How to Put Stickers on Messages

Incorporating a sticker into a text message adds a vibrant touch to your communication.

However, the standard stickers on iOS often need a more personal feel. Imagine designing stickers using your images—that’s now possible.

With the latest features in iOS 17, you can create stickers from photos of people, pets, locations, or objects.

You can even transform a live photo into an animated sticker and enhance any sticker with special effects. Here’s how you can do it.

Creating Stickers from Your Photos

Update Your Device  

Begin by ensuring your iPhone or iPad is running iOS 17 or newer.

To do this, navigate to Settings, choose General, and then select Software Updates. If an update is available, install it.

Update Your Device

Transform Photos into Stickers with “Photos”

Launch the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Browse your library to find a suitable image that would work well as a sticker, ideally featuring a clear and attractive subject. 

  • Open the chosen photo and press firmly on the subject. 

  • In the menu that appears, select “Add Sticker.” 

  • If you want to create stickers from multiple subjects, choose “Select All” before tapping “Add Sticker.” 

  • The app will generate a sticker from your selection and save it in the Stickers album, ready for use in your text messages.
Transform Photos into Stickers

Create Stickers from Photos in Messages 

You can generate a sticker from a photo right within Apple Messages. 

  • Open the Messages app and either start a new conversation or continue an existing one. 

  • Click the plus icon next to the iMessage text box, then choose Stickers. 

  • Select the second icon from the left to open your Stickers album in the Stickers window. 

  • Finally, tap the plus icon within this window.
Create Stickers

Select the Photo  

  • Navigate through your photo library to locate an image featuring the desired subject. 

  • Once you’ve opened the photo, choose “Add Sticker” from the menu. 

  • This will convert your subject into a sticker and save it.
Select the Photo

Convert Live Photos into Animated Stickers

Live photos capture 1.5 seconds of motion before and after the moment you take the picture. This feature allows you to create animated stickers.

To do this, open the Photos app and tap the Albums icon at the bottom. Scroll down to find Media Types, then select Live Photos.

Choose the live photo you wish to use. Press firmly on the subject and select “Add Sticker” from the menu.

Your new sticker will then be available in the Stickers window.

Animated Stickers

Enhance Stickers with Effects

You can add some flair to your stickers by incorporating effects. Start or open a conversation in the Messages app.

Tap the plus icon, choose Stickers, and select the second icon from the left. Press firmly on the sticker you want to modify and choose “Add Effect.”

Experiment with various options like Comic, Shiny, and Puffy. Once you find an effect you enjoy, tap “Done” to save your changes.

Enhance Stickers with Effects

Using Customized Stickers

To utilize a sticker you created from a photo, begin by opening or starting a conversation in the Messages app.

Tap the plus icon, then select Stickers, and choose the second icon. Select the sticker you wish to use, and then tap the arrow to send your message featuring that sticker.

Using Customized Stickers

Using Animated Stickers

To add an animated sticker in a Messages chat, tap the plus icon, choose Stickers, and select the second icon.

Pick one of your animated stickers, then click the arrow to send it. The sticker’s animation will be visible in your text.

Using Animated Stickers

Using Mac’s Custom Stickers 

While you can’t create stickers from photos on a Mac, you can still use the ones on your iPhone or iPad.

Open the Messages app on your Mac and start or continue a conversation.

Using Mac’s Custom Stickers 

Click the App icon and select Stickers. In the Messages window, tap the first icon for recent stickers or the second for stickers created from your photos.

Select the sticker you want and send your message.

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