Creating a sticker from a photo or screenshot

To create a sticker from your own photo or a screenshot, open Snapchat and take a photo or video as you normally would. After you capture it, tap the scissors icon in the bottom toolbar — this is the crop and edit tool. Snapchat will outline the object or person in your photo automatically using its detection technology. You can adjust the outline by dragging the edges, then tap the checkmark to confirm.

Once you confirm the outline, Snapchat converts that selection into a sticker you can use when ready in that snap or save to your sticker library. The sticker appears in your sticker tray at the bottom of the screen, and you can resize it, rotate it, or move it anywhere on your snap. If you want to keep the sticker for future snaps, it stays in your library under the "My Stickers" section for as long as you have the app installed.

Key Takeaways

  • The scissors tool in Snapchat's editing menu lets you cut out objects or people from your photos and turn them into stickers automatically.
  • You can adjust the outline that Snapchat creates before confirming, so the sticker captures exactly what you want.
  • Stickers you create are stored in your "My Stickers" library and appear in your sticker tray whenever you open the app.
  • Snapchat stores information about the stickers you create, including when you made them and which snaps you used them on.

How sticker creation uses your device and data

When you use the scissors tool to create a sticker, Snapchat's software runs on your phone to detect the edges of objects in your photo. This detection happens locally on your device first — Snapchat analyzes the image to find where one object ends and the background begins. The sticker itself is then stored on your phone in Snapchat's local files, not automatically sent to Snapchat's servers.

However, if you send a snap that includes your custom sticker to another user, Snapchat transmits both the snap and information about the sticker to their phone. Snapchat also keeps records of sticker usage patterns — which stickers you use most often, when you use them, and which snaps contain them. This data helps Snapchat understand user behavior and improve its sticker detection features.

What Snapchat stores about your stickers

Snapchat stores metadata about every sticker you create, including the date and time you made it, the original photo it came from, and any snaps where you used it. If you send a snap containing your custom sticker to friends, Snapchat's servers record that the sticker was shared and to whom. This information persists even after you delete the snap from your chat — Snapchat's servers retain logs of what was sent and when.

Your sticker library itself is tied to your Snapchat account, so if you log into Snapchat on a different device, your custom stickers appear there too. This synchronization requires Snapchat to store your sticker data on its servers. If you delete your Snapchat account, your custom stickers are deleted along with it, though Snapchat may retain records of them for a period of time for legal or security reasons.

Privacy considerations when creating stickers from photos

When you create a sticker from a photo of another person, you are converting their image into a reusable element that you can send to anyone in your contacts. Snapchat does not ask for consent from the person in the photo, and it does not prevent you from sharing stickers of other people. The person whose image you used has no way to know that a sticker of them exists unless you tell them or they see it in a snap you send them.

If you create stickers from photos that contain identifying information — a person's face, a location, a document — that information becomes part of your sticker library and is transmitted whenever you use the sticker. Consider whether the people in your photos would want their images turned into stickers before you create them. Once a sticker is created and shared, you cannot control where it goes or who screenshots it.

Using Snapchat's built-in sticker packs instead

Snapchat offers thousands of pre-made stickers through its sticker store that you can read and use without creating anything yourself. These stickers are organized by category — emojis, brands, characters, holidays — and many are free to read. To access them, tap the sticker icon in your snap editor, then tap the plus sign to browse available packs. You can read as many as you want, and they appear in your sticker tray alongside any custom stickers you create.

Using pre-made stickers instead of creating your own from photos means you are not converting anyone's image into a shareable element. However, Snapchat still tracks which sticker packs you read and which stickers you use most frequently. This usage data is stored on Snapchat's servers and contributes to your user profile.

How to manage or delete your custom stickers

To see all the stickers you have created, open Snapchat and tap the sticker icon in the snap editor. Your custom stickers appear in a section labeled "My Stickers" at the top of the sticker tray. You can long-press any sticker to see options — most versions of Snapchat let you delete individual stickers from this menu. Deleting a sticker removes it from your library on that device, but Snapchat's servers may retain records that you created it.

If you want to prevent Snapchat from storing sticker data about you, the only complete option is to avoid creating custom stickers and use only the pre-made sticker packs instead. You can also limit which friends see your snaps by adjusting your snap privacy settings, which reduces the number of people who see the stickers you use. Clearing your Snapchat cache periodically removes local copies of stickers from your device, though it does not affect what Snapchat's servers store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else use a sticker I created?

Only if you send them a snap containing the sticker. Custom stickers are stored in your personal library and do not appear in other users' sticker trays. Once you send a snap with your sticker to a friend, they can screenshot it or save it, but they cannot access it from their own sticker library.

Does Snapchat use my stickers to train its AI?

Snapchat uses sticker creation and usage data to improve its object detection technology and understand user behavior. The original photos you create stickers from are stored on your device, but Snapchat may analyze patterns in how you use stickers to refine its features. Check Snapchat's privacy policy for details on how your sticker data is used.

What happens to my stickers if I delete the Snapchat app?

Your custom stickers are deleted from your device when you uninstall Snapchat. If you reinstall the app and log back in, your stickers reappear because they are synced to your account on Snapchat's servers. Snapchat retains records of stickers you created even after you delete them.

Can I create stickers from videos, or only photos?

You can create stickers from video snaps by pausing the video at the moment you want to capture, then using the scissors tool just as you would with a photo. Snapchat treats the paused frame as a still image and creates the sticker from that moment.