To access stickers on iPhone, open the Messages app, tap the + button to the left of the text box, then select Stickers. This opens the sticker menu where you can browse Live Stickers, Emoji, Memoji, and any downloaded sticker packs.
How to access stickers on iPhone in the Messages app
The primary method for using stickers is directly within iMessage. You will see a row of icons at the top of the sticker menu representing different sticker packs, including Live Stickers, Emoji, and Memoji Stickers. In the Messages app, you can browse different sticker packs, including Live Stickers, Emoji, and Memoji Stickers, by tapping their icons in the top row of the sticker menu. Swipe through these to find the pack you want.
To send a sticker as a standalone message, tap the desired sticker and then the blue send arrow. To place a sticker on a message bubble, touch and hold the sticker, then drag it onto the desired message in the conversation. While dragging a sticker onto a message, you can adjust its size or angle using a second finger. To quickly add a sticker to a message, touch and hold the message, tap Attach Sticker, then choose a sticker to appear on a corner of that message bubble.
How to create custom stickers from your photos
Creating stickers from your own photos requires iOS 17 or later. To create a sticker from a photo, open the Photos app, tap a photo to view it full screen, then touch and hold the subject. From the pop-up menu after selecting a subject in a photo, tap Add Sticker to create a new sticker. You can add effects like Outline, Comic, or Puffy to a custom sticker by tapping Add Effect after creation. Live Photos can be turned into animated stickers by following the same creation steps. Custom stickers sync via iCloud and are available on your iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro when signed in with the same Apple Account.
How to download new sticker packs from the App Store
To find more stickers, open a conversation in Messages, tap the + button, then tap the App Store icon in the app tray. Tap Visit Store to browse or search for sticker packs. Once you download a pack, it appears in the top row of the sticker menu alongside your other packs.
How to manage your sticker collection
In the Messages app, open a conversation and tap the + button, then Stickers. Tap the … button to enter management mode. Here you can reorder packs by dragging them, turn packs on or off, or delete packs you no longer want. Custom stickers you create sync via iCloud across devices, but downloaded sticker packs are device-specific unless they support iCloud sync.
How to use stickers in other apps with Markup
Stickers can also be accessed and added to photos, notes, and other documents using the Markup tools in apps like Photos, Files, and Mail. To add a sticker using Markup, open an item in an app that supports Markup, tap the Markup icon (often a pen symbol), tap the + sign, and then Add Sticker. Some third-party apps like WhatsApp and Messenger also support stickers from your iMessage collection, open a conversation, tap the sticker icon, and select your packs.
Sticker requirements and compatibility
Creating stickers from photos requires iOS 17 or later. Full functionality for placing stickers on message bubbles, including seeing them correctly, requires both sender and recipient to be using iOS 17.2 or later. Sticker files must be 500 KB or smaller and can be PNG, APNG, GIF, JPEG, HEIC, or HEICS format. If you want to use emojis and custom keyboards alongside stickers, you can set those up separately in Settings under General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use stickers in apps other than Messages?
Yes, many apps like WhatsApp and Messenger support stickers from your iMessage collection. Open a conversation in those apps, tap the sticker icon, and you should see your installed packs.
Do stickers work on older iPhone models?
Stickers work on any iPhone running iOS 17 or later for creation, and iOS 17.2 or later for full bubble placement. Older iOS versions may not show stickers correctly.
How do I delete a custom sticker I made?
Open the sticker menu in Messages, find your custom sticker, touch and hold it, then tap Remove. This deletes it from all your synced devices.
Why can’t I see my stickers in the Markup tool?
Ensure you are using an app that supports Markup, like Photos, Files, or Mail. Tap the Markup icon, then the + sign, and Add Sticker, your custom stickers should appear there.
