Quick Answer
Yes, you can add your own custom stickers to iMessage on iOS devices. iMessage supports third-party sticker packs that can be downloaded from the App Store. Once installed, these stickers are available directly within the iMessage app for you to use while chatting.
Adding Sticker Packs from App Store
The easiest way to get new stickers for iMessage is to download sticker packs from the App Store. There are tons of free and paid sticker packs available covering various themes, holidays,characters, movies, TV shows, and more.
Here’s how to add new sticker packs from the App Store to iMessage:
- Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the Search tab and search for “iMessage stickers” or a specific theme you want stickers for.
- Find a sticker pack you want and tap “Get” to download it.
- Once downloaded, open iMessage.
- Tap the App Store icon next to the chat bar.
- You should see the new sticker pack under the “My Stickers” tab – tap it to add those stickers to your iMessage app.
Now you can access the new stickers when composing a message – just tap the App Store icon again and select your new sticker pack.
Creating Your Own iMessage Sticker Pack
You can also create your very own custom iMessage sticker pack to share with friends or publish on the App Store for anyone to download.
Creating your own sticker pack takes a bit more work but gives you full creative control. Here are the main steps involved:
- Design your stickers – Create your artwork in a digital design app. You’ll want to save each sticker design as a PNG image file with a transparent background.
- Organize your stickers – Arrange your sticker PNG files into logical categories. Each sticker should be 512×512 pixels.
- Build your sticker pack – Use Xcode or another app to compile your stickers into an iMessage .stickerpack file.
- Add metadata – Include titles, descriptions, attribution, etc. following Apple’s sticker pack guidelines.
- Share or publish – You can share your sticker pack with friends via AirDrop. Or validate it with Apple and submit it to the App Store for all users.
Once published to the App Store, other iOS users will be able to find and download your sticker pack just like any normal iMessage app.
Using iMessage App Extension
Another way to add custom stickers to iMessage is by building an iMessage app extension. This allows creating an iMessage app with interactive features along with custom stickers.
For example, you could build an app extension with mini-games, animated stickers, filters, and more. It requires more advanced coding skills but allows creating even more dynamic iMessage sticker experiences.
The process involves:
- Creating an iOS app project in Xcode.
- Adding an iMessage extension target.
- Coding the app extension logic in Swift/Objective-C.
- Adding custom sticker images and metadata.
- Submitting the app + extension to the App Store under one bundle ID.
Once published, users can install the iMessage app from the App Store and access its interactive experience along with stickers within iMessage conversations.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you are having problems adding or using new sticker packs in iMessage:
- Make sure your iOS device is running iOS 10 or later – earlier versions do not support stickers.
- Check that you’ve downloaded the latest version of the sticker pack from the App Store.
- Force quit and relaunch the Messages app if stickers aren’t showing up.
- Ensure iMessage is enabled on your device – go to Settings > Messages and turn on iMessage.
- For custom sticker packs, validate the package format and assets follow Apple guidelines.
- Reboot your device and reinstall the sticker pack if issues persist.
Conclusion
The App Store makes adding all kinds of new stickers to iMessage easy and fun. You can also create your own custom iMessage stickers using apps like Xcode for full personalization. With endless sticker pack options available, you can really make your iMessage chats stand out with unique and expressive stickers.
| Method | Difficulty | Customization |
|---|---|---|
| Get sticker packs from App Store | Easy | Limited options |
| Make your own sticker pack | Intermediate | Full custom stickers |
| iMessage app extension | Advanced | Custom interactive experience + stickers |
Related Questions
Can I use custom emojis in iMessage?
Yes, you can create custom emoji icons and use them within iMessage conversations. Add custom emoji keyboards through the Settings app, or share emoji stickers made using apps like Sticker Maker Studio. Custom emoji give you more expressive ways to communicate in iMessage beyond the standard emoji.
Can I make my own Memoji stickers?
On iOS devices with a TrueDepth camera, you can create customized Memoji characters. You can then turn your Memoji into stickers to share in iMessage chats. Design your ideal Memoji face, hairstyle, accessories and more. Then make stickers showing different poses and expressions. Memoji stickers will automatically appear in your iMessage sticker drawer.
Where do my iMessage stickers get stored on my iPhone?
iMessage stickers you add from the App Store or create yourself get saved within the Messages app container. You can find your Messages stickers at:
/Library/Messages/Stickers
This directory houses the files for all your first and third-party iMessage stickers. They get synced across devices via iCloud as well.