WhatsApp stickers have become incredibly popular since they were introduced in 2018. They provide a fun and expressive way to communicate. However, the stickers can only be used within WhatsApp on mobile devices. Many people want to know if there is a way to use WhatsApp stickers in other apps and on desktop.
Why Are WhatsApp Stickers Locked To WhatsApp?
WhatsApp stickers are proprietary files that are designed specifically for WhatsApp. They use a custom file format called WebP that allows the stickers to be lightweight and fast loading within the app. The stickers also rely on WhatsApp’s internal infrastructure for managing and transferring the stickers between users.
So the technical reason WhatsApp stickers cannot be used elsewhere is that other apps and systems do not support the custom WebP format and do not have access to WhatsApp’s internal sticker management system. WhatsApp has not made the specifications open source so other developers cannot integrate the same sticker functionality into their own apps and systems.
Methods To Use WhatsApp Stickers Outside Of WhatsApp
Even though WhatsApp stickers are locked to WhatsApp by design, there are some creative methods users have figured out to get the stickers out of WhatsApp and use them in other places:
Convert To Images
One option is to take screenshots of the WhatsApp stickers you want to export and crop them into individual images. You lose some image quality using this method, but it allows you to save the stickers as standard image files like JPG or PNG that can then be uploaded and used in other apps.
The steps are:
1. Open the sticker in WhatsApp and take a screenshot
2. Crop the screenshot to isolate just the sticker
3. Save the cropped image to your photo gallery
4. The image can now be uploaded and shared outside of WhatsApp
Use Sticker Extractor Apps
There are apps available for both iOS and Android that can access your WhatsApp stickers and convert them into image files for you. This automates the screenshotting and cropping process to make it much faster to extract multiple stickers.
Some recommended extractor apps include:
– Sticker Maker for WhatsApp (Android)
– WALoader (iOS)
– Sticker Save (Android)
These apps will save your exported stickers to your camera roll or gallery so you can easily share them anywhere.
Use Third-Party Apps With Custom Sticker Support
Some messaging apps like Telegram have custom sticker support and also allow you to upload your own sticker packs. So you can use a sticker extraction app to get your WhatsApp stickers out, then upload them to Telegram to use there. The nice thing is the stickers will remain as actual stickers and not get compressed into images.
You can also find third-party apps focused on stickers that accept WhatsApp sticker file uploads. This allows you to keep the stickers in their original format for sharing on various social channels or messaging apps.
Use WebP Converter Websites
There are a few online converter tools that can take the WebP files from WhatsApp stickers and convert them into PNG or JPEG image formats. This is more technical than using an app, but gives you another option for extracting stickers to use outside of WhatsApp.
Some recommended WebP converters include:
– WebP2JPG.com
– WebP2PNG.com
– EzGif WebP Converter
You’ll need to first access the WebP files from your device, then upload and process each one individually, so it takes more effort than an app but can be helpful if the apps don’t work well for you.
Ways To Use WhatsApp Stickers Outside WhatsApp
Once you’ve extracted your WhatsApp stickers, here are some fun ways you can use them outside of WhatsApp:
Social Media Posts
WhatsApp stickers can make great additions to your social media posts and stories. The cropped images or converted files can be uploaded to apps like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, and others. Use them just like you would emojis or reaction GIFs.
Messaging Apps
As mentioned earlier, you can upload and share WhatsApp stickers through third-party messaging apps like Telegram, Line, WeChat, and others if they support custom stickers. They’ll retain their full quality instead of getting compressed to images.
Emails
Include WhatsApp stickers you’ve extracted in your emails to liven up dull text conversations. Simply attach the image files or include them inline like you would photos and GIFs. Great for personal emails between friends.
Desktop Apps
You can use extracted WhatsApp stickers as image files on your computer to liven up chats, documents, presentations, and more. Apps like Slack, Discord, Google Docs, Trello, and Notion allow image uploads and embedding.
Text Messages
Most text and SMS apps like iMessage, Samsung Messages, and Google Messages allow attaching and sending image files. So you can insert your favorite WhatsApp stickers into your texts once converted to standard image formats.
Notes & Reminders
Use WhatsApp stickers as visuals in your notes and reminders. Apps like Apple Notes, Google Keep, Evernote, and Microsoft OneNote all support adding images to notes. Great for personal reminders.
Video Editing
Add some WhatsApp stickers to your next video project as overlays and effects. Apps like iMovie, Adobe Rush, and Kapwing make it easy to import stickers and use them creatively in videos.
| Platform | Suggested Uses |
|---|---|
| Social Media | Posts, Stories, Reactions |
| Messaging Apps | Chats, Reactions |
| Personal Emails | |
| Desktop Apps | Documents, Presentations |
| Text Messages | SMS, MMS |
| Notes & Reminders | Visuals in Notes |
| Video Editing | Overlays, Effects |
Conclusion
While WhatsApp stickers are limited to the WhatsApp ecosystem by design, there are creative techniques you can use to export them and use them in other apps and contexts. By converting them to standard image formats or using specialty apps, you can unlock the potential for WhatsApp stickers to liven up all your digital communication and content.
Look for apps that streamline the export process for the easiest experience. And get inventive with all the fun ways you can insert your favorite WhatsApp stickers into social posts, messages, documents, and videos everywhere beyond just WhatsApp.