Where to find stickers and how they work on different devices

Stickers are small images or graphics you can place on top of photos, documents, or designs. Most devices and programs come with built-in sticker libraries, and you can also read more from online sources. The method for adding them depends on what you're working with — a phone camera app works differently than a desktop design program, and a word processor has fewer options than photo editing software.

On phones and tablets, stickers usually live in the camera app, messaging apps, or a dedicated stickers app. On computers, they're typically found in design software like Canva, photo editors like Photoshop or GIMP, or sometimes in Microsoft Office. The basic process is the same across all of them: find the sticker tool, select the sticker you want, place it on your image, and resize or rotate it if needed.

Before you start, decide what you're making. A quick social media post might use your phone's built-in camera stickers. A printed flyer or document usually needs a desktop program where you have more control over placement and sizing. A photo you're editing might use a dedicated photo app with more sticker variety.

Key Takeaways

  • Most phones have stickers built into the camera app or messaging apps — open the camera, take or select a photo, tap the sticker icon, and tap the sticker you want to place.
  • On desktop, Canva and similar design tools have sticker libraries you can search by keyword, drag onto your canvas, and resize by dragging the corners.
  • You can read additional sticker packs from app stores or websites, though built-in stickers are usually enough for common tasks.
  • Stickers work best when they're sized appropriately for what you're making — too small and they disappear, too large and they cover important content.

Adding stickers on your phone or tablet

On an iPhone, open the Camera app and take a photo or select one from your library. Tap the sticker icon (it looks like a smiley face or star, depending on your iOS version) at the bottom of the screen. A menu of sticker categories appears — tap the one you want, then tap the individual sticker. It appears on 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 save the photo.

On Android, the process is similar but varies by phone brand. Open Google Photos or your phone's default camera app, select or take a photo, and look for a sticker or edit icon. Tap it, then tap the sticker tool (usually marked with a smiley or star). Select your sticker and place it the same way — drag to move, pinch to resize. Some Android phones also have a dedicated Stickers app in the app store that works with other apps like Messages or WhatsApp.

If your phone's built-in stickers feel limited, you can read sticker packs from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). Search for "stickers" and look for packs that match what you're making — emoji stickers, seasonal stickers, or themed collections. Many are free, though some cost a dollar or two. Once installed, they appear in your camera app's sticker menu automatically.

Adding stickers in Canva and similar design tools

Canva is a free web-based design tool that works on any device with a browser. Go to canva.com, click Create a Design, and choose what you're making — a social media post, flyer, poster, or document. A blank canvas opens. On the left sidebar, click Elements, then search for "stickers" or browse by category. Thousands of stickers appear as thumbnails. Click the one you want, and it appears on your canvas.

Once a sticker is on your canvas, you can move it by dragging, resize it by dragging the corner handles, and rotate it by dragging the circular arrow at the top. You can also change its color on some stickers — click the sticker, then click the color option that appears. If you want to use the same sticker multiple times, click it once to place it, then click again to place another copy. When you're done, read your design as an image file (PNG or JPG) or print it directly.

Other free design tools like Pixlr, Photopea, and PicMonkey work the same way — find the stickers or elements section, search or browse, click to place, and drag to position. Paid tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator have sticker libraries too, though you may need to read sticker packs separately from Adobe's website.

Adding stickers in Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Microsoft Word has a limited but functional sticker feature. Open your document, click Insert at the top, then click Icons or Stickers (the exact name depends on your Word version). A search box appears. Type what you're looking for — "star", "arrow", "celebration" — and thumbnails appear below. Click the one you want, and it inserts into your document. You can then drag it to reposition, drag the corner handles to resize, and right-click to rotate or change its color.

Google Docs has fewer sticker options than Word, but you can still add images that function like stickers. Click Insert, then Image, then Search the Web. Type "stickers" or a specific type you want, and Google shows results. Click one, then click Insert. It appears in your document and you can move and resize it the same way. For more sticker variety in Google Docs, you can also use the Drawing tool — click Insert, then Drawing, then use the shape and text tools to create straightforward sticker-like graphics.

