Unlock the Full Potential of Your iPhone with Eye-Catching Stickers!

Key Takeaways

Stickers on iPhone allow users to send custom images in iMessage, adding a fun and personalized touch to conversations.

iOS 17 brought a new feature that allows you to easily turn any photo or video from your Photos library into custom stickers. This addition makes sticker creation more convenient and adds an element of excitement.

These stickers can serve various purposes, such as expressing reactions, creating memes, or enhancing the aesthetics of iMessage conversations. They can be sent as images or directly placed on messages, showcasing their versatility and providing users with a delightful experience.

What are Stickers on iPhone?

Stickers is a feature on iPhone that enables you to save and share a variety of personalized images with other iMessage users. Along with the capability to send both static and animated pictures, stickers can also be "peeled" and placed on top of messages and other content within your conversations.

The feature requires the use of the blue bubbles in a chat for it to work, as it is not compatible with standard SMS. It functions in both individual conversations and group chats, as long as the conversation is conducted through iMessage. Stickers will synchronize across devices such as iPhone, iPad, and macOS, but it is not possible to create stickers on a Mac.

To fully utilize the potential of stickers, you will require an iPhone or iPad running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 or a newer version, along with a Mac installed with macOS 14 Sonoma.

Stickers Are Finally Worth Your Time

Prior to the release of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, stickers had limited capabilities. While their fundamental functionality remains unchanged in the present, the previous method involved relying solely on sticker packs obtained through apps and Memoji, Apple's animated emoji that utilized the Face ID sensors on your iPhone to replicate your facial expressions.

That has been completely transformed with the release of iOS 17. Now, you have the capability to generate stickers from any photo or video stored in your Photos library. In iOS 16, Apple introduced the functionality to extract subjects from photos, and this feature now feels much more significant rather than just a fun gimmick. The exciting part is that you can utilize this feature to transform your subjects into stickers.

These stickers have multiple uses: they can serve as reactions, private memes shared among friends, or customized embellishments for your iMessage conversations. Furthermore, you have the ability to create animated stickers by utilizing the frames of animation captured through Live Photos (although this feature can be disabled if desired).

When designing a sticker, you can enhance it with effects such as a white outline or glitter that respond to movement detected by the gyroscope in your device. Apple has conveniently organized the placement of your stickers, ensuring they are easily accessible with just two taps when you're engaged in a conversation. Stickers created on your iPhone or iPad will also sync with your Mac via iCloud. Unfortunately, there is currently no option to create stickers directly on your Mac.

Create Your Own Stickers from Photos

What sets stickers apart is Apple's subject isolation feature. It truly brings out the best in photos by highlighting a clearly defined subject, be it a beloved pet, a person's face, or even a captivating wild animal.

To add a sticker, open an iMessage conversation and tap on the plus “+” button next to the message compose field.

Select the option "Stickers" located at this point. Afterward, press the plus sign "+" button to introduce a new sticker. A collection of images will be displayed from your Photos library, among which some may have animated effects derived from Live Photo data.

Pick a photo you want to use as a sticker. The best photos have clearly defined subjects that will be cleanly isolated. Wait a second, and your iPhone will isolate the subject.

You have the option to switch between "Live" and "Off" in the top-left corner of the screen to determine if your sticker should animate or not. Even animated stickers maintain subject isolation, which yields remarkably good results.

When you are feeling content, simply tap on the "Add Sticker" button located at the bottom of the page. Your delightful sticker will then be seamlessly added to your dedicated sticker album. To enhance its charm, tap and hold the sticker, and then select the "Add Effect" option for a touch of shimmering glitter. Alternatively, you can opt to "Rearrange" your stickers to suit your desired arrangement. Lastly, should you wish to bid farewell to a sticker, the option to "Delete" it can be found here.

To make a sticker from a video, locate the video in your Photos library and pause it at the desired frame. Proceed by tapping and holding on the subject until your iPhone emphasizes it. This might require a few tries, based on our experience.

Once highlighted, you can select "Add Sticker" to incorporate the subject as a sticker. Similarly, you can follow this process to add subjects as stickers from still images. However, please note that there is no provision to switch between animated and static stickers while creating them.

Where to Find Stickers on iPhone

Stickers in an iMessage conversation are located under the plus "+" menu. To access the stickers, simply tap on the plus "+" icon and select the "Stickers" option from the menu. This will display a list of available stickers for you to choose from. By default, your custom stickers will be shown on the first page.

In addition to the custom stickers page, there are other pages available. These include a page for recently used stickers and stickers that are provided by the apps you have installed. Furthermore, you will find standard Emoji, Apple's Memoji, and an option to rearrange the order in which your apps are displayed.

Under the “Edit” menu you’ll also find a link to the App Store to get more stickers, if that’s what you want.

Send Stickers as Messages or Place Them on Messages

With an album of custom stickers available, you’re now free to use them wherever you see fit.

To send a sticker as an image (perfect for reactions), just tap on it. The sticker will be inserted into a new message, similar to how you would add a photo or video. If you want to remove the sticker, simply tap on the "x" in the corner. Alternatively, you can include a message and send it.

To apply a sticker, simply tap and hold it before moving your finger onto the conversation. Release your finger to conveniently place the sticker. Stickers can be placed virtually anywhere, allowing you to effectively conceal message contents.

To resize and rotate a sticker, simply use pinch and two-finger rotation gestures. However, be careful as releasing the sticker instantly positions it. When you send or place a sticker in the chat, the other party or group will receive a notification about the addition.

Cat Stickers Everywhere

iOS updates are known for introducing impressive functionalities like Check-In and Roadside Assistance via Satellite. However, nothing has brought me as much delight as the remarkable capability of transforming cat pictures into vibrant stickers with the latest iOS 17 version.

See what else is new in the iOS 17 update (plus the hidden features you may have missed), and then download it so you too can be a sticker menace.