How do I make my own stickers on my iPhone?

Tips
1

I’m trying to create custom stickers on my iPhone to use in Messages and other apps, but I’m confused about where to start and which built‑in tools or settings I should be using. I’ve seen friends send personalized stickers, and I’d love to make my own from photos or images on my phone. Can someone walk me through the steps or recommend the easiest way to do this on iOS?

2

Short version. You have two main ways on iPhone:

  1. Use iOS “Live Stickers” from your photos
  2. Use third party sticker apps that plug into Messages

Here is how to do both.

  1. Apple’s built in Live Stickers (iOS 17 and up)

Step 1: Open Photos
Step 2: Pick a photo with a person, pet, object, etc
Step 3: Press and hold on the subject until it glows and an outline shows
Step 4: Tap “Add Sticker”

Now you are in the sticker editor:

• Tap “Add Effect” to add outline, puffy, comic, etc
• Toggle “Live” if it is a Live Photo and you want animation
• Tap “Done”

Your sticker set is now saved.

To use them in Messages:

• Open Messages
• Open a conversation
• Tap the “+” button near the text box
• Tap “Stickers”
• Tap the icon that looks like the sticker you made
• Drag and drop the sticker on a message bubble or tap to send it alone

You can also:

• Long press a sticker in the sticker drawer
• Tap “Edit Sticker” to change effects or delete it

These same stickers work in many apps that support stickers or the new “Stickers” sheet. For example in Notes, tap the emoji icon and then the sticker tab.

  1. Make stickers from any image in Messages

If you do not want to go through Photos:

• In Messages, tap “+”
• Tap “Stickers”
• Tap the “+” in the sticker sheet
• Pick a photo
• iOS auto cuts out the subject
• Add effects, then save

  1. Use third party sticker apps

If you want more control or text:

• Search “sticker maker” in the App Store
• Examples: “Sticker.ly”, “Top Sticker Maker Studio”, “Sticker Maker for WhatsApp & iMessage”
• Typical flow in these apps:

  • Import photo
  • Erase background manually or auto
  • Add text, borders, emojis
  • Export as iMessage sticker pack

In Messages, turn the app on:

• Open a conversation
• Tap “+” then “More” if needed
• Tap the app’s icon
• If it is not there, go to Settings > Messages > iMessage Apps and enable it

  1. Turn any emoji into a “sticker”

Not true custom, but close:

• Open Messages
• Type an emoji
• Long press the emoji in the emoji picker
• Drag it onto a message like a sticker

  1. Quick checklist if it is not working

• iOS version 17 or later for Live Stickers
Settings > General > About to check
• If Live Sticker option does not appear when you long press a subject in Photos, your iOS is older
• For third party apps, make sure iMessage is enabled in Settings > Messages

Small tip from my own screwups. Avoid super busy photos. Stick to clear subject, good contrast. iOS cutouts look a lot better and you spend less time swearing at the outline.

3

Couple of extra angles on top of what @shizuka said, so you’re not stuck doing everything their way:

1. Use “Copy Subject” as a stealth sticker tool

If you’re on iOS 16 or 17 and don’t see the Live Sticker option, you can still cheat:

  1. Open Photos.
  2. Long‑press the subject in a pic until it highlights.
  3. Tap Copy.
  4. Go to Messages and paste in the text field.

It sends like a cutout PNG. Not a “saved sticker pack,” but it behaves almost the same for quick one‑offs, which I honestly use more than the full sticker editor.

2. Make a “sticker sheet” image and slice it

If you want text, memes, etc. without messing with sticker apps:

  1. Use Pages, Keynote, or any drawing app (like Procreate, Sketchbook):
    • Make a blank canvas.
    • Add pics, text, doodles. Space them out.
  2. Export that as an image.
  3. Open it in Photos.
  4. Long‑press each little drawing/character/word you want → iOS auto‑cuts it → Add Sticker.

You basically made your own sticker sheet and peeled them off one by one. Clunky but super flexible.

3. Use Notes for really quick text stickers

Weird trick but it works:

  1. Open Notes.
  2. Write big text, maybe add emojis or simple drawings.
  3. Screenshot it.
  4. Crop tight around what you want.
  5. Save, then long‑press the subject in Photos → Add Sticker.

I find this faster than some sticker apps when I just need “OKAY BUT WHY” in giant letters slapped on a text.

4. Control where your stickers live

The “drawer” gets messy fast:

  • In Messages, tap + → Stickers.
  • Tap the little clock / recents icon and the app / pack icons at the bottom.
  • Long‑press an icon to reorder packs. Put your custom ones at the front.
  • Swipe left on a pack → Remove from Favorites if it’s clutter.

I disagree slightly with the idea that you should rely heavily on random third‑party sticker makers. They’re fine, but a lot of them are ad‑y and overkill if you just want clean cutouts and simple text. The built‑in stuff + one drawing app covers like 90% of normal use.

5. Use stickers outside Messages

People forget this part:

  • In Notes, Mail, some social apps:
    • Open the keyboard.
    • Tap the emoji icon.
    • Switch to the sticker tab.
    • Tap or drag your custom stickers.

Nice for annotating notes or making “to‑do” lists slightly less depressing.

If you’re just starting:

  1. Make 3–4 from clear photos in Photos.
  2. Try that “sticker sheet” trick for text/memes.
  3. Only then decide if a third‑party app is really worth the hassle.