How do I add stickers to iMessage?

To add stickers to iMessage, you typically navigate to the iMessage app drawer, select your desired sticker pack and sticker, and then either tap an "Add Sticker" button to send it or drag and drop it onto a message bubble.

Adding Stickers to iMessage

Adding stickers to your iMessage conversations can make your chats more expressive and fun. There are two primary ways to add stickers: sending them as standalone messages or "peeling" them to place directly onto existing message bubbles.

Method 1: Sending Stickers as Standalone Messages

This method allows you to send a chosen sticker as a new message in the conversation thread.

1. Open iMessage: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select a Conversation: Tap on an existing conversation or start a new one.
3. Access the Apps Drawer:
   • Tap the App Store icon (it looks like an "A" made of three lines) located to the left of the text input field. This will open the iMessage apps drawer.
4. Choose a Sticker Pack:
   • Swipe left or right through the apps drawer until you find the sticker pack you wish to use. Tap on it to open it.
   • If you don't see your sticker pack, tap the more icon (three dots) to browse all your available iMessage apps and stickers.
5. Select Your Sticker: Browse through the stickers in the chosen pack and tap on the sticker you want to send.
6. Confirm and Send (as per reference):
   • Once you've selected a sticker, you will typically see an option to confirm its addition. As noted in the provided reference, "all I'm going to have to do here is tap on this little add a sticker. Button. So all I have to do is click on ADD sticker. And that sticker will then be added there."
   • Tapping or clicking this "Add Sticker" button will instantly send the selected sticker as a new message in the conversation.

Method 2: Peeling and Placing Stickers on Message Bubbles

This interactive method allows you to literally "peel" a sticker and place it anywhere on an existing message bubble, photo, or video within the conversation.

1. Open iMessage & Conversation: Follow steps 1-4 from Method 1 to open your Messages app, select a conversation, and access your sticker pack.
2. Select and Hold a Sticker: Instead of just tapping, tap and hold the sticker you want to use.
3. Drag and Drop: While still holding the sticker, drag your finger (and the sticker) up and out of the sticker pack viewer, over the conversation thread.
4. Place the Sticker: Drag the sticker to the desired location on any message bubble (yours or someone else's), a photo, or a video in the conversation.
5. Release to Place: Lift your finger to "stick" the sticker in place. You can also pinch to resize or rotate the sticker before releasing it.

Tips for Using Stickers Effectively

• Layer Stickers: You can place multiple stickers on top of each other, creating fun layered effects.
• Resize and Rotate: Before releasing a peeled sticker onto a message, use two fingers to pinch in/out to resize it or rotate it.
• Manage Sticker Packs: You can manage, rearrange, or delete sticker packs by tapping the more icon (three dots) in the apps drawer and then tapping Edit.