send Memojis to other people via the Messages app. Once you create a Memoji, it also turns into a sticker pack, so you can use it in other places, like emails, across all your Apple devices.

The Bottom Line

Stickers on iPhone are a great way to make your text conversations more personal and fun since they allow you to break out of the standard emojis and GIFs available to everyone. You can even create a library of custom stickers to have the right one for any moment—giving you endless possibilities to express yourself. 

With all the customization options, your chats will never feel boring again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get stickers on my iPhone?

To get your own stickers on your iPhone, head to the Photos app, select a photo, tap and hold on a subject like a friend or pet, and select Add Sticker from the pop-up menu to create a custom sticker. You can even make animated Live Stickers from Live Photos.

Where is the sticker library on the iPhone keyboard?

While creating stickers on iPhone is easy, finding them may be a little more challenging if you don’t know where to look. Just head to the Photos app, make your sticker, and then find it in Messages by tapping the "+" icon beside the text field, where you can send or place the sticker in your text thread.

Do iPhone Stickers Work on Android?

Yes, iPhone stickers sent to Android smartphones will still appear—but not with their full features. Stickers made on iPhone will be sent as traditional images, so they won’t include any effects that can be applied via the Messages app. Animated stickers made from Live Photos also won’t appear animated.