How Do You Use Stickers on Snapchat?

AvatarByMarc Shaw Sticker Application & Placement

Snapchat has revolutionized the way we communicate by blending instant messaging with creative visual storytelling. Among its many fun features, stickers stand out as a vibrant and expressive way to enhance your snaps and chats. Whether you want to add a touch of humor, emphasize a mood, or simply make your messages more visually appealing, stickers offer endless possibilities to personalize your Snapchat experience.

Using stickers on Snapchat is more than just a decorative choice—it’s a dynamic tool that helps you convey emotions and reactions quickly and creatively. From playful emojis to location-based icons and custom Bitmoji characters, stickers can transform ordinary snaps into engaging stories that capture attention. As Snapchat continues to evolve, mastering the use of stickers can elevate your social interactions and make your content stand out in a sea of snaps.

In the following sections, you’ll discover how to seamlessly incorporate stickers into your snaps and chats, explore the variety of sticker options available, and learn tips to maximize their impact. Whether you’re a Snapchat newbie or looking to refine your skills, understanding how to use stickers effectively will unlock new ways to express yourself and connect with friends.

Adding and Customizing Stickers in Snapchat Chats

Using stickers in Snapchat chats adds a dynamic, expressive layer to your conversations. To add stickers during a chat, tap the sticker icon located on the right side of the text input field. This opens the sticker drawer, where you can browse through various categories including emojis, Bitmoji stickers, and Snapchat-created graphics.

Once you select a sticker, it will appear in the chat window. You can send multiple stickers in a single message, allowing for creative expression. Snapchat also supports resizing and repositioning stickers before sending:

  • Resize: Pinch in or out on the sticker to decrease or increase its size.
  • Reposition: Drag the sticker to place it anywhere within the chat screen.
  • Rotate: Use two fingers to rotate the sticker for added effect.

These customizations allow you to tailor the sticker’s appearance to fit the tone of your conversation.

Using Stickers in Snapchat Stories and Snaps

Stickers can be applied directly to photos and videos in Snapchat Stories and Snaps, enhancing visual storytelling. After capturing a Snap, tap the sticker icon on the right-hand toolbar. This opens the sticker menu with options such as:

  • Location-based stickers (geofilters)
  • Bitmoji expressions
  • Animated stickers
  • Emoji stickers
  • Custom stickers created from saved images

To apply a sticker to your Snap, simply tap your desired sticker. You can then manipulate it similarly to chat stickers—resize, rotate, and reposition. Multiple stickers can be layered to create complex visuals.

Snapchat also allows pinning stickers to moving objects in videos. To do this:

  1. Place the sticker over the object.
  2. Press and hold the sticker until a “Pin to Object” option appears.
  3. Snapchat will track the object’s movement, keeping the sticker attached as the video plays.

This feature is particularly useful for adding humor or emphasis to video content.

Creating and Managing Custom Stickers

Custom stickers enable you to personalize your Snapchat experience. Snapchat lets users create stickers from saved images or snaps, allowing for unique visual elements. To create a custom sticker:

  • Capture or select an image.
  • Use the scissors icon on the right-hand side to cut out the desired portion.
  • The cut-out is saved automatically in your sticker drawer under the “My Stickers” section.

Custom stickers are reusable and can be organized for easy access. To manage them:

  • Open the sticker drawer.
  • Navigate to the “My Stickers” tab.
  • Long-press a sticker to delete or rearrange it.

This functionality encourages creativity and makes your stickers more relevant to your personal style or inside jokes.

Sticker Search and Organization

Snapchat provides powerful tools to quickly find and organize stickers. The sticker drawer includes a search bar where you can enter keywords related to the sticker you want. This feature searches across all sticker packs, including Bitmoji and custom stickers.

Additionally, stickers are categorized into tabs for easier navigation:

  • Trending: Popular stickers currently in use.
  • Emojis: Classic emoji-based stickers.
  • Bitmoji: Personalized Bitmoji expressions.
  • Custom: Your saved sticker creations.
  • Memes and Reactions: Commonly used reaction stickers.

Understanding these categories helps streamline sticker selection and enhances user efficiency.

Sticker Category Description Example Use Case
Trending Popular and seasonal stickers updated regularly Adding a holiday-themed sticker during celebrations
Emojis Classic emoji icons with animated effects Expressing emotions like laughter or surprise
Bitmoji Personalized stickers featuring your Bitmoji avatar Reacting with custom expressions in chats
Custom User-created stickers from saved images Sharing inside jokes or personal memes
Memes and Reactions Commonly used visual responses and humorous images Responding quickly with a humorous reaction

Accessing and Adding Stickers in Snapchat

Using stickers on Snapchat enhances your snaps with creative and expressive visuals. To access and add stickers effectively, follow these steps:

  • Open Snapchat: Launch the app and capture a photo or video snap.
  • Access the Sticker Menu: Tap the sticker icon, which looks like a folded corner of a square, located on the right toolbar of the screen after taking your snap.
  • Browse Sticker Options: Within the sticker menu, you’ll find various categories such as Bitmoji stickers, emojis, GIFs, and Snapchat’s own curated sticker packs.
  • Select a Sticker: Tap any sticker to instantly add it to your snap. You can add multiple stickers by tapping several times.

