There are two ways to make stickers on iPhone, and which one you want depends on where you'll use them. iPhone has a built-in sticker tool for iMessage, and the free Sticker Maker app makes proper WhatsApp sticker packs from any photo. Here's both.
Option 1: iPhone's built-in sticker tool (for iMessage)
On iOS 17 and later, your iPhone can turn a photo into a sticker on its own:
- Open the Photos app and pick a photo.
- Touch and hold the subject (a person, pet, object) until it lifts off the background with a glowing outline.
- Tap "Add Sticker". It's saved to your sticker drawer.
- In Messages, open the emoji/sticker panel to send it.
This is great for iMessage — but those stickers stay inside iMessage. They don't become a WhatsApp pack, and you can't add text or build a shareable set. For that, you want option 2.
Option 2: Make WhatsApp stickers on iPhone (Sticker Maker)
To make stickers you can actually send on WhatsApp, use the free Sticker Maker app:
- Install Sticker Maker from the App Store and tap "Create".
- Pick a photo — the app removes the background automatically, right on your iPhone.
- Add Arabic or English text, emoji, and effects to give it character.
- Save it into a pack (up to 30 stickers per WhatsApp pack).
For the full walkthrough, see How to Make WhatsApp Stickers.
How to add your pack to WhatsApp on iPhone
- Open your pack and tap "Add to WhatsApp".
- Confirm when WhatsApp asks.
- Open any chat → tap the sticker icon → your pack is there, ready to send.
Make your own — or grab ready-made packs
You don't have to design anything. There are hundreds of free, ready-to-send packs — open one and add it to WhatsApp in a tap:
Quick tips
- The auto-cutout works best with clear, well-lit photos.
- Keep any text short — one or two words read best at sticker size.
- Build a themed pack so the whole set feels connected.
So: use iPhone's built-in tool for quick iMessage stickers, and Sticker Maker when you want free, watermark-free WhatsApp packs you can share with everyone.