WhatsApp stickers are a fun way to express yourself and liven up your chats. With just a few easy steps, you can turn any photo into a custom WhatsApp sticker to send to friends and family. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire sticker-making process, from finding the right app to adding your new creation to WhatsApp.
What You Need
To get started, you’ll need:
- A photo you want to turn into a sticker. The image can be one you’ve already taken or download online. Make sure you have the rights to use it.
- A smartphone with WhatsApp installed.
- A sticker maker app. We recommend using an app made specifically for WhatsApp sticker creation, like Sticker Maker or Stickerly.
Choose Your Photo
You can use nearly any photo to make a WhatsApp sticker, but some types tend to work better than others. For best results, go with:
- A high-quality image. The photo should be clear and crisp, not blurry or pixelated. WhatsApp will shrink your photo down into a sticker, so a high-res image ensures it will still look good.
- A photo with a clear, defined subject. You want the focus of your sticker to stand out.
- A picture that’s brightly lit. Dark, underexposed photos don’t make great stickers.
- Portrait orientation. WhatsApp stickers have a tall, narrow shape—similar to a smartphone screen—so portrait photos fit better than landscapes.
Keep the purpose of your sticker in mind too. Are you making one for a birthday or holiday? Then pick a photo that fits that theme. Want a silly or funny sticker? Choose an amusing photo that will make people laugh.
Download a Sticker Maker App
Now that you’ve picked the perfect picture, it’s time to turn it into a sticker. You’ll need a special app to do this—general editing apps like Photoshop won’t cut it. There are a variety of sticker maker apps available, but we recommend using one designed specifically for WhatsApp, such as:
- Sticker Maker – The most popular and full-featured sticker app for WhatsApp. Easily create stickers with text, emojis, and effects.
- Stickerly – A straightforward app for turning photos into WhatsApp stickers. No frills, just stickers.
- Sticker Maker Studio – This sticker maker comes loaded with fonts, backgrounds, and design options.
These apps are all free to download from the Google Play Store (for Android) or App Store (for iOS). Once installed, open the app and we’ll go over the steps for actually creating your sticker next.
Make Your Photo into a Sticker
The process for turning a photo into a sticker is essentially the same across different sticker maker apps, with only minor variations. Here’s a general overview of what to do:
- Open your sticker maker app and tap to create a new sticker. This is usually marked by a + or “create new sticker” button.
- Import the photo you want to use. Your app will provide options to select a photo from your phone’s gallery.
- Position and resize the photo. Drag the corners to fit the image within the sticker template borders.
- Edit the sticker (optional). Many apps provide options like adding text, emoji, effects, or stickers.
- Save the finished sticker. Make sure to give it a name.
And that’s it—your photo is now an editable WhatsApp sticker! Most apps allow you to quickly duplicate or tweak the sticker before exporting it. When you’re happy with the end result, move on to adding your new creation to WhatsApp.
Add Stickers to WhatsApp
The last step is accessing your new sticker within WhatsApp itself. Here’s how to do it:
- Open WhatsApp and go into any chat.
- Tap the emoji icon in the chat bar.
- At the bottom of the emoji picker, tap the sticker icon (usually a square Post-It note).
- Tap the + icon to add your new sticker pack.
- Select your stickers from the sticker maker app.
You should now see your custom sticker pack listed and available for use in WhatsApp chats. Tap a sticker to add it to the conversation. If you want the stickers on your other devices, you’ll need to follow the creation process again on that phone or tablet.
Sticker Design Tips
Making great WhatsApp stickers goes beyond just picking the right photo. Keep these design tips in mind:
- Trim away extras: Crop out background elements so the focus is solely on the sticker’s main subject.
- Use bold, contrasting colors: Vibrant hues make more eye-catching stickers.
- Add text sparingly: Text can enhance a sticker when used minimally, but avoid cluttering the design.
- Embrace white space: Don’t overcrowd every inch of the sticker—let empty areas breathe.
- Use merchandise sparingly: Emojis, effects, and other elements are fun touches, but don’t go overboard.
Troubleshooting Issues
Having trouble getting your new WhatsApp stickers to work? Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Stickers won’t add to WhatsApp | Make sure you’re selecting the right sticker file to export. Make sure WhatsApp is fully updated. |
| Stickers appear pixelated | Use a higher resolution source photo. Resize large photos down for better quality. |
| Can’t find newly added stickers | Close and reopen WhatsApp to refresh the sticker list. |
FAQs about WhatsApp Stickers
What photo formats can I use?
WhatsApp supports stickers created from JPG, PNG or WebP images. For best printing results, use a high-resolution PNG file.
How many stickers can I add to WhatsApp?
You can add an unlimited number of individual sticker packs to WhatsApp, with up to 30-100 stickers per pack.
Is there a file size limit for WhatsApp stickers?
Yes, each individual sticker must be under 100KB and have dimensions under 512 x 512 pixels. Most modern smartphone photos will easily fit this size.
Can I use copyrighted images?
No, you can only legally create WhatsApp stickers using images you own or have explicit permission to use. Using copyrighted photos without permission is illegal.
How do I remove a WhatsApp sticker pack?
To remove a sticker pack from WhatsApp, go to Settings > Stickers > My Stickers, tap the trash icon beside the pack, and confirm the deletion.
Conclusion
Turning a photo into a WhatsApp sticker is easy and fun. With the right sticker maker app, you can quickly transform any picture on your phone into a customized sticker to elevate your messaging. Get creative in designing stickers that express your personality or match the conversation. Just follow the steps to import, customize and export your sticker for sharing on WhatsApp. Before long, you’ll have a go-to library of custom stickers to sticker-bomb your friends and family!