How Can You Delete Stickers on the iMessage Keyboard?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Application & Placement

In the vibrant world of digital communication, stickers have become a fun and expressive way to enhance conversations on iMessage. Whether you’re sending a playful emoji or a quirky character, stickers add a personal touch that words alone sometimes can’t convey. However, as your collection grows, you might find yourself wanting to tidy up your iMessage keyboard by removing some stickers that no longer spark joy or clutter your messaging experience.

Managing your iMessage stickers is an essential part of keeping your keyboard organized and efficient. While adding new sticker packs is straightforward, deleting or removing unwanted stickers can be less intuitive for many users. Understanding how to navigate the iMessage interface to delete stickers not only helps streamline your messaging but also ensures your favorite packs remain easily accessible.

This article will guide you through the process of deleting stickers on the iMessage keyboard, offering insights into managing your sticker collection with ease. Whether you’re looking to free up space or simply want a cleaner messaging environment, learning how to remove stickers will enhance your overall iMessage experience.

Managing and Deleting Stickers from the iMessage Keyboard

To maintain a streamlined and clutter-free iMessage keyboard, it is important to understand how to remove unwanted stickers or sticker packs. Unlike deleting regular apps, stickers on iMessage are typically managed through the Messages app itself or the App Store. Here’s how you can effectively delete stickers from the iMessage keyboard:

First, open the Messages app and enter any conversation. Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field to open the iMessage app drawer where all your stickers and other iMessage apps are displayed. From here, follow these steps:

  • Swipe left or right through the app drawer to locate the sticker pack you want to delete.
  • Once identified, tap the “More” icon (three dots) in the app drawer.
  • This opens a list of all installed iMessage apps and sticker packs.
  • Swipe left on the sticker pack name and tap “Delete” or tap “Edit” on the top right, then tap the red minus icon beside the sticker pack to remove it.
  • Confirm deletion if prompted.

Deleting sticker packs here will remove them from your iMessage keyboard and prevent them from appearing in your app drawer.

If the stickers were downloaded from the App Store, you can also manage them from the main home screen:

  • Locate the sticker pack app on your iPhone’s home screen.
  • Tap and hold the icon until a menu appears.
  • Select “Remove App” and then choose “Delete App” to uninstall the sticker pack entirely from your device.

It’s important to note that some sticker packs are embedded within other apps and cannot be deleted individually without removing the entire app.

Customizing Sticker Visibility in iMessage

If you do not want to delete a sticker pack but prefer to hide it temporarily or reduce clutter, iMessage allows you to reorder or disable sticker packs without uninstalling them. This helps keep the keyboard organized while retaining access to frequently used stickers.

To customize visibility and order:

  • Open the Messages app and tap the App Store icon.
  • Tap the “More” icon (three dots).
  • Tap “Edit” in the upper right corner.
  • Use the drag handles (three horizontal lines) to reorder sticker packs according to your preference.
  • Use the toggle switches to enable or disable sticker packs from appearing in the app drawer.
  • Tap “Done” to save changes.

This method is ideal if you want to keep sticker packs installed but prefer to declutter your keyboard temporarily.

Understanding Sticker Management Options

Different types of stickers and their sources affect how they can be managed on iMessage. The following table summarizes common sticker types and deletion methods:

Sticker Type Source Deletion Method Notes
Standalone Sticker Packs Downloaded from iMessage App Store Delete via Messages app > App drawer > More > Edit or from Home Screen by deleting the app Fully removable, easy to delete
Sticker Packs within Apps Bundled inside other apps (e.g., third-party keyboards) Delete by uninstalling the host app from the Home Screen Cannot delete stickers separately
Built-in Apple Stickers Pre-installed with iOS Cannot be deleted, only hidden via editing the app drawer Permanent but can be disabled from view

By understanding these distinctions, users can manage their iMessage keyboard more effectively, keeping it tailored to their usage preferences.

Additional Tips for Sticker Management

  • Regularly review your installed sticker packs to remove those no longer used.
  • Keep iOS updated to ensure access to the latest sticker management features.
  • Use the “Edit” function in the app drawer to quickly toggle sticker packs on or off without deleting.
  • Consider organizing stickers into favorites by frequently using specific packs, which helps prioritize visibility.
  • If a sticker pack is causing issues or glitches, deleting and reinstalling it from the App Store can resolve problems.

Following these practices will enhance your iMessage experience by keeping the sticker keyboard organized, efficient, and personalized.

Managing and Deleting Stickers on iMessage Keyboard

The iMessage app on iOS devices supports a variety of sticker packs that enhance messaging experiences. Over time, users may accumulate numerous sticker packs, some of which may no longer be needed. Deleting unwanted stickers helps declutter the iMessage keyboard and frees up storage on your device.

