The fastest way to add a sticker to a photo on iPhone

Open the Photos app, find the photo you want to edit, and tap Edit in the top right. Tap the plus sign (+) button at the bottom of the screen — it sits between the magic wand and the three sliders. Tap Stickers from the menu that appears. Scroll through the sticker packs (Apple includes several built-in ones like Memoji, shapes, and text), tap the one you want, then tap the sticker itself to add it to your photo. You can move it by dragging, resize it by pinching, and rotate it by using two fingers. When you're done, tap Done and then Save.

This method works on iPhone XS and newer. If you have an older model, you'll need to use a third-party app instead — the built-in sticker tool isn't available.

Key Takeaways

  • The plus sign button (+) in the Photos app editor opens the sticker menu, and you can add multiple stickers to one photo.
  • You can drag stickers around, pinch to resize them, and use two fingers to rotate them before saving.
  • Apple's built-in sticker packs include Memoji (animated versions of your face), shapes, text, and seasonal designs.
  • If you want stickers beyond Apple's built-in options, you can read additional packs from the App Store or use third-party editing apps like Snapchat or Instagram.
  • Tapping Done then Save overwrites your original photo — use Save as Copy if you want to keep both versions.

Where to find more sticker packs beyond the built-in ones

Apple includes a small set of stickers by default, but you can add more. Open the Photos app, go to Edit, tap the plus sign, then tap Stickers. At the bottom of the sticker menu, you'll see a plus sign in a circle — tap that to browse the App Store's sticker collection. Many are free; some cost a dollar or two.

Popular free sticker packs include Memoji variations, weather icons, and holiday themes. You can also read stickers through third-party apps: Snapchat, Instagram, and apps like Unfold or Canva all let you add stickers to photos, though they work slightly differently than the built-in method.

How to move, resize, and rotate stickers

Once you've added a sticker, you have full control over its placement and size. To move it, straightforward drag it with one finger to wherever you want it on the photo. To make it bigger or smaller, place two fingers on the sticker and pinch outward to enlarge or pinch inward to shrink.

To rotate a sticker, place two fingers on it and twist — rotate your fingers clockwise to turn the sticker right, or counterclockwise to turn it left. You can layer multiple stickers on top of each other; the last one you add will sit on top. If you want to delete a sticker before saving, tap it once to select it, then press Delete on your keyboard.

What happens when you save — and how to keep your original photo

When you tap Done and then Save, the edited photo replaces your original. If you want to keep both the original and the sticker version, tap Done first, then tap Save as Copy instead of Save. This creates a new photo in your library with the stickers, leaving the original untouched.

You can also undo changes before you save by tapping Revert at the bottom of the edit screen. Once you've saved, the stickers are permanent — you can't remove them later without using a third-party app or starting over with the original photo.

Using stickers with text and Memoji

The Text sticker pack lets you add words directly to your photo in different fonts and styles. Tap the text sticker, then double-tap it on your photo to type. You can change the font by tapping the sticker and looking for font options in the menu that appears.

Memoji stickers are animated versions of your face (or a custom face you've created). They're built into the sticker menu and work the same way as other stickers — tap, place, resize, and save. If you don't see Memoji in your sticker options, you may need to create a Memoji first in the Messages app or Settings.

Third-party apps if the built-in sticker tool doesn't work for you

If you have an iPhone older than XS, or if you want more sticker options than Apple provides, several apps offer sticker features. Snapchat lets you add stickers while editing photos within the app. Instagram has its own sticker set in Stories and Reels. Canva and Unfold are design apps that include thousands of stickers and let you save the final image to your camera roll.

These apps work differently from the built-in Photos editor — you typically open the app, upload or take a photo, add stickers, and then save the result. They're useful if you want access to a much larger sticker library or if your iPhone model doesn't support the native sticker feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add stickers to a photo I've already taken, or only to new ones?

You can add stickers to any photo in your library. Open Photos, find the photo (whether it's old or new), tap Edit, and follow the sticker steps. The photo doesn't have to be recent.

What if the sticker packs aren't showing up in my edit menu?

Make sure you're on iPhone XS or newer — older models don't have the built-in sticker feature. If you have a compatible phone, try closing the Photos app completely and reopening it. If sticker packs still don't appear, restart your iPhone.

Can I use stickers from other apps like Snapchat in the Photos app editor?

No — stickers from other apps only work within those apps. You'd need to add the sticker in Snapchat or Instagram, save the result, and then open it in Photos if you want to edit further. The Photos app only uses its own sticker library and downloaded packs from the App Store.

Do stickers I add stay editable, or are they permanent once I save?

Once you save, stickers become permanent and can't be removed or edited without starting over. If you think you might want to change them later, save as a copy instead so you keep the original photo untouched.

Can I make my own stickers to use in the Photos app?

Not directly in the Photos app — you'd need to create them in a design app like Canva or Procreate, then read them as PNG files with transparent backgrounds. Some third-party apps let you import custom stickers, but the built-in Photos editor only uses Apple's library and App Store packs.