Use Emoji as Stickers in iPhone Messages - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Use Emoji as Stickers in iPhone Messages

by

In iOS 17, Apple has added several new features to its Messages app to make communicating with other Apple users more creative and fun. One such feature is the ability to use emoji as stickers. This article shows you how it's done.

iOS 17 Messages Feature
Stickers have been in the Messages app for years now, but not much has changed about them - until now. That's because in iOS 17 Apple treats all standard emoji as stickers, allowing them to be used in just the same way as actual stickers.

What that essentially means is that you are no longer limited to inserting them in a conversation. Now you can also drag them anywhere on a message bubble. You can even layer them on top of one another to create little emoji scenes.

The following steps show you how it works in iOS 17.

  1. In a Messages conversation, tap the Emoji button in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Press and hold on an emoji in the list, then drag it up onto the message bubble that you want to react to and release your finger. (Note that you can drag more emoji onto the same message bubble with the same action.)
    2use emojis as stickers messages

  3. To edit emoji stickers on a message bubble, press and hold the emoji, then tap Sticker Details in the popup menu.
  4. To delete an emoji sticker, swipe left on it, then tap the red Trash button that appears.
  5. Tap Done to return to the conversation.
    1use emojis as stickers messages

That's all there is to it. Did you know that another new feature is the ability to turn Live Photos into Live Stickers? Click the link to learn how it's done.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors