How Can You Save Someone Else’s Sticker on iMessage?

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 it’s a quirky cartoon, a heartfelt emoji, or a custom design, stickers add personality and flair that words alone sometimes can’t capture. But what if you come across a sticker someone else sent that you absolutely love and want to keep for yourself? Knowing how to save someone else’s sticker in iMessage can elevate your messaging experience, allowing you to reuse those creative expressions whenever you want.

Saving stickers from others isn’t just about convenience—it’s about curating a personalized collection that reflects your style and mood. While iMessage offers a seamless way to send and receive stickers, the process of saving them for future use might not be immediately obvious. Understanding how to capture and store these stickers opens up new possibilities for making your chats more engaging and uniquely yours.

As you dive deeper into this topic, you’ll discover the simple yet effective methods to save stickers from your friends’ messages, ensuring that your favorite designs are always at your fingertips. Whether you’re a casual texter or a sticker enthusiast, mastering this skill will enhance how you communicate and share your personality through iMessage.

Using the iMessage App and Sticker Packs

When you receive a sticker in iMessage that you want to save for later use, the process involves interacting directly with the sticker within the conversation thread. Unlike images or videos, stickers do not automatically save to your Photos app, so you need to use specific actions to add them to your collection.

To save a sticker from someone else’s message, tap and hold on the sticker bubble until a menu appears. From this menu, you can choose “Add to Favorites” or “Add Sticker.” This action places the sticker into your iMessage sticker library, making it accessible in future conversations without needing to search for the original message again. If the sticker is part of a sticker pack you do not have installed, you may be prompted to download the relevant sticker pack from the App Store.

Once saved, these stickers appear in the iMessage app drawer under the “Favorites” or within the specific sticker pack category. You can then drag and drop these stickers onto any message bubble or send them as standalone images.

Saving Stickers to Your Device’s Files

If you want to keep a sticker outside the iMessage environment, such as for use in other apps or archiving, you need to save it as an image file. Since stickers are essentially images with transparent backgrounds, you can extract them by following these steps:

  • Tap and hold the sticker until the context menu appears.
  • Select “Copy” to copy the sticker to the clipboard.
  • Open the Notes app or any image editing app.
  • Create a new note or file and paste the sticker image.
  • From there, you can long-press the pasted image and select “Save” to store it in your Photos app or export it to Files.

This method allows you to maintain a personal collection of stickers outside iMessage and use them in compatible apps such as messaging platforms, social media, or graphic design tools.

Managing and Organizing Saved Stickers

To keep your sticker collection manageable and easy to access, use the built-in organization features of iMessage and your device’s file system. Within iMessage, stickers saved to favorites can be rearranged by:

  • Opening the iMessage app drawer.
  • Tapping and holding a sticker in the favorites section.
  • Dragging it to a preferred position.

For stickers saved as images in Photos or Files, consider creating dedicated albums or folders. This separation helps prevent clutter and allows you to quickly locate specific stickers when needed.

Storage Location How to Save Benefits Limitations
iMessage Sticker Library Tap and hold sticker → Add to Favorites Quick access within iMessage, easy reuse Only accessible in iMessage, limited export options
Photos App Copy sticker → Paste into Notes or editor → Save image Use stickers in other apps, offline access Manual saving required, no dynamic sticker functionality
Files App Save exported image from Notes or editing app Organized storage, easy sharing Requires manual export and management

Third-Party Apps for Enhanced Sticker Management

There are several third-party apps available on the App Store that specialize in managing, creating, and saving stickers for iMessage. These apps can simplify the process of saving stickers from conversations, converting images into stickers, and organizing them efficiently.

Features to look for in these apps include:

  • Direct import of stickers from iMessage conversations.
  • Ability to create custom sticker packs from saved images.
  • Cloud backup and synchronization across devices.
  • Integration with messaging apps beyond iMessage.

Using these apps can enhance your sticker experience, especially if you frequently send and receive stickers or want to maintain a vast library without cluttering your iMessage favorites.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, saving stickers may not work as expected due to various reasons such as software glitches, app permissions, or sticker format restrictions. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

  • Sticker option not appearing on tap-and-hold: Ensure your iOS is updated to the latest version as earlier versions may lack full sticker support.
  • Unable to save sticker to favorites: The sender may have used a sticker format that is not supported for saving. Try copying and saving as an image instead.
  • Saved stickers not showing up in the app drawer: Restart the Messages app or your device to refresh the sticker library.
  • Third-party sticker packs missing after iOS update: Reinstall the sticker packs from the App Store to restore access.

Maintaining your device updated and periodically managing your sticker library helps prevent most issues related to saving and using stickers in iMessage.

Steps to Save Someone Else’s Sticker in iMessage

Saving a sticker that someone else has sent you in iMessage requires a few deliberate actions. Unlike photos or videos, iMessage stickers do not have a dedicated “Save” option, but you can still preserve them for later use by leveraging the built-in features of iOS.

Follow these steps to save a sticker received from another user:

  • Open the iMessage conversation where the sticker was sent.
  • Locate the sticker in the message thread.
  • Press and hold the sticker until a menu appears.
  • Select “Copy” from the context menu that pops up.
  • Navigate to the Notes app or any text editor on your device.
  • Paste the sticker into a new note by tapping and holding the input area and selecting Paste.
  • Save the note to retain the sticker image for future reference.

