Skip to main content

How to create your own iMessage stickers in iOS 17

Apple's iOS 17 brings a ton of new and fun features to the system apps. For instance, the Phone app gets Contact Posters, which lets you set full-screen photos for the caller screen. It's immersive and brings a fresh new look to the boring screen that comes up when someone is calling.

Another fun feature is being able to create stickers in the Messages app. iOS 17 lets you create a sticker by choosing any image from your photos. It uses iOS 16's press-and-hold to pick the subject but works automatically.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • An iPhone running iOS 17

But how do you use this feature for yourself? If you have the iOS 17 beta, here's how to create your own stickers!

An iPhone with iOS 17, showing custom stickers in iMessage.
Prakhar Khanna/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

How to turn any photo into a sticker in iMessage

If you want to create a sticker from an image, you choose it, and the system recognizes the subject. Moreover, you get fun effects to make the stickers more fun to use.

It must be noted that you can only make these stickers if you have iOS 17, and they will only be visible to the receiver if they are also on iOS 17. You can download the iOS 17 beta now if you wish, or you can wait until later this year when Apple releases the update for everyone.

Step 1: Open any chat in iMessage — preferably the one where you want to send the new sticker. Tap on the + sign on the left of the text box.

Step 2: You will get a popup menu. Tap on Stickers.

Step 3: Tap on the + sign at the top left corner of the menu.

Step 4: You will be taken to Photos within iMessage. Select the photo you want to make a sticker of.

Step 5: Tap on Add Sticker option at the bottom right corner.

Step 6: The sticker will be added with three options for you to choose from: Rearrange, Add Effect, and Delete. Tap on Add Effect if you want to customize the sticker.

Step 7: You will get four effects to choose from. Tap on your favorite one.

Creating custom stickers from my photos in iMessage has been one of the coolest new features we've seen so far. Previously, you've had to rely on third-party apps, remove the background on photos, and save them to use custom stickers. But with iOS 17, Apple has brought the functionality to its system app, and it now takes just a few taps to create your own stickers. Try it and have fun!

Editors' Recommendations

Prakhar Khanna
Prakhar writes news, reviews and features for Digital Trends. He is an independent tech journalist who has been a part of the…
It took me 8 months to try out this fantastic iOS 17 feature
The iPhone 15 Pro Max with Standby mode on the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station.

It has taken me quite a while, but I’ve recently had a chance to try out a feature in iOS 17 that, until now, I had forgotten even existed. I’m talking about StandBy mode, and I feel a bit silly for having passed it by for so long, as it’s really good.

Why haven’t I used it until now? It turns out I just needed the right piece of hardware to come along.
What is StandBy mode?

Read more
Arc Search, one of the best iPhone apps right now, just got even better
Arc Search's Call Arc feature.

One of our favorite iPhone browser apps has just introduced an interesting new feature. Arc Search’s new "Call Arc" tool functions similarly to making a phone call on your iPhone 15 Pro or other iPhone. Instead of speaking to someone on the other end of the line, though, you ask Arc to answer your queries. The outcome is fresh and unique, and it actually works really well.

Before its latest software update, Arc Search already offered a voice search feature. The AI-powered Call Arc is different and designed for people on the go who are looking for quick answers to short questions.

Read more
How to fix the ‘No SIM Card Installed’ error on your iPhone
iPhone 14 Pro Max showing No SIM Available error.

Once you’ve activated your iPhone with your carrier, it should continue to work on the cellular network without any problems as long as you’re within range of a tower.

Nevertheless, the vagaries of technology mean that not everything always works the way it should, and sometimes you may encounter problems with your cellular connection. In most cases, these will manifest as not being able to place calls or get online with your data plan — conditions that are usually accompanied by a low signal indicator or a “No Service” message in the status bar.

Read more