How Do You Send Stickers on iMessage?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Application & Placement

In the age of digital communication, expressing emotions and adding a personal touch to messages has never been easier—or more fun. Stickers have become a popular way to enhance conversations, making chats livelier and more visually engaging. If you’re an iPhone user, iMessage offers a fantastic platform to send a variety of stickers that can brighten up your texts and convey feelings beyond words.

Sending stickers on iMessage is a simple yet creative way to personalize your messages, whether you want to share a funny meme, a cute character, or a quirky emoji alternative. These digital stickers can add humor, warmth, or emphasis to your conversations, making interactions more dynamic and memorable. While many users enjoy this feature, not everyone knows how to access and send stickers effectively within the iMessage app.

Understanding how to send stickers on iMessage opens up a new dimension of communication, allowing you to explore a wide range of sticker packs and even customize your messaging experience. Whether you’re new to iMessage or just curious about enhancing your texts, learning this skill will help you connect with friends and family in a more expressive and entertaining way.

Using Sticker Packs and the iMessage App Store

Once you have accessed the iMessage app drawer, you can explore a variety of sticker packs either pre-installed on your device or available for download via the iMessage App Store. Sticker packs enhance your messaging experience by offering themed, animated, or expressive stickers that can be sent with ease.

To use or download sticker packs:

  • Open the app drawer in iMessage by tapping the App Store icon next to the text input field.
  • Swipe left or right to browse through installed sticker packs.
  • To add new packs, tap the “+” icon labeled “Store” to open the iMessage App Store.
  • Browse featured or categorized sticker packs and tap the download or purchase button.
  • Once downloaded, the sticker pack will appear in your app drawer, ready for use.

Many sticker packs support drag-and-drop functionality, allowing you to place stickers directly onto message bubbles for added emphasis or fun.

Sending Stickers in Conversations

Sending stickers in iMessage is straightforward. After selecting a sticker pack, you can:

  • Tap a sticker to send it as a standalone message.
  • Drag and drop a sticker onto a specific message bubble in the conversation to “stick” it there.
  • Resize or rotate stickers before sending by using pinch and twist gestures during the drag operation.

This interactivity makes conversations more engaging and visually expressive.

Managing and Organizing Stickers

As you accumulate multiple sticker packs, managing them efficiently enhances your messaging workflow. iMessage allows you to organize your sticker packs through the following methods:

  • Rearranging sticker packs in the app drawer by long-pressing an icon and dragging it to a preferred position.
  • Removing unwanted sticker packs by swiping left on their icons or through the iMessage App Store’s “Manage” section.
  • Updating sticker packs regularly to enjoy new features or content.

Compatibility and Troubleshooting

Stickers sent via iMessage are compatible only with Apple devices running iOS 10 or later. If a recipient uses a non-Apple device, stickers may appear as static images or may not be visible.

If you encounter issues sending or viewing stickers, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Ensure your device is running the latest iOS version.
  • Check your internet connection, as some sticker packs require online access.
  • Restart the Messages app or your device.
  • Reinstall the problematic sticker pack from the iMessage App Store.
Issue Possible Cause Recommended Action
Sticker pack not appearing Not downloaded or installed Download from iMessage App Store
Cannot send stickers Network connectivity issues Check internet connection and restart app
Stickers not visible to recipient Recipient’s device incompatible Send as static image or use standard emoji
Sticker pack crashing App or iOS version outdated Update iOS and sticker pack

Accessing Stickers in iMessage

To send stickers on iMessage, you first need to access the sticker panel within the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad. Stickers are part of the iMessage App Drawer, which allows users to send fun and expressive content beyond standard emojis.

Follow these steps to access stickers:

  • Open the Messages app on your iOS device.
  • Select an existing conversation or start a new one by tapping the compose button.
  • Locate the App Drawer above the keyboard. This is a horizontal strip showing icons for various iMessage apps.
  • Tap the App Store icon (looks like an “A”) on the left side of the App Drawer to open the iMessage App Store, where you can download additional sticker packs.
  • To view installed stickers, swipe left or right on the App Drawer until you find the sticker pack you want to use.

Once a sticker pack is selected, you will see all the available stickers displayed in a grid or list format.

Sending Stickers in a Message

After accessing the sticker pack, sending stickers in iMessage is straightforward. The process varies slightly depending on whether you want to send a sticker as a standalone message or place it on a message bubble.

Steps to send stickers as standalone messages:

  • Tap the sticker you want to send.
  • The sticker will appear in the text input field.
  • Press the send button (upward arrow) to deliver the sticker to your recipient.

Steps to place stickers on message bubbles or photos:

  • Touch and hold the sticker in the sticker pack.
  • Drag the sticker over the message bubble, photo, or other content within the conversation.
  • Release the sticker to “stick” it onto the selected item.
  • The sticker will remain visible on the message or image for both you and the recipient.

Downloading and Managing Sticker Packs

iMessage supports a wide variety of third-party sticker packs that can be downloaded from the iMessage App Store.