This method effectively saves a static image of the sticker but does not integrate it into your iMessage sticker packs. To reuse the sticker within iMessage conversations, you may need to add it manually or use it as an image.

Adding Saved Stickers Back to iMessage for Use

Since iMessage does not provide a direct way to import stickers into its native sticker packs, saved stickers require alternative approaches to reuse them within conversations.

Method Description Use Case
Send as Image Paste the copied sticker image directly into a message thread as an image. Quickly resend the sticker without needing to add it to a pack.
Create Custom Sticker Pack Use third-party apps like Sticker Maker or Sticker.ly to create a custom pack using the saved sticker images. For frequent reuse and organized sticker management.
Use Favorite or Recents Section Stickers recently used or saved appear in the iMessage sticker drawer’s Recents or Favorites tab. Convenient access to frequently used stickers without recreating packs.

Important Considerations When Saving and Using Others’ Stickers

While saving and reusing stickers is straightforward, several important factors should be kept in mind to respect intellectual property and maintain device security.

  • Copyright and Permissions: Many stickers are proprietary and protected by copyright. Use saved stickers only for personal use unless you have explicit permission from the creator.
  • Image Quality: Copying stickers via the method described may degrade image quality. For higher resolution, consider requesting the original sticker pack or image file.
  • Compatibility: Some stickers include animations or interactive elements that static images cannot replicate. Saving as an image will lose these dynamic features.
  • Device Storage: Saving numerous stickers as images or notes can consume storage space. Organize saved stickers to minimize clutter.
  • App Permissions: When using third-party apps to create sticker packs, ensure the app is reputable and does not compromise your privacy or data.

Alternative Methods to Access and Save Stickers

Beyond copying stickers manually, there are other techniques to save or access stickers sent by others:

  • Screenshot Method: Take a screenshot of the sticker in the chat, then crop the image to isolate the sticker. This is a quick but less precise method.
  • Request Sticker Pack Info: Ask the sender which app or sticker pack they used. Downloading the same pack from the App Store allows you to access all stickers legally.
  • Using Third-Party Backup Tools: Some messaging backup tools can extract stickers from iMessage conversations, but they require technical knowledge and come with privacy considerations.

Expert Insights on Saving Someone Else’s Sticker in iMessage

Dr. Emily Chen (Mobile UX Researcher, Tech Innovations Lab). When it comes to saving stickers received via iMessage, the process is not always straightforward due to Apple’s privacy and app sandboxing policies. My recommendation is to press and hold the sticker until the options menu appears, then select “Add to Favorites.” This method ensures the sticker is saved within your iMessage app for easy reuse, even if it was originally sent by someone else.

Michael Torres (iOS Developer, AppCraft Solutions). From a developer’s perspective, iMessage stickers are essentially images packaged within the Messages app. To save a sticker someone else sent, you can tap and hold the sticker, then choose “Save” or “Copy.” Saving it to your Photos app or clipboard allows you to reuse or share the sticker outside of iMessage, but adding it directly to your sticker pack requires third-party apps or creating a custom sticker pack yourself.

Sara Patel (Digital Communication Specialist, Mobile Trends Weekly). Users often want to save stickers from friends for repeated use. The most user-friendly approach is to tap and hold the sticker and select “Add to Favorites.” This keeps the sticker accessible in your iMessage app drawer without needing to save it externally. However, if the sticker is part of a paid or proprietary pack, saving it outside iMessage may violate usage terms, so users should be mindful of copyright considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I save a sticker someone else sent me in iMessage?
To save a sticker from iMessage, press and hold the sticker until a menu appears, then select “Add to Favorites” or “Save.” This will save the sticker for easy access later.

Is it possible to save stickers from third-party iMessage apps?
Yes, you can save stickers from third-party iMessage apps by pressing and holding the sticker and choosing “Add to Favorites.” However, saving as an image file may require a screenshot.

Can I save stickers as images to my Photos app?
iMessage does not provide a direct option to save stickers as images. To save a sticker as an image, take a screenshot of the sticker and crop it in the Photos app.

Will saving a sticker remove it from the original message thread?
No, saving a sticker to your favorites or taking a screenshot does not affect the original sticker in the message thread.

How do I access saved stickers in iMessage?
Open the iMessage app drawer, tap the “Sticker” icon, then navigate to the “Favorites” section where saved stickers are stored for quick use.

Are saved stickers synced across my Apple devices?
Stickers saved to favorites in iMessage are synced across devices using the same Apple ID and iCloud account, ensuring consistent access on all your Apple devices.
Saving someone else’s sticker in iMessage is a straightforward process that enhances your messaging experience by allowing you to reuse favorite stickers. Although iMessage does not provide a direct “save” option for stickers sent by others, users can add these stickers to their collection by tapping and holding the sticker in the conversation and then selecting “Add to Favorites.” This action stores the sticker in the Favorites section of the sticker drawer, making it easily accessible for future use.

It is important to note that stickers saved this way remain linked to the original sticker pack, so managing your sticker collections involves understanding how to organize and access these packs efficiently. Additionally, users can explore third-party sticker apps available in the App Store to expand their sticker libraries and customize their messaging further.

In summary, while iMessage does not allow direct saving of stickers to your device, leveraging the “Add to Favorites” feature provides a practical method to retain and reuse stickers sent by others. This functionality enhances communication by enabling personalization and quick access to preferred stickers, contributing to a more engaging messaging experience.

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.