Create Stickers From Photos on iPhone Photos

How to Create Stickers From Photos in the iPhone Photos App.

Learn how to create custom stickers from your photos on iPhone using the built-in Photos app. I show you the steps to turn any subject in your pictures into fun stickers you can use in Messages, WhatsApp, and other apps.

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I am showing you on iOS 26 Beta 4 on an iPhone 16 Pro Max. This feature works on any iPhone running iOS 17 or newer.

In this guide, you will learn how to make stickers from photos on iOS. You will learn how to cut out subjects from your images and save them as transparent stickers that you can resize and place anywhere. The process works great for people, pets, or objects from your photo library.

How to Create a Sticker From Any Photo

This is the main way to turn a subject from your photo into a sticker.

Here are the steps:

• Open the Photos app on your iPhone
• Find a photo with a clear subject – a person, pet, or object
• Press and hold on the subject in the photo
• You will see a glowing outline appear around the subject
• A menu will pop up
• Tap Add Sticker
• The sticker is now saved to your sticker collection

That is it. Your iPhone automatically removes the background and creates a transparent sticker.

What Happens When You Long Press on a Subject

When you press and hold on a subject in a photo, your iPhone detects the main subject and separates it from the background. You will see a bright outline or glowing effect around the subject. This tells you the iPhone has successfully cut out the subject.

From the same menu, you also have other options:

• Copy – copies the cutout subject to your clipboard
• Share – sends the cutout as a regular image
• Save to Photos – saves the cutout as a new photo with transparent background

But for making a sticker, just tap Add Sticker.

Where to Find Your Saved Stickers

After you create stickers, they live in your sticker collection.

Here is how to find them:

• Open any app that supports stickers, like Messages
• Tap the sticker icon (usually a smiley face or a square with a folded corner)
• Look for the sticker drawer
• Your custom stickers will appear there alongside Apple’s built-in stickers

Your stickers sync automatically through iCloud. This means they show up on all your Apple devices – your iPad, Mac, and other iPhones signed into the same Apple ID.

How to Use Your Stickers in Photos

Learn how to add your custom stickers to other photos.

Here is what to do:

• Open a photo in the Photos app
• Tap Edit in the top right corner
• Tap the plus icon in the bottom row
• Tap Add Sticker
• Browse your sticker collection and tap the sticker you want to use
• Drag the sticker to where you want it on the photo
• Use two fingers to pinch, zoom, or rotate the sticker to resize it
• Tap Done to save the photo with the sticker

How to Delete Stickers You No Longer Want

If you have duplicate stickers or just want to clean up your collection, you can delete them.

Here is how to delete a sticker:

• Open any app that shows your sticker collection, like Messages
• Open the sticker drawer
• Find the sticker you want to remove
• Press and hold on that sticker
• Tap Delete from the menu that appears

You can also rearrange your stickers by pressing and holding on a sticker and dragging it to a new position.

Tips for Getting the Best Sticker Results

Not every photo works perfectly for making stickers. Here are some tips:

• Pick photos with a clear, sharp subject
• Make sure the subject stands out from the background
• Good lighting helps the iPhone detect the edges better
• Faces, people, and pets work very well
• Objects with clear outlines also work great

If the glowing outline does not appear when you press and hold, try a different photo or a more distinct subject.

Quick Summary

Here is how to make a sticker from a photo on your iPhone:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Find a photo with a clear subject
3. Press and hold on the subject until you see a glowing outline
4. Tap Add Sticker

To use your sticker on another photo:

1. Open a photo and tap Edit
2. Tap the plus icon
3. Tap Add Sticker
4. Select your sticker and place it on the photo
5. Tap Done

Final Tip

Stickers you create are just images with transparent backgrounds. You can use them anywhere you can paste or insert images – in Messages, WhatsApp, emails, notes, or even on photos as shown above. Get creative with it. Turn your pet into a sticker. Make stickers of your friends’ funny faces. The only limit is the photos you have in your library.