How to Make Stickers on iPhone: Easy & Fun Guide

Creating custom stickers on your iPhone is easier than ever, and it’s a fantastic way to personalize your messaging experience. Whether you want to turn your photos into stickers, design unique graphics, or use built-in tools, how to make stickers on iPhone has become a core feature of iOS. This guide walks you through every method—from using the Markup tool to third-party apps—so you can start crafting professional-looking stickers in minutes.

• iPhone with iOS 14.5 or later (recommended)
• Photos app or Messages app (built-in)
• Optional: Sticker Studio, Canva, or Procreate Dreams
• Optional: Stylus (Apple Pencil for iPad, or any capacitive stylus)
• Internet connection for downloading third-party apps
• iCloud account (optional, for cloud storage)

Method 1: Using the Markup Tool in Photos

The Markup tool is one of the easiest ways to learn how to make stickers on iPhone without downloading anything extra. This built-in feature lets you draw, sketch, and add text to create custom designs that can be saved as stickers. Start by opening any photo in your Photos app, tapping Edit, and selecting Markup to access drawing tools.

Step-by-step process:

1. Open the Photos app and select any image (or create a new blank canvas by taking a screenshot)
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner
3. Select Markup (the pen-in-circle icon)
4. Tap the + button at the bottom to access drawing tools
5. Choose your tool: Pen, Marker, Pencil, Eraser, or Shapes
6. Customize colors and line thickness using the color wheel
7. Draw your design directly on the image
8. Tap Done to save your sticker design

The Markup tool offers excellent flexibility for quick sticker creation. You can layer multiple shapes, change brush styles, and even add magnified signatures or detailed artwork. For more intricate designs, consider using a stylus, which provides better precision than your finger.

Method 2: Create Stickers Directly in Messages

Messages app integration makes sharing stickers seamless—you can create and use them in the same place. This method is perfect if you want to make quick custom stickers for conversations. Open any chat, tap the plus icon next to the text field, and look for the Stickers option to see available packs or create new ones.

To create stickers directly in Messages:

1. Open a conversation in Messages
2. Tap the + icon next to the text input field
3. Select Stickers from the menu
4. Tap Create Stickers or the pencil icon
5. Choose a background (transparent, solid color, or image)
6. Draw your sticker using the available brushes
7. Tap Save to add it to your sticker collection

This approach is ideal for spontaneous, fun stickers you’ll use frequently in conversations. Your custom stickers appear in the sticker drawer, making them instantly accessible whenever you message. The transparent background option is especially useful for stickers that need to overlay text or other content.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Sticker Apps

For more advanced features and professional results, third-party apps offer extensive customization options when learning how to make stickers on iPhone. Popular choices include Sticker Studio, Canva, and Adobe Express. These apps provide templates, fonts, filters, and design elements that make sticker creation faster and more polished.

Top apps for sticker creation:

• Sticker Studio: Offers 500+ templates, photo editing, and instant sticker pack creation
• Canva: Design-focused with drag-and-drop interface and millions of design elements
• Adobe Express: Professional-grade tools with brand kit integration
• Procreate Dreams: Animation-capable sticker design for iPad users
• Photoshop Express: Full editing suite with sticker export options

After creating stickers in these apps, you can export them to Messages or save them to your camera roll. Most apps let you create sticker packs with multiple designs, which is perfect for themed collections. According to WikiHow’s design guides, using consistent colors and styles across a sticker pack makes it feel more professional.

Method 4: Drawing Stickers in Notes

The Notes app includes a built-in sketching feature that’s perfect for quick sticker designs. This method requires minimal setup and integrates seamlessly with your iPhone’s ecosystem. Open Notes, create a new note, and tap the drawing icon to start designing your sticker.

Using Notes for stickers:

1. Open the Notes app
2. Create a new note or open an existing one
3. Tap the drawing icon (looks like a pen tip)
4. Select your pen type: Pen, Marker, or Pencil
5. Choose a color from the palette
6. Adjust line thickness with the slider
7. Draw your sticker design
8. Tap Done to save

Notes drawings can be exported to Photos and then converted into stickers using the Markup tool. This two-step process works well if you prefer the Notes interface’s simplicity. You can also share notes directly via Messages, making it convenient to send sticker designs to friends.

Method 5: Converting Photos into Stickers

Transform existing photos into stickers by isolating subjects and removing backgrounds. This is one of the most popular ways to learn how to make stickers on iPhone, especially if you want to feature yourself, pets, or memorable moments. iOS 16+ includes the automatic subject detection feature that makes this process remarkably easy.

