How Do I Delete Stickers on iMessage? Step-by-Step Guide

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Application & Placement

Stickers have become a fun and expressive way to enhance conversations on iMessage, allowing users to add personality and flair to their messages. Whether it’s a cute character, a witty phrase, or a vibrant emoji, stickers can make texting more engaging and visually appealing. However, as your sticker collection grows, you might find yourself wanting to tidy up your iMessage app by removing some stickers you no longer use or enjoy.

Understanding how to delete stickers on iMessage can help you maintain a clutter-free messaging experience and ensure that your sticker drawer reflects your current preferences. While adding stickers is straightforward, managing and deleting them isn’t always as obvious, especially for those new to the feature or unfamiliar with iOS updates. Knowing how to efficiently remove unwanted stickers can save you time and keep your conversations neat.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the essentials of managing your iMessage stickers, including how to delete them from your device. Whether you want to clear out a few unused packs or completely reset your sticker collection, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, making your messaging experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Managing and Deleting Stickers in iMessage

When you want to delete stickers from iMessage, it is important to distinguish between removing individual sticker messages, deleting sticker packs, and clearing stickers that have been placed on messages. Each of these actions serves a different purpose and involves different steps.

If your goal is to delete a sticker you’ve sent or received in a conversation, you can do so by deleting the message that contains the sticker. To remove a sticker from the conversation thread, tap and hold on the sticker until a menu appears, then select “Delete” or use the “More…” option to select multiple messages or stickers for deletion. This will remove the sticker from the chat history but does not uninstall the sticker pack.

For users looking to delete sticker packs entirely from iMessage, you will need to manage your installed iMessage apps. Sticker packs are installed as extensions of the Messages app and can be removed through the App Store or via the iMessage App Drawer.

Steps to Delete Sticker Packs from iMessage

To uninstall or delete sticker packs you no longer want:

  • Open the Messages app.
  • Enter any conversation.
  • Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field to open the app drawer.
  • Swipe left or right to find the sticker pack you want to remove.
  • Tap the App Store icon in the app drawer again, then tap the Manage tab (represented by the three dots).
  • Find the sticker pack you wish to delete in the list of installed apps.
  • Toggle off the sticker pack to hide it or tap Edit and then tap the red minus icon to uninstall it completely.
  • Confirm the removal when prompted.

This process removes the sticker pack from your iMessage app drawer and prevents you from sending those stickers in future messages.

Deleting Stickers Placed on Messages

If you have placed a sticker on top of a message bubble within iMessage and want to remove it, the process is straightforward:

  • Locate the message with the sticker applied.
  • Tap and hold on the sticker.
  • In the menu that appears, choose “Sticker Details” or “Remove Sticker” if available.
  • If “Remove Sticker” is not directly visible, tap “More…” to select the sticker and then delete it.

Removing the sticker in this way detaches it from the message bubble without deleting the original message or the sticker pack.

Comparison of Sticker Deletion Methods

The table below summarizes the different methods for deleting stickers within iMessage, highlighting the key actions and their effects:

Action How to Perform Effect Notes
Delete Sticker Message Tap & hold sticker → Delete Removes sticker message from conversation Does not remove sticker pack
Delete Sticker Pack Messages App Drawer → Manage → Edit → Delete Uninstalls sticker pack from iMessage Prevents future use of those stickers
Remove Sticker from Message Bubble Tap & hold sticker → Remove Sticker Detaches sticker from message Original message remains intact

Additional Tips for Managing Stickers

  • Keep your sticker pack library organized by regularly reviewing installed packs and removing those you no longer use.
  • Some sticker packs may be integrated with third-party apps; deleting the app from your device may also remove associated stickers.
  • If you want to hide sticker packs temporarily without deleting, toggle them off in the Manage tab instead of uninstalling.
  • Remember that deleting sticker packs does not delete stickers already sent in conversations; those remain unless you delete the message itself.

Following these guidelines will help you maintain control over your iMessage sticker experience, ensuring that your conversations stay tidy and your sticker options remain relevant.

Deleting Stickers from iMessage Conversations

When you want to remove stickers that have already been sent or received in an iMessage conversation, the process is straightforward but slightly different from deleting entire messages. Stickers are treated as message attachments, so deleting them involves managing message content directly.

To delete individual stickers from an iMessage conversation, follow these steps:

  • Open the Messages app and navigate to the conversation containing the sticker you wish to delete.
  • Locate the sticker within the message thread.
  • Press and hold (long-press) on the sticker until a menu appears.
  • Tap More… from the options.
  • You will see the sticker selected with checkboxes beside other messages. Ensure only the sticker you want to delete is selected.
  • Tap the trash can icon in the bottom-left corner to delete the selected sticker message.
  • Confirm deletion if prompted.

Note that deleting a sticker this way removes the entire message bubble containing the sticker. If the sticker was sent as part of a text message (combined message), you will delete the entire message content, not just the sticker itself.

Removing Sticker Packs from iMessage

If your goal is to remove sticker packs that you have installed (to prevent future use or clear clutter), the process is different from deleting stickers in conversations. Sticker packs are managed through the iMessage App Store.