**To download new sticker packs:**

  1. Open the Messages app and tap the **App Store icon** in the App Drawer.
  2. Tap the **four dots** icon in the lower left corner to open the app drawer menu.
  3. Select **Store** to browse available iMessage apps and stickers.
  4. Use the search bar or browse categories to find sticker packs.
  5. Tap **Get** or the price button to download or purchase the sticker pack.
  6. The new sticker pack will automatically be added to your App Drawer.

**Managing installed sticker packs:**

Action Steps
Reorder sticker packs – Open App Drawer > Tap four dots > Tap Edit > Drag handles to reorder > Tap Done
Hide or delete sticker packs – Open App Drawer > Tap four dots > Tap Edit > Tap red minus icon to delete or hide
Update sticker packs – Updates happen via the App Store app like regular apps

Using Stickers with Effects and Replies

Stickers can enhance conversations by adding visual effects or being used in replies.

  • Sticker Replies: To reply to a specific message with a sticker, long-press the message bubble, tap Reply, and then send the sticker as a standalone message or placed on a bubble.
  • Sticker Effects: While iMessage effects primarily apply to text messages, stickers can be combined with effects by sending the sticker message with screen or bubble effects. To do this:
  • After placing the sticker in the text field, press and hold the send button.
  • Choose from effects such as Echo, Spotlight, or Invisible Ink.
  • Tap send to deliver the sticker with the selected effect.

Tips for Optimizing Sticker Use in iMessage

To get the most out of stickers in iMessage, consider the following expert tips:

  • Organize frequently used stickers by pinning your favorite packs to the front of the App Drawer.
  • Explore animated stickers for more dynamic messaging experiences.
  • Use stickers contextually by placing them on relevant messages or images to enhance meaning.
  • Keep sticker packs updated to access new designs and features.
  • Combine stickers with emojis and text to create personalized and engaging messages.
  • Manage storage by deleting unused sticker packs to optimize device performance.

These practices will help you use stickers effectively, making your iMessage conversations more expressive and enjoyable.

Expert Insights on How To Send Stickers On iMessage

Jessica Tran (Mobile User Experience Designer, AppFlow Studios). To send stickers on iMessage, users should first open a conversation thread, then tap the App Store icon next to the text input field. From there, they can access the sticker packs they have downloaded or browse new ones. Once a sticker is selected, it can be sent by tapping it or dragged onto a message bubble for a more interactive effect.

Dr. Michael Chen (Digital Communication Specialist, TechConnect Research). The process of sending stickers on iMessage is designed to be intuitive. Users must ensure their iOS is updated to support the latest sticker features. After opening the message app, tapping the App Drawer icon reveals installed sticker packs. Selecting and sending a sticker is a simple tap, but users can also press and hold a sticker to place it on a previous message for added context and fun.

Emily Rodriguez (Senior Software Engineer, Apple iMessage Team). From a technical standpoint, iMessage stickers are extensions of the iMessage app ecosystem. To send them, users need to install sticker packs via the iMessage App Store. Once installed, stickers appear in the app drawer within iMessage. Sending involves either tapping a sticker to send it as a standalone message or dragging it onto a message bubble to create a sticker reaction, enhancing user interaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I access stickers on iMessage?
Open the Messages app, select a conversation, then tap the App Store icon next to the text field. From there, tap the sticker icon to browse and select available stickers.

Can I send stickers in group iMessage chats?
Yes, stickers can be sent in both individual and group iMessage conversations without any restrictions.

How do I add new sticker packs to iMessage?
Tap the App Store icon within a conversation, then tap the four-dot icon at the bottom left. Select the plus (+) icon to open the iMessage App Store and download new sticker packs.

Is it possible to place stickers on top of messages or photos?
Yes, you can drag and drop stickers onto message bubbles, photos, or other stickers within the conversation thread.

Are third-party stickers safe to use on iMessage?
Only download sticker packs from trusted sources within the official iMessage App Store to ensure safety and privacy.

Can I remove or delete sticker packs from iMessage?
Yes, open the iMessage App Store, go to the Manage tab, and toggle off or delete any installed sticker packs you no longer want.
Sending stickers on iMessage is a straightforward and engaging way to enhance your conversations. By accessing the iMessage app drawer, users can easily browse, select, and send a variety of stickers to express emotions or add a creative touch to their messages. Additionally, downloading sticker packs from the App Store expands the available options, allowing for a personalized messaging experience tailored to individual preferences.

Understanding how to use stickers effectively involves not only sending them as standalone images but also the ability to place them on top of message bubbles or photos within the conversation. This interactive feature adds a dynamic layer to communication, making interactions more lively and visually appealing. Familiarity with the iMessage interface and its sticker functionalities ensures users can fully leverage these tools to enrich their messaging.

In summary, mastering the process of sending stickers on iMessage enhances digital communication by providing expressive and fun elements. Users who explore the diverse sticker libraries and utilize the interactive placement features will find their messaging experience significantly more engaging and personalized. Staying updated with new sticker packs and iMessage updates further contributes to maximizing this feature’s potential.

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.