WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. One fun feature of WhatsApp is the ability to send stickers during chats. Stickers allow you to express emotions and ideas visually. When you find a sticker pack you really like, you can favorite it so it’s easily accessible when chatting. But where exactly are those favorite sticker packs saved? Let’s take a closer look.
Stickers Basics
First, let’s cover some sticker basics. WhatsApp offers a huge collection of sticker packs available for download directly within the app. These sticker packs contain multiple stickers, usually centered around a theme. For example, you may download a sticker pack of cute animals, funny facial expressions, movie characters, and more.
To access the sticker panel during a chat, tap on the emoji icon and then tap on the sticker icon next to it. This will bring up your list of downloaded sticker packs. Tap on a pack to preview the stickers, then tap on a sticker to send it.
If you really like a particular sticker pack, you can favorite it by tapping the star icon on the sticker pack thumbnail. This adds it to your favorites section at the top of the list for easy access.
Favorite Stickers Storage on Android
Now let’s get into where those favorite WhatsApp stickers are actually stored on your device. The location differs depending on whether you use Android or iOS.
On Android devices, your WhatsApp favorite stickers are saved locally on your device’s internal storage. They are stored in the WhatsApp folder, which can be found at:
Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > .WhatsApp Stickers
Within the .WhatsApp Stickers folder, you’ll find individual folders for each sticker pack you’ve downloaded. Favorite sticker packs will be the ones with a star icon on the folder.
So in summary:
Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > .WhatsApp Stickers > [Individual sticker pack folders]
This allows WhatsApp to store the sticker pack content directly on your device so you can access them even without an internet connection. The sticker images are optimized for sending within WhatsApp, which is why they are kept in this dedicated sticker format.
Finding Sticker Pack Folders on Android
To view these WhatsApp sticker folders on your Android device:
- Open the My Files or File Manager app on your device
- Navigate to Internal Storage > WhatsApp > Media > .WhatsApp Stickers
- Here you will see folders for each downloaded sticker pack
- Favorite packs are indicated by a star icon on the folder
You can also directly access this folder from the WhatsApp app:
- In WhatsApp, tap More Options > Stickers > Plus icon
- Tap any sticker pack > Download
- A “Sticker downloaded” notification will appear with an Open button
- Tap Open to view the folder location in your phone’s file explorer
This will open your device’s file manager and show the folder path described above where stickers are stored locally.
Favorite Stickers Storage on iOS
For iOS devices, the process is similar but the file location is different. On an iPhone, your WhatsApp favorite stickers are stored in the On My iPhone location, within the WhatsApp folder.
The full path is:
On My iPhone > WhatsApp > Media > .WhatsApp Stickers
As with Android, you’ll see individual sticker pack folders here, with favorites marked by a star.
Finding Sticker Pack Folders on iPhone
To access these folders on an iPhone:
- Open the Files app
- Navigate to On My iPhone > WhatsApp > Media > .WhatsApp Stickers
- Tap through the folders to view downloaded stickers
- Favorited packs will show a star icon
You can also follow the same steps outlined for Android to view the folder location using the WhatsApp app:
- In WhatsApp, tap More Options > Stickers > Plus icon
- Tap any sticker pack > Download
- A “Sticker downloaded” notification will appear with a Reveal button
- Tap Reveal to open the folder path in the Files app
Backing Up Favorite Stickers
Since your favorite WhatsApp stickers are saved locally on your device, they won’t get transferred automatically if you get a new device. To keep them, you’ll need to back them up manually.
On both iOS and Android, you can back up your WhatsApp stickers along with your chats by doing a full WhatsApp backup to Google Drive or iCloud. Just make sure to enable backup in WhatsApp settings.
You can also manually export individual sticker packs from the folder locations described above. On Android go to the folder path in your file explorer, long press on a pack, and select Export. On iPhone use the Share sheet in the Files app. This will let you save copies to your camera roll, cloud storage, or a connected computer.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips for when your WhatsApp favorite stickers aren’t working right:
- If stickers disappear – Restore your WhatsApp backup, or re-download the packs
- Can’t find sticker folders – Update the app, clear cache, or reinstall WhatsApp
- Missing favorite star icon – Toggle the favorite off and on again
- Stickers won’t send – Check internet connection, restart your device
- Can’t add new stickers – Update WhatsApp to the latest version
Sharing Sticker Packs
WhatsApp makes it easy to share downloaded sticker packs with your friends and family. On Android, go to the sticker pack folder path and select the folders you want to share. On iPhone, open the files app and use the share sheet. You can share via email, messaging apps, social media, and more.
When someone receives your shared sticker pack, they just have to open the files and WhatsApp will automatically import the pack to their app. Then they can start sending those stickers in their own chats!
Third-Party Sticker Apps
In addition to the default WhatsApp stickers, there are third-party apps that offer extra sticker packs you can add:
| App | Platform | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sticker Maker | Android, iOS | Create your own custom sticker packs |
| Stickerly | Android | 1000+ sticker packs for WhatsApp |
| Sticker.ly | iOS | Wide collection of artistic sticker packs |
| WAStickerApps | Android | WhatsApp stickers, themes, mods |
These third-party apps typically save stickers to their own folder locations. But once you add the packs to WhatsApp, you can still favorite them like default packs. This provides even more options to find great stickers to elevate your chats!
Creating Your Own Stickers
For truly custom stickers, you can make your own using apps like:
- Sticker Maker Studio (Android)
- Sticker Maker (iOS)
- Sticker Maker for WhatsApp (Android)
These apps allow you to create stickers from photos, emoji, drawings, and more. You can edit images into stickers, add text captions, and adjust transparency. Then export your own personalized stickers and import them into WhatsApp.
Making DIY stickers is a fun way to send unique shapes and characters. For example, you can turn family members and pets into stickers, or make sticker versions of personal jokes between friends.
Conclusion
WhatsApp stickers provide a colorful addition to everyday messaging. When you find some favorites, make sure to star them so they’re easily accessible in chats. Favorited stickers get stored in the WhatsApp/Media/.WhatsApp Stickers folder on your device. You can manage, back up, and share packs right from these folders. Plus customize your stickers even more with third-party apps or create your own. With endless options, stickers make expressing yourself fast and fun!