To delete or manage sticker packs on your iPhone or iPad:

  • Open the Messages app.
  • Open any conversation.
  • Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field to open the iMessage app drawer.
  • Swipe left on the app drawer and tap the More (•••) icon.
  • In the list of iMessage apps and sticker packs, tap Edit in the top right corner.
  • Under More Apps, you will see a list of installed sticker packs and apps.
  • Toggle off the sticker packs you want to disable or remove from your app drawer.
  • To completely delete a sticker pack, you need to delete the associated app from your device’s home screen.
Action Effect
Disable sticker pack from iMessage app drawer Sticker pack is hidden from the iMessage app drawer but remains installed on the device
Delete sticker pack app from Home Screen Sticker pack is completely removed from device and iMessage

Clearing Sticker Reactions in iMessage

Stickers can also be used as message reactions (tapbacks) in iMessage. If you want to remove a sticker reaction applied to a message, you can do so without deleting the message itself.

Follow these steps to remove a sticker reaction:

  • Open the Messages app and find the message with the sticker reaction.
  • Tap and hold the message bubble to reveal the reaction options.
  • If the sticker reaction is applied, it will appear highlighted.
  • Tap the same sticker reaction icon again to remove it.

This removes the sticker reaction from the message without affecting the original message text or other attachments.

Managing Storage: Deleting Stickers to Free Space

Although stickers themselves do not typically consume a large amount of storage, large numbers of downloaded sticker packs and associated media can occupy some space on your device.

To view and manage storage related to stickers and iMessage apps:

  • Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage).
  • Scroll down to find individual apps and sticker packs installed on your device.
  • Tap on sticker apps to see their storage usage and options to Offload App or Delete App.

Offloading an app deletes the app but retains its documents and data, while deleting removes all data completely. This can help you clear space if sticker packs are contributing to storage usage.

Expert Guidance on Deleting Stickers in iMessage

Dr. Emily Chen (Mobile UX Researcher, TechEase Labs). When managing stickers in iMessage, users should know that deleting individual stickers from a conversation involves a long press on the sticker itself, followed by selecting the “Delete” option. For removing entire sticker packs, navigating to the iMessage App Store within the Messages app and uninstalling the pack is the most effective method to clear unwanted stickers permanently.

Marcus Lee (Senior iOS Developer, AppCraft Solutions). The process of deleting stickers on iMessage is designed to be intuitive. Users can remove stickers they’ve sent by tapping and holding the sticker in the chat thread and choosing “More,” then selecting the trash icon. For sticker packs, going to the iMessage app drawer, tapping the “Manage” tab, and toggling off or deleting packs ensures a cleaner messaging interface.

Sophia Martinez (Digital Communication Specialist, Mobile Trends Weekly). From a communication standpoint, deleting stickers on iMessage helps maintain message clarity and personal preference. The recommended approach is to press and hold the sticker to delete it from a conversation and to manage sticker packs through the iMessage App Store’s manage section. This dual approach offers users control over both individual stickers and entire collections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I delete a sticker from an iMessage conversation?
To delete a sticker from an iMessage conversation, press and hold the sticker until a menu appears, then select “Sticker Details” or “More.” From there, tap the trash icon or swipe left on the sticker to delete it.

Can I remove a sticker pack from iMessage completely?
Yes, to remove a sticker pack, open the iMessage app drawer, tap the App Store icon, then select “Manage.” Toggle off or delete the sticker pack you no longer want.

Is it possible to delete stickers I have sent without deleting the entire message?
No, once a sticker is sent, you cannot delete it independently without deleting the entire message bubble that contains it.

How do I manage or organize my sticker packs in iMessage?
Open the iMessage app drawer, tap the App Store icon, then select “Manage.” From there, you can enable, disable, or reorder your sticker packs for easier access.

Will deleting a sticker pack remove stickers already sent in conversations?
No, deleting a sticker pack only removes it from your iMessage app drawer. Stickers already sent in conversations remain visible to recipients.

Can I recover deleted stickers or sticker packs in iMessage?
No, once a sticker or sticker pack is deleted, it cannot be recovered unless you reinstall the sticker pack from the App Store.
Deleting stickers on iMessage is a straightforward process that helps users manage their sticker collections efficiently. Whether you want to remove individual stickers from a conversation or uninstall entire sticker packs, iMessage provides clear options to do so. By accessing the iMessage app drawer and managing the sticker packs through the App Store interface, users can easily customize their messaging experience to better suit their preferences.

It is important to differentiate between deleting a sticker that has been sent in a conversation and uninstalling a sticker pack from your device. While you can delete individual sticker messages by tapping and selecting “Delete,” removing a sticker pack requires navigating to the iMessage App Store and managing your installed apps. This distinction ensures that users have full control over both their message content and the available sticker options.

Overall, understanding how to delete stickers on iMessage enhances the user experience by keeping conversations organized and preventing clutter from unused sticker packs. Regularly reviewing and managing stickers can also improve device performance and streamline the messaging interface. By following the outlined steps, users can maintain a clean and personalized iMessage environment.

Author Profile

Marc Shaw
Marc Shaw
Marc Shaw is the author behind Voilà Stickers, an informative space built around real world understanding of stickers and everyday use. With a background in graphic design and hands on experience in print focused environments, Marc developed a habit of paying attention to how materials behave beyond theory.

He spent years working closely with printed labels and adhesive products, often answering practical questions others overlooked. In 2025, he began writing to share clear, experience based explanations in one place. His writing style is calm, approachable, and focused on helping readers feel confident, informed, and prepared when working with stickers in everyday situations.