Converting photos to stickers:

1. Open a photo in the Photos app
2. Long-press the main subject to activate subject detection
3. The subject will be highlighted with a selection outline
4. Tap Copy to copy the isolated subject
5. Open Messages and paste into the sticker area
6. Your photo subject becomes an instant sticker

For older iOS versions, you can use The Spruce’s recommended photo editing apps like Remove.bg or background eraser apps to manually remove backgrounds before converting to stickers. This method creates highly personalized stickers that are perfect for family group chats or creating custom pet sticker packs. You can also use this technique to scan documents and convert them into stickers for reference materials.

Tips for Professional-Looking Stickers

Creating visually appealing stickers requires attention to design principles and technical details. Whether you’re making simple sketches or complex illustrations, these tips will elevate your sticker game significantly.

Design fundamentals:

• Use transparent backgrounds: Transparent stickers overlay better on messages and feel more polished than solid backgrounds
• Maintain consistent style: If creating a pack, use the same art style, line weight, and color palette across all designs
• Keep it simple: Stickers are small—avoid overly detailed designs that become muddy when scaled down
• Test sizing: Preview your stickers at actual message size before finalizing
• Use vector formats when possible: Vector designs scale infinitely without quality loss
• Optimize file size: Compress stickers to ensure fast loading and sharing

Color psychology matters too—bright, contrasting colors make stickers pop, while muted tones feel more sophisticated. Consider your audience when choosing palettes. If you want to explore color theory further, the same principles apply to sticker design.

According to Consumer Reports’ technology guides, testing stickers across different message backgrounds ensures they’re visible and aesthetically pleasing in all contexts. Export multiple versions and preview them in actual conversations before sharing.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even experienced users encounter challenges when making stickers. Here are solutions to the most common problems:

Sticker won’t appear in Messages: Ensure you’ve saved it properly and that the file format is compatible (PNG with transparency works best). Try restarting the Messages app or your iPhone.

Background won’t become transparent: Use apps specifically designed for background removal, or manually erase backgrounds using the Eraser tool in Markup. Some third-party apps handle this more reliably than built-in tools.

Sticker appears blurry or pixelated: Create stickers at higher resolution (at least 1024×1024 pixels) before scaling down. This ensures quality at any size.

Can’t find sticker creation option: Update to the latest iOS version—sticker features vary between iOS versions. If you have an older device, some features may not be available.

Sticker packs won’t sync across devices: Ensure iCloud is enabled and you’re signed into the same Apple ID on all devices. Allow time for synchronization before checking again.

If issues persist, visit Family Handyman’s tech support section or Apple’s official support pages for device-specific guidance. Sometimes simply clearing the Messages app cache resolves synchronization issues.

FAQ

Can I make stickers on any iPhone model? Yes, all modern iPhones support sticker creation, though some features require iOS 14.5 or later. Newer iPhones with iOS 16+ have the most advanced tools like automatic subject detection.

Is there a limit to how many stickers I can create? No official limit exists, but storing hundreds of stickers may slow down the Messages app. Organize them into packs for better management.

Can I share my sticker packs with others? Yes! Export sticker packs from third-party apps or send individual stickers via Messages. Some apps allow you to publish packs to app stores.

What’s the best file format for iPhone stickers? PNG with transparency is ideal. It preserves quality and allows stickers to blend seamlessly into conversations.

Do I need an Apple Pencil to make stickers? No, but an Apple Pencil or capacitive stylus provides better precision than your finger, especially for detailed designs. Your finger works perfectly fine for simple stickers.

How do I delete stickers I no longer want? Long-press the sticker in Messages, select Delete, and confirm. This removes it from your sticker collection permanently.

Can I animate stickers on iPhone? Standard iPhone stickers are static, but Procreate Dreams and some third-party apps allow you to create animated stickers. These work best on newer devices.

What’s the ideal sticker size? Create at 1024×1024 pixels or larger. Messages automatically scales them down, but starting large ensures quality at any size.

Learning how to make stickers on iPhone opens up creative possibilities for personalizing your digital communication. Whether you use built-in tools or third-party apps, you now have multiple methods to craft stickers that reflect your personality. Start with the Markup tool for quick designs, then explore advanced apps as your skills develop. Your custom stickers will make conversations more engaging and memorable.