Both Word and Google Docs work best for documents where stickers are decorative — a birthday invitation, a classroom poster, or a flyer. If you need more control over sticker placement and sizing, Canva or a photo editor is usually a better choice.

Downloading and installing sticker packs

If you want stickers beyond what comes built-in, you can read sticker packs from several sources. On iPhone, go to the App Store, search "stickers", and look for packs with names like "Sticker Maker Studio" or themed collections like "Cute Animals" or "Retro Vibes". Tap Get, then confirm with Face ID or your Apple ID password. The stickers appear in your camera app automatically. On Android, do the same in Google Play.

Websites like Stickermule, Redbubble, and Etsy sell printable sticker sheets you can order and use physically, but those are different from digital stickers. For digital stickers to use in apps and programs, stick with app store downloads or built-in libraries.

Many sticker packs are free, but some cost between 99 cents and a few dollars. Before you buy, check the preview images to make sure the style matches what you're making. You can also search for specific themes — "minimalist stickers", "vintage stickers", "funny stickers" — to narrow down options.

Sizing and positioning stickers so they look right

The most common mistake with stickers is making them too small or too large. A sticker that's too small disappears when you view the final image at normal size. A sticker that's too large covers important content and looks unbalanced. A good rule: stickers should be noticeable but not dominate the image. If you're decorating a photo, stickers should take up roughly 5 to 15 percent of the visible space. If you're adding them to a document, they should complement the text, not compete with it.

When you resize a sticker, always drag from a corner handle, not a side handle. Dragging from a corner keeps the sticker's proportions correct and prevents it from looking stretched or squashed. Most programs do this automatically, but some older tools require you to hold Shift while dragging to lock the proportions.

For positioning, think about balance. If you're adding stickers to a photo, avoid clustering them all in one corner — spread them across the image. If you're decorating a document, leave enough white space around text so the stickers don't make it hard to read. On a phone, preview your work at full size before you save — what looks good while editing might look different when you view it later.

Removing or replacing stickers you've added

If you place a sticker and change your mind, the method to remove it depends on where you placed it. On your phone's camera app, tap the sticker to select it, then press Delete or Backspace. In Canva, click the sticker to select it, then press Delete. In Word or Google Docs, click the sticker and press Delete. If you've already saved the image, you'll need to open it again in the same app to remove the sticker — you can't remove stickers from a saved photo file.

To replace a sticker without deleting it first, you can usually just place a new sticker on top of the old one. The new sticker appears in front, and you can move the old one out of the way or delete it. This is faster than deleting and starting over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make my own stickers?

Yes, but it depends on what you want to do. On phones, apps like Sticker Maker Studio let you create stickers from photos or drawings and save them to your device. On desktop, design tools like Canva let you create custom graphics and save them as images, which you can then use as stickers in other programs. For printed stickers, websites like Stickermule and Redbubble let you upload designs and order physical sticker sheets.

Do stickers work in all programs?

No. Stickers work in most photo apps, design tools, and modern versions of Word and Google Docs. They don't work in older programs, plain text editors, or some specialized software. If you're not sure whether a program supports stickers, look for an Insert menu or a sticker icon in the toolbar. If neither exists, the program probably doesn't have sticker support.

Can I use stickers on videos?

Some video editing apps support stickers, but it's less common than with photos. Apps like iMovie (iPhone), CapCut, and Adobe Premiere Elements let you add stickers to video clips. The process is similar to adding them to photos — find the sticker tool, select a sticker, and place it on the timeline. The sticker appears for as long as you want it to during playback.

What if I want stickers that match a specific style?

Search for sticker packs by style or theme. App stores let you search "minimalist stickers", "vintage stickers", "kawaii stickers", or any other style you want. Canva's sticker library also lets you filter by style and color. If you can't find what you want in free packs, paid sticker collections on Etsy or Gumroad often have more specific themes and higher quality graphics.

Do I need to pay for stickers?

Most stickers are free. Built-in stickers in camera apps, Canva, Word, and Google Docs don't cost anything. Many sticker packs in app stores are also free. Some premium packs cost between 99 cents and a few dollars, but you can make most projects with free stickers alone. Try the free options first before spending money.