The quickest way to add stickers to a photo on iPhone
Open the Photos app, select the photo you want to edit, tap Edit in the top right, then tap the plus sign (+) button at the bottom of the screen. Tap Stickers from the menu that appears. Browse the available sticker packs, tap one to open it, then tap individual stickers to place them on your photo. You can move, resize, and rotate each sticker with your fingers before tapping Done to save.
This built-in method works on iPhone running iOS 16 or later. If you have an older iPhone, you can still add stickers through third-party apps like Markup or by using the Messages app, which also has sticker options.
Key Takeaways
- The Photos app's built-in sticker tool is free and requires no extra apps — open any photo, tap Edit, then tap the plus sign and choose Stickers.
- You can resize, rotate, and move stickers by pinching and dragging them with your fingers before you save the edited photo.
- Sticker packs come built into iOS, but you can also download additional packs from the App Store to expand your options.
- If your iPhone is older than iOS 16, the Markup tool or third-party apps like Snapseed or PicsArt offer sticker features as an alternative.
Finding and downloading more sticker packs
The default sticker packs that come with iOS include basic shapes, emoji, and seasonal designs. To see what else is available, open the Photos app, select a photo, tap Edit, then tap the plus sign and Stickers. Scroll to the bottom of the sticker panel and tap Get More Stickers. This opens the App Store to a curated collection of sticker packs you can download for free.
Many sticker packs are free, though some charge a small fee. Once you download a pack, it appears automatically in your sticker menu the next time you edit a photo. You can manage which packs appear by going to Settings > Photos and toggling packs on or off, though this option varies by iOS version.
Resizing, rotating, and positioning stickers
After you tap a sticker to place it on your photo, it appears with handles around it. To move the sticker, drag it to a new location with one finger. To resize it, pinch outward to make it larger or pinch inward to make it smaller. To rotate it, use two fingers in a twisting motion.
You can layer multiple stickers on top of each other — the last sticker you place will appear on top. If you want to remove a sticker, tap it once to select it, then press Delete on your keyboard or tap and hold until a delete option appears. Keep adjusting until the stickers look the way you want, then tap Done to save your changes to the photo.
Using stickers in the Messages app instead
If you want to add stickers to a photo before sending it to someone, you can do this directly in Messages. Open a conversation, tap the plus sign next to the text field, then tap Photos to select an image. Once the photo appears in the message composer, tap it to open the editing menu, then tap the plus sign and choose Stickers. The sticker interface works the same way as in the Photos app.
This approach is useful if you want to personalize a photo for a specific person without permanently editing the original. The edited version only appears in that message thread, and your original photo stays unchanged in your camera roll.
Third-party apps for more sticker options
If you want access to a wider range of stickers or more advanced editing features, apps like Snapseed, PicsArt, and Canva all offer sticker tools. Snapseed is free and includes hundreds of stickers organized by category. PicsArt is also free but includes in-app purchases for premium sticker packs. Canva is free for basic use and offers thousands of stickers, fonts, and design elements.
These apps work on any iPhone running a recent version of iOS. They typically let you import a photo from your camera roll, add stickers, and then save the edited version back to your Photos app. The trade-off is that they take up more storage space and have a steeper learning curve than the built-in Photos tool, but they give you more creative control and variety.
Saving and sharing your stickered photos
Once you finish editing a photo with stickers in the Photos app, tap Done and then Save. The edited photo replaces the original in your camera roll — iOS does not keep a separate copy unless you choose to save it as a duplicate. If you want to keep the original untouched, tap Save as Copy instead, which stores both versions.
To share your stickered photo, open it in the Photos app, tap the share icon (a box with an arrow), and choose how you want to send it — Messages, Mail, AirDrop, or social media apps. The stickers become part of the image file, so they will appear the same way to anyone who receives it.
Troubleshooting sticker problems
If the sticker button does not appear when you tap Edit, make sure you are running iOS 16 or later. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check your version. If stickers are grayed out or not responding, try closing the Photos app completely and reopening it. Sometimes a simple restart of the app fixes temporary glitches.
If you downloaded a sticker pack but it is not showing up, go to Settings > Photos and look for a sticker management option — the exact location varies by iOS version. You can also try deleting and re-downloading the pack from the App Store. If none of these steps work, restart your iPhone, which often clears out minor software issues that affect the Photos app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add stickers to photos I already took, or only new ones?
You can add stickers to any photo in your camera roll, whether you took it years ago or moments ago. Open the Photos app, select the photo, tap Edit, and follow the sticker steps. The original photo is not changed until you tap Done and Save.
Do stickers work on videos, or only still photos?
The built-in sticker tool in the Photos app works only on still images. If you want to add stickers to videos, you will need a third-party app like iMovie, CapCut, or PicsArt, which all support video editing with stickers.
What happens if I delete a sticker pack from my iPhone?
Deleting a sticker pack from your device removes it from the sticker menu, but you can download it again anytime from the App Store at no cost. Any photos you already edited with stickers from that pack keep the stickers — they do not disappear.
Can I create my own custom stickers?
The built-in Photos app does not let you create custom stickers, but apps like Canva and PicsArt let you design your own or upload images to use as stickers. Some third-party apps also let you convert your own photos into sticker packs.
Why are some sticker packs not free?
Sticker pack creators can choose to charge for their work, similar to how app developers do. Free packs are abundant, so you can find plenty of options without spending money. Paid packs usually offer unique designs or larger collections that the creator thinks are worth the cost.