Stickers have become a fun, expressive, and creative way to personalize conversations, social media posts, and even your photos. From sending a silly sticker to a friend to designing branded stickers for your small business, the possibilities are endless.
But did you know your iPhone has powerful built-in tools to help you create, use, and send custom stickers—without needing complicated software or a laptop?
In this complete 2025 guide, we’ll explore how to make stickers on iPhone, using both Apple’s built-in features and easy-to-use third-party apps. Whether you want to turn a selfie into a sticker or create your own sticker pack, this guide has got you covered.
1. What Are Stickers on iPhone?
Stickers are digital images, often with transparent backgrounds, that you can place in messages, photos, or use in social media content. They behave like digital “stickers” you’d slap on a notebook—just virtual and way more flexible.
On iPhones, stickers are most commonly used in:
- iMessage
- Photos app (for edits)
- Social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat
- Custom keyboard apps
iOS 17 and later also allow you to lift subjects from photos and create Live Stickers with just a few taps.
2. Why Make Custom Stickers on iPhone?
Creating your own stickers can be more meaningful and fun than using pre-made ones. Here’s why many iPhone users love making their own:
✅ Personal Expression
Add your face, your pet, or a funny moment as a sticker.
✅ Business Branding
Create simple branding stickers for WhatsApp, Instagram, or promotional materials.
✅ Creative Gifting
Send personalized sticker packs to friends or family.
✅ Social Media Engagement
Boost your content by adding eye-catching, custom visuals.
3. Using iOS Built-In Tools to Make Stickers
Apple introduced powerful new features in iOS 16 and 17 that make sticker creation easier than ever—no extra downloads required.
Method 1: Create Stickers Using “Lift Subject from Background”
One of the easiest ways to create a sticker is by isolating a subject from a photo.
📲 Steps:
- Open the Photos app.
- Tap on a photo with a clear subject (person, animal, object).
- Tap and hold the subject until it pops out slightly.
- You’ll see a glowing outline and options will appear.
- Tap Add Sticker or Copy.
- Paste it into Messages or other apps.
If you select “Add Sticker,” it will be saved into your sticker drawer in Messages automatically.
✅ Best For:
- Quick stickers from your own photos.
- Pet photos, facial reactions, or objects with clear backgrounds.
Method 2: Create Live Stickers from Videos or Live Photos
Live Photos and video clips can become animated stickers that move in iMessage.
📲 Steps:
- Open a Live Photo or short video in Photos.
- Tap and hold the subject as with a normal photo.
- Tap Add Sticker.
- It will save as a Live Sticker in your iMessage drawer.
✅ Best For:
- Funny facial expressions
- Moving pets
- Reaction shots
Method 3: Use Stickers in iMessage Conversations
Once you’ve created custom stickers, use them instantly.
📲 Steps:
- Open Messages and choose a conversation.
- Tap the + button next to the typing field.
- Select Stickers.
- You’ll see your saved stickers (under Recents or your name).
- Tap to send or drag to place over a message.
4. Using Apple Notes or Markup to Make Fun Stickers
If you want to design a sticker with your handwriting, shapes, or drawings:
📲 Steps:
- Open the Notes app and create a new note.
- Tap the pen icon to enter drawing mode.
- Sketch something, or write your name.
- Take a screenshot of the sketch.
- Open the screenshot > tap Edit > Crop.
- Use the Markup tool to add borders or text.
- Tap Done, then use the “Lift Subject” trick to turn your sketch into a sticker.
✅ Best For:
- Doodles, calligraphy, or hand-written messages
- Fun drawings for friends
5. Using Third-Party Apps to Make Sticker Packs
While built-in tools are great, using apps gives you more creative freedom with fonts, backgrounds, and templates.
Some popular sticker-making apps include:
- Sticker Maker Studio
- Canva
- Moji Maker
- PicsArt
- Bazaart
Here’s how the process generally works:
📲 General Steps:
- Open the sticker-making app.
- Tap Create New Sticker.
- Select a photo or design from scratch.
- Use crop tools to remove the background.
- Add borders, text, emojis, or illustrations.
- Save the sticker to your phone or import into iMessage/WhatsApp.
Some apps allow you to export a .webp or .png file with transparency, which is ideal for stickers.
✅ Best For:
- Professional looking stickers
- Creating sticker packs
- Exporting files for print or web
6. Creating a Custom Sticker Pack in iMessage
If you’ve made multiple stickers and want to keep them organized or even share with others, you can create a full sticker pack.
Note: Publishing an iMessage sticker pack to the App Store requires a developer account, but for personal use, you can build custom packs using third-party apps.
🛠 Personal Use:
- Collect all your sticker images.
- Use a third-party app to group them into a “pack.”
- Add the sticker pack to your keyboard or iMessage app drawer.
📥 Sharing Stickers:
You can send your stickers via AirDrop, Messages, or email to friends with iPhones. They can save them to their own sticker library.
7. How to Use Your Stickers in Other Apps
Once you have stickers saved, you can use them creatively across apps:
✅ Instagram & Snapchat
- Paste your sticker into Stories using the copy-paste method.
- Use photo-editing apps to insert stickers onto images before posting.
- Use a compatible sticker app to import your pack to WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp will treat your PNGs as stickers once added through the app.
✅ Photos App
- Add stickers to images using Edit > Markup > Add Sticker.
8. Tips for Creating Great Stickers
Making a good sticker is a mix of creativity and clarity. Here’s what to keep in mind:
🎯 Keep It Clear
Avoid overly busy images. Stickers are small—make sure your subject stands out.
🧼 Use Transparent Backgrounds
If possible, remove the background so the sticker pops naturally in conversations.
✍️ Add Text Sparingly
Text can enhance stickers but avoid clutter. Use bold, legible fonts.
🌈 Keep the Colors Vibrant
Bright, high-contrast colors work best for visual impact.
🪄 Use Motion for Effect
Live Stickers are great for expressive content. Use short, animated loops for extra fun.
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with great tools, it’s easy to make errors when creating stickers. Avoid these common mistakes:
❌ Using Low-Resolution Images
Blurry stickers won’t look great on high-resolution screens.
❌ Not Saving Properly
Make sure your sticker has a transparent background and is saved in a supported format like PNG.
❌ Overcrowding Designs
Too many elements can make the sticker unreadable.
❌ Forgetting to Backup
Save your favorite stickers to iCloud or your computer to avoid losing them.
10. Fun Ideas for Custom Stickers
Need inspiration? Here are some fun ways to use your custom stickers:
- Daily Moods – Use selfies with different expressions as daily mood stickers.
- Pets with Captions – Your dog saying “Walk me” or your cat with “Feed me.”
- Inside Jokes – Funny quotes or group memes turned into stickers.
- Holiday Themes – Create sticker sets for birthdays, festivals, or holidays.
- Mini Logos – Great for small business owners who want to brand messages.
Conclusion
Your iPhone isn’t just a camera or a messaging device—it’s a full creative studio in your pocket. Whether you want to add personality to your texts, build branded visuals, or just have fun, making stickers on iPhone is now easier and more powerful than ever.
With built-in tools like “Lift Subject” and “Add Sticker,” plus the support of intuitive third-party apps, your creativity is the only limit. No need for fancy software or graphic design skills—you’ve got everything you need in the palm of your hand.
So, the next time you capture a moment that’s too good not to share—why not turn it into a sticker?
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