Once a sticker is added, it appears on your snap and can be manipulated for size, rotation, and position.

Customizing Stickers for Your Snap

After placing a sticker on your snap, Snapchat provides several options to customize its appearance and placement:

  • Resize: Use pinch gestures on the sticker to increase or decrease its size.
  • Rotate: Twist two fingers on the sticker to rotate it to your desired angle.
  • Move: Drag the sticker around the snap to position it precisely where you want.
  • Delete: Drag the sticker to the trash can icon at the bottom of the screen to remove it.

These controls allow you to creatively incorporate stickers in a visually appealing manner that complements your snap.

Using Bitmoji and GIF Stickers

Snapchat integrates personalized Bitmoji and GIF stickers, enriching the ways you communicate visually:

Sticker Type Description How to Access
Bitmoji Stickers Personalized cartoon avatars reflecting your likeness, featuring various expressions and poses. Tap the sticker icon, then select the Bitmoji tab or icon; requires Bitmoji app linked to your Snapchat account.
GIF Stickers Animated images sourced from Giphy, allowing dynamic and expressive content additions. In the sticker menu, tap the search icon and enter keywords to find relevant GIFs.

Ensure your Bitmoji is set up and linked through Snapchat settings to access Bitmoji stickers. For GIFs, use descriptive keywords to find appropriate animations quickly.

Saving and Sharing Snaps with Stickers

After customizing your snap with stickers, you can save or share your creation with ease:

  • Save to Memories: Tap the download icon at the bottom-left to save your snap with stickers to Snapchat Memories for future access.
  • Send to Friends or Story: Tap the blue arrow icon to send your snap directly to friends, groups, or add it to your Story.
  • Export Outside Snapchat: After saving, open the snap in Memories and use the share option to export to other apps or your device gallery.

Stickers remain embedded with the snap during saving and sharing, preserving your creative enhancements across platforms.

Expert Insights on How To Use Stickers On Snapchat

Jessica Lin (Social Media Strategist, Digital Influence Agency). Using stickers on Snapchat is a powerful way to enhance visual storytelling. I recommend leveraging the platform’s extensive sticker library to add context or humor to snaps, but also encourage users to experiment with custom stickers to create a unique personal brand presence.

Dr. Marcus Feldman (Digital Communication Researcher, TechForward Institute). Stickers on Snapchat serve not only as decorative elements but also as tools for non-verbal communication. Understanding how to strategically place and time stickers can significantly increase engagement and convey emotions more effectively in ephemeral messaging.

Elena Rodriguez (Mobile UX Designer, Snap Innovations Lab). From a user experience perspective, mastering sticker use on Snapchat involves intuitive interaction—dragging, resizing, and layering stickers to complement the snap’s composition. Educating users on these gestures enhances creativity and makes the app more enjoyable and expressive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I add stickers to my Snapchat snaps?
Open the Snapchat camera, take a photo or video, then tap the sticker icon on the right side of the screen. Browse or search for stickers, tap your chosen sticker, and it will appear on your snap. You can then drag, resize, or rotate it before sending.

Can I use custom stickers on Snapchat?
Yes, Snapchat allows you to create custom stickers by selecting part of an image or snap using the scissors tool. This creates a personalized sticker you can reuse in future snaps.

Where can I find themed or trending stickers on Snapchat?
Snapchat regularly updates its sticker library with themed and trending stickers accessible via the sticker icon. You can also explore Bitmoji stickers and location-based stickers depending on your settings.

How do I resize or move stickers on my snap?
After adding a sticker, use two fingers to pinch and zoom for resizing. Drag the sticker with one finger to reposition it anywhere on the snap.

Can I use stickers in Snapchat chats?
Yes, stickers can be sent in Snapchat chats by tapping the sticker icon within a chat window and selecting from the available options or your custom stickers.

Are there any limitations on the number of stickers I can add to a snap?
Snapchat does not specify a strict limit, but adding too many stickers may clutter your snap and affect its visual clarity. It is best to use stickers sparingly for optimal impact.
Using stickers on Snapchat enhances the visual appeal and expressiveness of your snaps and chats. By accessing the sticker icon within the Snapchat interface, users can browse a wide variety of stickers, including emojis, Bitmojis, and location-based or event-specific options. Applying stickers is straightforward: simply select the desired sticker and place it anywhere on your snap or chat screen, with the ability to resize, rotate, and move it to your preferred position.

Moreover, Snapchat offers the ability to create custom stickers from your own snaps, allowing for a personalized and creative communication experience. Stickers can be used not only in snaps but also in chat messages, making conversations more engaging and fun. Understanding how to effectively use stickers can significantly enhance your interaction on the platform, making your messages more dynamic and visually appealing.

In summary, mastering the use of stickers on Snapchat involves familiarizing yourself with the sticker library, utilizing customization features, and experimenting with placement and size to best convey your message. This capability contributes to a richer user experience and allows for greater self-expression within the Snapchat community.

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.