You can add stickers to iMessage by downloading sticker packs from the App Store, or by creating your own from photos
iMessage stickers work like emoji — they sit in a drawer you access while typing a message, and you tap to send them. Apple lets you download sticker packs made by other people, or you can make a sticker pack from your own photos using an app. Once you download or create a pack, it shows up automatically in your sticker drawer the next time you open Messages.
The process is different depending on whether you want to use stickers someone else made, or create your own. Both take just a few minutes, and you only have to do the setup once.
Key Takeaways
- Sticker packs from the App Store download directly into iMessage and appear in your sticker drawer without any extra steps.
- You can make your own sticker pack from photos using apps like Sticker Maker Studio or Unfolder, then add them to iMessage the same way.
- On iPhone, open the sticker drawer by tapping the smiley face icon while composing a message, then tap the plus sign to browse or manage packs.
- On Mac, click the sticker icon in the Messages window to see your stickers, or click the plus sign to download new packs.
- Once a sticker pack is added, it stays in your sticker drawer across all your devices signed into the same Apple ID.
How to download sticker packs on iPhone
The fastest way to get stickers is to download a pack someone else made. Open the App Store on your iPhone, tap the search icon at the bottom, and search for "stickers" or a specific type like "cute stickers" or "anime stickers". You will see sticker packs listed with a preview of what they look like.
Tap the pack you want, then tap the cloud icon with a down arrow to download it. You may see a button that says "Get" instead — tap that, then use Face ID or your Apple ID password to confirm. The pack downloads in seconds. Once it is done, open Messages and start a conversation. Tap the smiley face icon next to the text field, then tap the sticker icon (it looks like a star or smiley face depending on your iOS version). Your new pack appears in the sticker drawer.
If you want to see all your sticker packs at once, tap the three dots or the grid icon at the bottom of the sticker drawer. You can rearrange them by dragging, or tap the minus sign next to any pack to remove it temporarily. Removing a pack does not delete it — you can add it back anytime by tapping the plus sign.
How to download sticker packs on Mac
On a Mac, open the App Store from your dock or Applications folder. Search for stickers the same way you would on iPhone. Find a pack you like, click the cloud icon to download it, and sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
Open Messages and start a new conversation. Click the sticker icon in the message window — it looks like a smiley face or star depending on your macOS version. Your downloaded packs appear in the sticker drawer. Click the plus sign at the bottom to browse more packs or manage the ones you have.
How to create your own sticker pack from photos
If you want stickers made from your own photos or drawings, you need a sticker maker app. Download Sticker Maker Studio, Unfolder, or a similar app from the App Store. These apps let you turn photos into stickers by removing the background and cutting out the subject.
Open the sticker maker app and tap the option to create a new pack. Choose photos from your camera roll or take new ones. The app will show you the photo and let you adjust where the sticker is cut. Once you are happy with it, save it to a pack. Most apps let you create multiple stickers in one pack before you finish.
When you are done creating stickers, the app will ask if you want to add the pack to iMessage. Tap yes, and the pack appears in your sticker drawer immediately. If the app does not offer this option, look for a button that says "Add to iMessage" or "Export to Messages" in the app settings.
Troubleshooting stickers that do not appear
If you downloaded a sticker pack but it does not show up in your sticker drawer, close the Messages app completely and open it again. Sometimes the sticker drawer does not refresh right away.
If that does not work, check that you are signed into the same Apple ID on all your devices. Sticker packs sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac only if they are all connected to the same account. Go to Settings on iPhone, tap your name at the top, and check that you are signed in. On Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, and verify your Apple ID is active.
If a sticker pack still will not appear after restarting Messages and checking your Apple ID, try removing it and downloading it again. Open the sticker drawer, tap the three dots or grid icon, find the pack, and tap the minus sign. Then go back to the App Store and download it once more.
How to organize or remove sticker packs
Once you have several sticker packs, you can arrange them in the order you want. Open Messages, tap the sticker drawer, and tap the three dots or grid icon at the bottom. Press and hold any pack, then drag it to a new position. Release to drop it there.
To remove a pack you do not use, tap the minus sign next to it in this same menu. The pack stays in the App Store and you can add it back anytime. Removing a pack does not take up any space — it just hides it from your sticker drawer.
If you have a lot of packs and want to keep only your favorites visible, removing the ones you rarely use makes the sticker drawer faster to scroll through. You can always add them back later.
Stickers sync across your devices
Any sticker pack you download or create on one device appears on all your other devices automatically, as long as they are signed into the same Apple ID. If you download a pack on your iPhone, it shows up in the sticker drawer on your Mac and iPad without you having to do anything.
This also works the other way — if you create a sticker pack using a sticker maker app on your iPad, it appears on your iPhone and Mac. The sync usually happens within a few minutes, but can take longer if you are not connected to Wi-Fi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send stickers to people who use Android or non-iMessage phones?
Stickers only work in iMessage conversations with other iPhone, iPad, or Mac users. If you send a sticker to an Android phone or a non-iMessage number, it will arrive as a static image instead of an animated sticker. The person will still see what you sent, but it will not have the same effect.
Do sticker packs cost money?
Most sticker packs are free, but some creators charge a small amount — usually between 99 cents and a few dollars. The App Store shows the price before you download, so you will know if a pack costs money. Free packs vastly outnumber paid ones.
Can I make animated stickers?
Most sticker maker apps let you create static stickers from photos. Some advanced apps support animated stickers, but they require more technical knowledge. For most people, static stickers made from photos work fine and are much simpler to create.
What if I run out of storage space and need to remove stickers?
Removing sticker packs from your sticker drawer frees up almost no storage space — sticker packs are tiny files. If you are running low on storage, deleting sticker packs will not help much. Focus on removing large items like videos or old photos instead.
Can I share a sticker pack I created with friends?
If you create a sticker pack using a sticker maker app, you can only share it with people who have the same app installed. You cannot upload your own sticker pack to the App Store unless you are a registered developer. The easiest way to share stickers with friends is to send individual stickers through iMessage.