Creating stickers from your own photos and designs

You can turn any image into a Snapchat sticker in two ways: upload a photo from your camera roll, or create one from scratch using Snapchat's design tools. The sticker will appear in your personal sticker pack, visible only to you unless you choose to share it with friends or post it publicly.

To create a sticker from an existing photo, open Snapchat and tap the profile icon in the top left. Go to Memories, select the photo you want, then tap the scissors icon to cut out a section. Snapchat will automatically remove the background and turn the cutout into a sticker. You can adjust the size and position before saving it to your sticker pack.

If you want to design a sticker from the ground up, use a photo editing app like Canva, PicsArt, or your phone's built-in editor to create a transparent PNG file (the transparent background is what makes it work as a sticker). Save the file, then upload it to Snapchat through the same Memories route. Snapchat accepts PNG, JPG, and WebP formats, though PNG with transparency gives you the cleanest result.

Key Takeaways

  • You can create stickers from photos in your camera roll by opening Memories, selecting a photo, and using the scissors tool to cut out the part you want.
  • Stickers you create are stored in your personal sticker pack and are private unless you share them with specific friends or submit them to Snapchat's public library.
  • For custom designs, create a transparent PNG file in any photo editor and upload it through Memories to turn it into a sticker.
  • Snapchat stickers work best when the background is transparent or removed, so the image blends smoothly over snaps and messages.

Accessing and organizing your sticker pack

Once you create a sticker, it goes into your personal sticker pack. To find it, open a snap or chat, tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square smiley face), and scroll to the bottom where your custom stickers appear. You can reorder them by holding down on a sticker and dragging it to a new position, or delete stickers you no longer want by tapping and holding, then selecting delete.

Snapchat also lets you create multiple sticker packs if you want to organize by theme. Tap the plus icon in the sticker menu to start a new pack, then add stickers to it. This is useful if you have stickers for different friend groups, hobbies, or occasions.

Sharing stickers with friends

Your custom stickers are private by default, but you can share them with individual friends. Open a chat, tap the sticker icon, find your custom sticker, then hold down on it and select "Share." You can send it to one person or a group. The recipient will see it in their sticker menu, but they cannot edit or claim it as their own—it remains linked to you as the creator.

If you want friends to use your sticker without opening a chat first, you can also screenshot the sticker and send it as a regular image. They can then save it to their camera roll and upload it as their own sticker using the same process you used to create it.

Submitting stickers to Snapchat's public library

Snapchat has a public sticker library where creators can submit original designs. To submit, go to your profile, tap the settings icon, select "Creator Tools," then "Submit Sticker." You will need to upload a PNG file (transparent background recommended) and add a title and description. Snapchat reviews submissions and may feature them in the public library if they meet community guidelines.

Public stickers must be original work—no copyrighted characters, logos, or images from other creators. Snapchat's review process can take several days to a few weeks. If your sticker is rejected, you will receive a notification explaining why, and you can resubmit with changes.

Using Snapchat's built-in sticker creation tools

Beyond uploading images, Snapchat offers basic design tools within the app. When you open the sticker menu, you can tap the pencil icon to draw a sticker freehand. Use your finger to sketch, and Snapchat will convert your drawing into a sticker. You can change the color, line thickness, and background before saving.

This method is faster for straightforward designs—doodles, text, or quick sketches—but it is limited compared to using a full design app. If you want precise control over fonts, layers, or complex graphics, creating the sticker outside Snapchat and uploading it gives you much more flexibility.

Avoiding common sticker creation mistakes

The most common problem is uploading an image with a white or solid-color background instead of a transparent one. When you do this, the background appears as a white box behind your sticker, making it look unprofessional and harder to use over snaps. Always use a transparent PNG if you are uploading a design.

Another mistake is creating stickers that are too small or too large. Test your sticker at different sizes in a snap before finalizing it. If the sticker is tiny, details will be hard to see; if it is huge, it will cover too much of the snap. Aim for something that is recognizable at small sizes but does not dominate the screen.

Finally, do not submit stickers with copyrighted material to Snapchat's public library. This includes brand logos, celebrity faces, characters from movies or TV shows, and artwork by other creators. Your own original photos, drawings, and designs are fine; everything else will be rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my custom stickers if I do not share them?

No. Custom stickers you create are private and appear only in your sticker pack. Other users cannot see them unless you share the sticker directly with them through a chat or submit it to Snapchat's public library.

What file format should I use to upload a sticker?

Snapchat accepts PNG, JPG, and WebP formats. PNG with a transparent background works best because the background will not show up as a white box when you use the sticker over a snap. You can create transparent PNGs in Canva, Photoshop, or free tools like GIMP.

How long does it take for Snapchat to review a sticker I submitted to the public library?

Snapchat's review process typically takes several days to a few weeks. You will receive a notification once your sticker is approved or rejected. If rejected, the notification will explain why, and you can make changes and resubmit.

Can I edit or delete a sticker after I create it?

You can delete custom stickers from your sticker pack by holding down on the sticker and selecting delete. However, you cannot edit a sticker once it is created—you would need to delete it and create a new version instead.

What happens if someone I shared a sticker with deletes it from their pack?

If you share a sticker with a friend and they delete it, it only disappears from their sticker pack. The sticker remains in your pack and you can still use it or share it with others. Deleting it on their end does not affect your version.