How to Create and Add iMessage Stickers to Your iPhone

You can create iMessage stickers using Xcode on a Mac, or use a third-party app builder that doesn't require coding

iMessage stickers are custom images you send in the Messages app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can make them yourself in two ways: build a sticker pack through Apple's Xcode development tool (free, but requires a Mac and some technical setup), or use an app like Sticker Maker Studio or Unfolder that handles the technical work for you. Both routes end with stickers you can send to anyone, whether they use iPhone or Android.

The main difference is time and control. Xcode gives you complete freedom over how stickers behave and look, but takes longer to learn. App builders are faster and simpler, but offer fewer customization options and usually cost money upfront or through in-app purchases.

Key Takeaways

iMessage stickers are custom images you create and add to the Messages app, then send like any other sticker.
You can build stickers using Xcode on a Mac for free, or use a third-party app builder on iPhone that costs between $5 and $15.
Stickers created in Xcode must be at least 100 by 100 pixels and no larger than 300 by 300 pixels, in PNG format with a transparent background.
Once you create a sticker pack, you add it to Messages by opening the app, tapping the sticker icon, and selecting your pack from the list.

Creating stickers with Xcode on Mac

Xcode is Apple's free development tool, available from the Mac App Store. Download it, then create a new project and choose the "Sticker Pack Application" template. This template handles most of the setup for you — you mainly need to add your image files and name your sticker pack.

Prepare your sticker images first. Each sticker should be a PNG file with a transparent background, between 100 by 100 pixels and 300 by 300 pixels in size. You can use free tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or Pixlr to create or resize images. Save each one with a clear name like "sticker-1.png" or "happy-face.png".

In Xcode, open the Assets folder in your project, then drag your PNG files into the Stickers folder. Xcode automatically organizes them. Once all your images are added, connect your iPhone to your Mac and run the project on your device. Xcode installs the sticker pack directly to your phone, and it appears in Messages immediately.

Using a third-party app builder on iPhone

Apps like Sticker Maker Studio, Unfolder, and Sticker.ly let you create sticker packs without touching code. Download one from the App Store, then open it and start a new sticker pack. You can upload photos from your camera roll, draw stickers by hand, or add text to existing images.

Most app builders let you crop and resize images within the app, so you don't need to prepare files beforehand. Once you've added all your stickers, name the pack and tap "Create" or "Save." The app then installs the pack to Messages automatically, and your stickers show up in the sticker drawer the next time you open the app.

The trade-off is cost and features. App builders typically charge $5 to $15 upfront, or offer a free version with limited stickers per pack. Xcode is free but requires a Mac and takes longer to set up. If you plan to make multiple sticker packs, app builders are usually faster; if you want to build one pack and don't mind the learning curve, Xcode saves money.

Adding stickers to Messages after you create them

Once your sticker pack is installed, open Messages and tap the sticker icon (it looks like a smiley face in a square) at the bottom of the keyboard. A drawer opens showing all your sticker packs. Tap the "+" button next to your new pack to add it to your favorites, so it appears at the top of the list.

To send a sticker, tap it once to preview it, then tap again to send. You can also long-press a sticker to see options like "Add to Favorites" or "Remove." Stickers you create are stored locally on your device, so they only appear on the phone where you created them — if you want them on an iPad or Mac, you need to create the pack on each device separately.

Technical requirements for sticker image files

iMessage stickers have specific size and format rules. Each sticker must be a PNG file with a transparent background (not white or any solid color). The image should be between 100 by 100 pixels and 300 by 300 pixels — smaller stickers look blurry, larger ones are rejected by Messages.

If you're using Xcode, it automatically checks these requirements when you build the project and tells you if any images don't meet the rules. If you're using an app builder, the app usually handles resizing and format conversion for you, so you can upload JPG or PNG files and it converts them automatically.

For best results, create stickers at 300 by 300 pixels if possible, then let the app or Xcode scale them down. This keeps them sharp on all screen sizes. Avoid stickers with text smaller than 12 points — they become hard to read when sent and viewed in Messages.

Sharing your sticker pack with others

Stickers you create with Xcode can be shared by publishing your app to the App Store. This requires an Apple Developer account ($99 per year) and going through Apple's review process, which takes a few days. Once approved, anyone can download your app and use your stickers.

Stickers created with third-party app builders are usually private to your device unless the app itself has a sharing feature. Some builders let you export a sticker pack as a file and send it to someone else, but they can only use it if they have the same app installed. The easiest way to share stickers informally is to send them one at a time through Messages — anyone with an iPhone can receive and save them.

Troubleshooting stickers that don't appear in Messages

If you create a sticker pack but it doesn't show up in Messages, first check that the app is installed on your device. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and search for the app name — if it's not listed, the installation failed and you should try creating the pack again.

If the app is installed but stickers don't appear, close Messages completely (swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close it), then reopen it. Sometimes the sticker drawer doesn't refresh automatically. If that doesn't work, restart your iPhone — this clears the Messages cache and usually fixes the problem.

For Xcode projects, make sure all your PNG files are in the Stickers folder in Assets, not in a subfolder. Xcode only reads images in the top level of the Stickers folder. Also check that each image is between 100 and 300 pixels on each side — if any image is outside this range, the entire pack fails to install.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use JPG files for iMessage stickers?

iMessage stickers must be PNG files with transparent backgrounds. If you have JPG images, you can convert them using free tools like Photoshop, GIMP, or online converters like CloudConvert. App builders like Sticker Maker Studio also convert JPG to PNG automatically when you upload them.

What's the difference between stickers and emoji?

Emoji are built into iOS and the same for everyone. Stickers are custom images you create and add yourself. Stickers can be any size or shape, while emoji are standardized. You send stickers the same way you send emoji — by tapping them in the Messages app.

Do people on Android see my iMessage stickers?

If you send a sticker to someone with Android, it appears as a regular image in their Messages app (or whatever texting app they use). They can see and save it, but they can't use it as a sticker unless they create their own sticker pack. iMessage sticker packs only work on Apple devices.

Can I edit stickers after I create them?

With app builders, you can usually edit a sticker pack by opening it again and changing images. With Xcode, you need to replace the image files in the Assets folder and rebuild the project. Either way, once you update the pack, the changes appear in Messages the next time you open the app.

How many stickers can I put in one pack?

There's no hard limit, but most sticker packs contain between 5 and 30 stickers. Larger packs take longer to load in the sticker drawer. App builders usually let you add as many as you want, while Xcode has no built-in limit — it depends on your device's storage.

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