With the rising popularity of messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal, stickers have become an essential way to express ourselves and liven up conversations. Unlike emojis which are limited to faces and objects, stickers come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Whether you want funny memes, cute animals, trendy illustrations or custom stickers of your friends and family, there are endless possibilities for self-expression. While WhatsApp has an integrated sticker store, Signal requires you to import sticker packs from third-party apps and sites. This gives you more freedom and control over the types of stickers you can use. If you’re new to Signal and wondering how to find and add cool stickers, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process step-by-step.
Finding Sticker Packs for Signal
Since Signal does not have a built-in sticker store, you first need to find sticker packs from other sources. Here are some great places to discover high-quality sticker packs for Signal:
- App stores – Many sticker maker apps like Sticker Maker Studio, Stickerly, Sticker Maker, etc. have free and paid sticker packs you can use in Signal.
- Messaging apps – Check out sticker stores inside other messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp or LINE to find stickers to import.
- Websites – Sticker directories like StickerPipe and Sticker.ly curate stickers from different artists and apps.
- Social media – Exploring hashtag stickers on Instagram and Twitter surfaces trendy sticker packs.
- Subreddits – Join subreddits like r/StickersExchange, r/SignalStickers to discover packs shared by others.
- Artist shops – Many independent artists sell custom sticker packs on Etsy, Redbubble, Society6 and more.
When browsing for stickers, make sure to check licensing information. Most free sticker packs allow redistribution and personal use. Paid or premium sticker packs typically cannot be shared or reused without permission.
How to Add Sticker Packs to Signal on Android
Once you’ve found some great Signal-ready sticker packs, it’s time to add them to your app. Here are step-by-step instructions for importing stickers on Android:
- Open the Signal app and tap on the sticker icon next to the text box.
- Tap on the + button at the top of your sticker panel.
- Select “Add sticker pack” and choose between taking a photo or picking an image from your phone’s gallery.
- Browse and select the sticker pack you want to import.
- The sticker pack will be analyzed and automatically split into individual stickers.
- You will see a preview of the uploaded stickers. Tap ADD to finish importing the pack.
- The new stickers will now show up in your Signal sticker panel ready to use!
The process is quick and seamless. You can import multiple sticker packs at a time this way. Your personalized sticker collection will continue to grow!
How to Add Sticker Packs to Signal on iPhone
iPhone users can also import exciting new stickers into Signal. Just follow these easy steps:
- Launch the Signal app and open a chat where you want to use stickers.
- Tap on the sticker icon next to the text box.
- At the bottom of the sticker panel, tap “Add Stickers”.
- Choose either “Select from Photos” or “Take Photo”.
- Browse and pick a sticker pack image from your iPhone photo gallery.
- The stickers will be extracted and previewed. Tap “Add” when ready.
- You will now see the new stickers in your Signal sticker panel!
Thanks to iCloud, any new stickers you add on one iPhone will also be available on your other iOS devices. Your personal sticker collection stays in sync across all your Apple products.
Troubleshooting Tips for Importing Signal Stickers
While adding stickers to Signal is very straightforward, you may encounter some issues at times. Here are some handy troubleshooting tips:
- Image format – Sticker packs must be in PNG format. Other formats like JPG may not import correctly.
- Image size – Very large images take longer to process and may fail to upload.
- Background – Complex backgrounds make it hard to detect individual stickers.
- Text – Sticker images should not have text or emoji that will be hard to separate.
- Extraction – If stickers are not extracted properly, try converting to PNG and removing backgrounds.
- Network – Weak internet connection can disrupt and slow down the import process.
Following sticker design best practices will ensure the packs import smoothly every time. You can also ask the sticker creator for a Signal-optimized sticker pack.
Using Stickers Seamlessly in Signal
Once your custom stickers are added into Signal, you’ll probably want to use them all the time! Here are some tips for seamlessly accessing and sending stickers:
- Tap the sticker icon to open up the sticker panel inside any chat.
- Scroll through the stickers and tap on one to instantly send it.
- Favorite stickers you use often by tapping the star icon on them.
- Quickly find favorites by tapping the star icon in the sticker panel.
- Use keyword stickers wisely depending on chat context.
- Combine stickers with text and emoji to liven up your messages.
- Send multiple stickers at a time to share your reactions.
- View sent stickers in chat by tapping the stickers icon at the top.
Stick to these useful tips and stickers will take your Signal chats to the next level!
Popular Genres of Stickers Worth Exploring
Now that you know how to import stickers, it’s time to build your collection! Here are some of the most popular categories and styles of stickers worth exploring:
| Genre | Description |
|---|---|
| Memes | Hilarious reaction images, viral jokes and pop culture references. |
| Animals | Cute and funny illustrated pets, jungles animals, sea creatures. |
| Food | Tasty treats, appetizing meals, fruity desserts. |
| Faces | Expressive facial expressions and emoji-like illustrated faces. |
| Celebrities | Famous actors, musicians, influencers and public figures. |
These are just a few of the many possibilities. You can also find cool stickers on niche topics like gaming, sports, fashion, TV shows, movies and more. Take your time browsing the sticker stores to curate a collection that truly reflects your personality!
Creating Your Own Custom Stickers
If you can’t find the perfect stickers for your needs, why not create your own? Making custom stickers is easy and allows you to send inside jokes, personalized reactions and so much more. Here are some ways to get started:
- Sticker maker apps like Sticker Maker for Android and Sticker Maker Studio for iPhone let you design and export stickers.
- Use graphic design software like Canva, Adobe Illustrator or GIMP to create custom stickers.
- Convert photos and images into sticker sheets using websites like MakeStickers and StickerMule.
- Add text captions and effects using photo editors like PicsArt.
Remember to optimize and export your creations as PNG image files. Get all your friends in on the fun by sharing your homemade sticker packs on Signal!
Conclusion
Stickers are a fun way to inject more humor, emotion and personal flair into your Signal chats. With this comprehensive guide, you are now equipped with all the knowledge needed to search, import, manage and create awesome stickers. So go ahead – browse sticker stores, collect freebies, buy premium packs, make DIY stickers and liven up your messaging experience. Just be sure not to overuse stickers – a few here and there while conversing naturally works best. Happy sticking!