You can delete stickers before you send a snap, or remove them after
Snapchat stickers stay on your photo or video until you take them off. If you placed a sticker and want to remove it before sending, tap and hold the sticker, then swipe it off the screen or tap the trash icon. If you already sent a snap with a sticker and want to delete it, you can only do that by deleting the entire snap from your story or chat — Snapchat does not let you edit stickers out of a snap after it posts.
The method depends on whether the snap is still in your drafts, already sent to a friend, or posted to your story. Each situation has a different process, and understanding which one applies saves you time.
Key Takeaways
- Before sending, hold down any sticker and swipe it away or tap the delete button to remove it without affecting the photo or video underneath.
- After you send a snap to a friend, you cannot remove individual stickers — you must delete the entire snap from the chat.
- Snaps posted to your story can be deleted entirely, which removes the sticker along with it, but individual stickers cannot be edited out.
- Snapchat's sticker tool does not include an edit function for already-sent content, so planning before you send prevents the need to delete.
Removing stickers before you send a snap
Open Snapchat and take a photo or video. Add your sticker by tapping the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the bottom of the screen, then choose the sticker you want. Once it appears on your snap, you can move it, resize it, or remove it.
To delete the sticker, press and hold it with your finger. A trash icon or delete option will appear. Tap it, or swipe the sticker off the edge of the screen. The sticker disappears, but your photo or video remains unchanged. You can add and remove as many stickers as you want before sending — there is no limit, and nothing is permanent until you tap Send.
If you want to remove all stickers at once, there is no bulk delete button. You must remove each sticker individually by holding and deleting it. This takes only a few seconds if you have two or three stickers, but if you have many, it may be faster to retake the snap.
Deleting a snap with stickers after you send it to a friend
Once you send a snap to a friend, you cannot remove the sticker from it. Snapchat does not have an edit feature for sent snaps. Your only option is to delete the entire snap from the chat.
Open the chat with the friend you sent it to. Press and hold the snap you want to delete. A menu will appear with options including "Delete". Tap Delete. The snap disappears from the chat for you, though the friend may have already seen it or taken a screenshot. Snapchat does not notify the recipient that you deleted a snap, but if they received it before you deleted it, they still have it.
This is different from Snapchat's "unsend" feature for text messages, which removes a message from both sides of the chat. Snaps cannot be unsent — once delivered, they exist on the recipient's device unless they delete it themselves.
Removing stickers from snaps posted to your story
Snaps posted to your story work the same way as snaps sent to friends: you cannot edit out individual stickers after posting. If you want to remove a sticker from a story snap, you must delete the entire snap from your story.
Go to your story and find the snap with the sticker. Press and hold it. A menu will appear. Tap "Delete" or "Remove from Story". The snap disappears from your story when ready. Unlike snaps sent to friends, story snaps are not saved on anyone else's device — they only exist in your story until you delete them or they expire after 24 hours.
If you realize you want to remove a sticker from a story snap, it is usually better to delete it right away rather than wait for it to expire. This gives you control over what appears on your profile.
Why Snapchat does not let you edit stickers after sending
Snapchat's design prioritizes speed and temporary content. The app is built around the idea that snaps are meant to be quick, casual, and not overthought. Once you send something, it is out of your hands — you cannot edit text, move objects, or change filters after the fact.
This is intentional. Snapchat wants to discourage people from crafting perfect, polished messages. The temporary nature of the app means mistakes are expected and normal. If you send a snap with a sticker you do not like, the best practice is to delete it and send a new one, rather than spend time trying to fix it.
How to avoid sending snaps with unwanted stickers
The easiest way to manage stickers is to remove them before you send. Take a moment before hitting Send to look at your snap and decide whether each sticker belongs there. If you are unsure, delete it — you can always add it back if you change your mind.
Another approach is to use stickers sparingly. Snapchat makes it straightforward to add multiple stickers, but a snap with one or two stickers usually looks cleaner than one covered in them. If you add stickers as you go, you are more likely to notice and remove ones that do not work before sending.
If you frequently send snaps with stickers you later regret, consider turning off sticker suggestions. Snapchat sometimes suggests stickers based on what it detects in your photo. You can ignore these suggestions and add stickers only when you want them. This gives you more control over what ends up in your snaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a sticker from a snap after my friend has already seen it?
No. Once a snap is delivered and seen, deleting it from your end does not remove it from your friend's device. They still have the snap, and they can view it, screenshot it, or save it whenever they want. Deletion only removes it from your chat history.
What happens if I delete a snap from my story — can people still see it?
No. Once you delete a snap from your story, it is gone for everyone. People who have not viewed it yet will not be able to see it. People who already viewed it will not see it if they try to look at your story again, but they may have taken a screenshot before you deleted it.
Is there a way to edit stickers on old snaps in my memories?
No. Snapchat does not allow editing of saved snaps in Memories. If you want to change a snap with stickers, you must delete it and create a new one. Memories are meant to be a record of what you sent, not a place to make changes.
Can I remove just one sticker if I sent a snap with multiple stickers?
No. You cannot edit individual stickers out of a sent snap. If you want to remove one sticker, you must delete the entire snap and send a new version without that sticker.
Do stickers take up more storage space on Snapchat?
No. Stickers are part of the snap itself and do not add extra storage. Whether you send a plain photo or one covered in stickers, the file size is roughly the same. Storage limits on Snapchat are based on how many snaps you save to Memories, not on the stickers you add.