Where emoji stickers live and why you might want to remove them
Emoji stickers are small animated or static images that sit separately from your keyboard's regular emoji set. They live in different places depending on your phone and which apps you use: some are built into your messaging app, others come from third-party sticker packs you downloaded, and some live in your keyboard settings. Removing them is straightforward once you know where to look, but the exact steps depend on whether you're using an iPhone or Android phone and which app created the stickers.
Most people delete stickers because they take up space, clutter the sticker picker menu, or came pre-installed with an app they no longer use. The good news is that deleting them won't affect your regular emoji or your keyboard's core functions — you're only removing the extra sticker packs.
Key Takeaways
- Stickers stored in your keyboard settings are removed differently than stickers inside messaging apps like Messages, WhatsApp, or Discord.
- On iPhone, most third-party sticker packs are removed through Settings > General > Keyboard > Stickers, while app-specific stickers are deleted within that app.
- On Android, sticker removal happens inside Gboard settings or within the individual app that created them, depending on where they're stored.
- Deleting a sticker pack does not delete the app that created it — you're only removing the sticker set from your keyboard or messaging interface.
Removing stickers from iPhone keyboard settings
If you've downloaded sticker packs that appear in your keyboard's sticker picker, you can remove them from your iPhone's main settings. Open Settings, then tap General. Scroll down and tap Keyboard, then tap Stickers. You'll see a list of all installed sticker packs with a minus sign next to each one.
Tap the minus sign next to any sticker pack you want to remove, then tap Delete when the confirmation appears. The sticker pack disappears immediately and won't show up in your keyboard anymore. If you change your mind later, you can reinstall it from the App Store or the app that originally provided it.
Deleting stickers from messaging apps on iPhone and Android
Stickers that live inside a specific app — like Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord — are removed from within that app, not from your phone's settings. Open the messaging app, start a new message or conversation, and tap the sticker icon (usually a smiley face or star). Look for a settings icon, gear icon, or a plus sign near the sticker picker.
In most apps, you'll see a list of your sticker packs with an X or minus button next to each one. Tap that button to remove the pack. Some apps show a trash icon instead — tap that to delete. The exact location varies: in Messages on iPhone, stickers appear in the app drawer at the bottom of the keyboard; in WhatsApp on both iPhone and Android, they're in the sticker tab of the emoji picker. Check the app's menu or settings if you can't find the sticker list immediately.
Removing stickers from Gboard on Android
If you use Google's Gboard keyboard on Android, sticker packs are managed through Gboard's settings, not your phone's main settings. Open Gboard by tapping into any text field, then tap the G icon or settings gear. Tap Stickers or Emoji depending on your Gboard version. You'll see all installed sticker packs listed.
Find the sticker pack you want to remove and tap the three-dot menu next to it, then select Remove or Delete. Some versions of Gboard show an X button instead — tap that to remove the pack. After deletion, the sticker pack no longer appears when you open the sticker picker in any app that uses Gboard.
Uninstalling apps that came with stickers
If a sticker pack came bundled with an app you no longer use, you have two options: remove just the sticker pack from your keyboard or messaging app (using the steps above), or uninstall the entire app. Removing the sticker pack alone is usually the better choice because it clears your keyboard without affecting anything else.
If you want to uninstall the app entirely, the process is the same on both iPhone and Android: find the app on your home screen or in your app library, press and hold it, then select Remove App or Uninstall. This removes the app and any stickers it created, but it won't affect sticker packs you downloaded separately from other sources.
What happens when you delete a sticker pack
Deleting a sticker pack removes it from your keyboard or messaging app, but it doesn't delete the app that created it or any conversations where you've already used those stickers. Old messages containing the stickers will still display them (as long as the app that created them is still installed), but you won't be able to send new ones.
The space freed up is usually minimal — most sticker packs take up only a few megabytes. If you're trying to free up phone storage, deleting stickers won't make a noticeable difference. Uninstalling unused apps or clearing your photo library will have a much larger impact on available space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete stickers without deleting the app that created them?
Yes. Removing a sticker pack from your keyboard or messaging app does not uninstall the app. The app remains on your phone and works normally — you're only removing the sticker set from your keyboard interface. You can reinstall the stickers later if you change your mind.
Will deleting stickers remove them from old messages?
No. Stickers you've already sent in conversations will still appear in those messages. Deleting a sticker pack only prevents you from sending new ones. The stickers remain visible in your chat history as long as the app that created them is still installed on your phone.
Where do I find stickers if I can't see them in my keyboard?
Stickers are usually accessed through a dedicated sticker icon in your keyboard or messaging app — often a smiley face, star, or plus sign. If you don't see one, the app may not support stickers, or they may be hidden in a menu. Check the app's settings or help section to confirm where stickers are located.
Can I delete built-in stickers that came with my phone?
Built-in sticker packs that came pre-installed with your phone can usually be removed the same way as downloaded ones — through your keyboard settings on iPhone or Gboard settings on Android. However, some system stickers cannot be deleted. If a sticker pack doesn't have a delete option, it's a core part of your keyboard and cannot be removed.
Do I need to restart my phone after deleting stickers?
No. Sticker packs are removed immediately and your keyboard updates right away. You don't need to restart your phone or close and reopen apps. The stickers simply stop appearing in your sticker picker once you delete them.