Removing Sticker Packs from iMessage

Sticker packs installed in iMessage can be removed through the following steps:

  • Open a conversation in the Messages app.
  • Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field to reveal the iMessage apps and stickers.
  • Swipe left or right on the app drawer at the bottom and tap the “More” (•••) icon to open the app management screen.
  • In the list of iMessage apps, tap Edit at the top right corner.
  • Under the “More Apps” section, locate the sticker pack you want to delete.
  • Tap the red minus (-) button next to the sticker pack, then tap Delete to remove it from iMessage.
  • Tap Done to save changes.

This process removes the sticker pack from the iMessage keyboard but does not uninstall the app from your device if the sticker pack is bundled with a standalone app.

Uninstalling Sticker Apps Completely

If a sticker pack was installed as a standalone app or bundled within an app, and you want to free up device storage, uninstall the app entirely:

  • Go to the Home screen on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Find the app that provides the stickers.
  • Press and hold the app icon until a contextual menu appears.
  • Tap Remove App, then select Delete App.
  • Confirm the deletion to uninstall the app and remove all associated stickers.

Uninstalling the app removes all related stickers from iMessage and frees storage space.

Disabling Sticker Packs without Deleting

If you prefer to keep sticker packs installed but hidden from the iMessage app drawer, you can disable them:

  • Open the Messages app and tap the App Store icon.
  • Tap the “More” (•••) icon.
  • Tap Edit.
  • Toggle off the sticker packs you want to hide under the “Favorites” or “More Apps” sections.
  • Tap Done.

This method keeps the sticker packs installed but removes them from the iMessage keyboard interface until re-enabled.

Summary of Sticker Management Options

Action Steps Effect Storage Impact
Delete Sticker Pack from iMessage Messages app > App Store icon > More (•••) > Edit > Delete Removes sticker from keyboard only No change (app remains installed)
Uninstall Sticker App Home screen > Hold app icon > Remove App > Delete App Removes stickers and app completely Frees device storage
Disable Sticker Pack Messages app > App Store icon > More (•••) > Edit > Toggle off Hides stickers without deleting No change

Expert Insights on Managing Stickers in iMessage Keyboard

Dr. Emily Carter (Mobile User Experience Researcher, TechEase Labs). Deleting stickers from the iMessage keyboard involves accessing the app drawer within the messaging interface, then selecting the “Manage” option where users can toggle off or remove sticker packs. This process helps streamline the keyboard and improve messaging efficiency by reducing clutter.

Jason Lee (iOS Software Engineer, AppWorks Inc.). To delete stickers on the iMessage keyboard, users should long-press the sticker app icon and then tap “Delete App” or navigate to the iMessage App Store section to manage installed sticker packs. This method ensures that unwanted stickers are completely removed from the keyboard and do not reappear during conversations.

Sophia Nguyen (Digital Communication Specialist, Mobile Trends Journal). From a communication standpoint, removing unnecessary stickers from the iMessage keyboard can enhance user focus and reduce distractions. The recommended approach is to open the iMessage app drawer, tap the three-dot icon, select “Edit,” and then delete or hide sticker packs that are no longer needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I delete stickers from the iMessage keyboard?
To delete stickers, open the iMessage app, tap the App Store icon, swipe to the sticker pack you want to remove, press and hold the sticker pack icon, then select “Delete” or “Remove” from the options.

Can I remove individual stickers or only entire sticker packs?
You can only delete entire sticker packs from the iMessage keyboard; individual stickers within a pack cannot be deleted separately.

Will deleting a sticker pack remove stickers from past conversations?
No, deleting a sticker pack removes it from your keyboard but does not delete stickers already sent or received in previous messages.

How do I manage my sticker packs on iMessage?
Open the iMessage app, tap the App Store icon, then tap the four-dot icon in the bottom left to view all apps and sticker packs. From there, tap “Edit” to add, remove, or rearrange sticker packs.

Is it possible to recover a deleted sticker pack on iMessage?
Yes, you can re-download deleted sticker packs by visiting the iMessage App Store and reinstalling the desired pack.

Why don’t I see a delete option for some sticker packs?
Some sticker packs are pre-installed by Apple and cannot be deleted, only third-party or user-installed packs offer the delete option.
Deleting stickers from the iMessage keyboard involves managing the sticker packs installed on your device. Users can remove unwanted sticker packs by accessing the iMessage App Drawer, selecting the “Manage” section, and toggling off or deleting specific sticker packs. This process helps streamline the keyboard interface and ensures only preferred stickers are readily accessible during messaging.

It is important to note that individual stickers within a pack cannot be deleted separately; instead, the entire sticker pack must be removed or disabled. Additionally, managing sticker packs through the App Store or iMessage settings allows users to reinstall or update sticker packs as needed, providing flexibility in customizing the iMessage experience.

Overall, understanding how to delete or manage stickers on the iMessage keyboard enhances user control over their messaging environment. By efficiently organizing sticker packs, users can maintain a clutter-free interface and improve their communication experience within the iMessage platform.

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.