Sending stickers to WhatsApp on Android has become an integral part of communication: they help express emotions brighter than text or emoticons. But not all users know how to make the most of this feature. Basic sets of stickers are available in the standard messenger, but their capabilities are limited. Meanwhile, there are many ways to expand the collection - from installing additional packs to creating unique stickers from your own photos or memes.

In this guide, we will look at all the current methods: how to send ready-made stickers from official and third-party packs, how to add them to your favorites for quick access, and also how to create custom sets using specialized applications. We will pay special attention to typical problems - for example, why stickers may not be displayed to the recipient or how to restore missing packs after reinstalling the messenger.

If you use WhatsApp on a smartphone with Android 12 and newer, some functions may work differently due to changes in policy Google Play. We took these nuances into account and prepared instructions that are relevant for the latest versions of the application.

1. Standard stickers on WhatsApp: where to find and how to send

By default, WhatsApp several packs of stickers from the messenger team are preinstalled. To find them, open any chat and tap on the icon 😊 (emoticon) in the message input field. Tabs will appear at the bottom of the screen: Emojis, GIF and Stickers. Go to the last one.

Here you will see:

  • 📦 Preinstalled packs —sets from WhatsApp with universal stickers (greetings, reactions, animals).
  • ⭐ Favorite stickers —those that you often use (added by long-pressing).
  • ➕ Add button —opens a catalog of additional packs.

To send a sticker, just tap on it - it will immediately appear in the chat. If the sticker you need is not in standard packs, proceed to the next section.

📊 How often do you use stickers on WhatsApp?
Constantly, in almost every message
Sometimes, to express emotions
Nearby, only standard ones emoticons
I never use

2. How to add new sticker packs from the official catalog

WhatsApp integrated with the official sticker catalog, where you can download hundreds of free packs. To do this:

  1. Open any chat and go to the tab Stickers (as described above).
  2. Tap on the icon ➕ ("Add stickers").
  3. In the directory that opens, select the pack you like and click Add.

Stickers from the added pack will immediately appear in your collection. Please note: some packages may be paid or contain advertising - this depends on the developer. To delete an unnecessary pack, long-press its icon in the list of stickers and select Delete.

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If stickers from the catalog do not load, check your Internet connection or restart the application. Sometimes clearing the cache helps WhatsApp in the settings Android.

The catalog has thematic sections:

  • 🎭 Anime and cartoons - stickers with characters from popular TV series.
  • 😂 Memes - current Internet jokes.
  • 💖 Love and friendship —for romantic or warm messages.
  • 🎉 Holidays —New Year, birthday and others.
How to find hidden packs of stickers?

Some stickers appear in the catalog only after an update WhatsApp or on certain dates (for example, Halloween a week before the holiday).

3. Creating custom stickers: applications and instructions

If standard stickers are not enough, you can create your own. To do this you will need one of the specialized applications. We recommend:

  • 📱 Sticker Maker for WhatsApp —a simple application with the function of cropping and adding an outline.
  • 🎨 Personal Stickers —allows you to create animated stickers.
  • 🖼️ Sticker.ly —a large selection of templates and editing tools.

Instructions for creating a sticker in Sticker Maker:

  1. Download and install the application from Google Play.
  2. Open it and select Create a new pack of stickers.
  3. Add an image from the gallery or take a photo on the spot.
  4. Crop the background (tool Erase or Auto Cutout).
  5. Add a sticker to the pack and save it to WhatsApp.

Important: custom stickers must match Whatsapp rules. Prohibited:

  • 🚫 Violence or weapons.
  • 🚫 Pornography or explicit poses.
  • 🚫 Discrimination by race, gender or religion.

- Resolution of at least 512×512 pixels

- Background removed or replaced with transparent

- PNG format (to support transparency)

- File weight up to 100 KB (for animated ones - up to 500 KB)-->

4. How to send stickers from other applications (Telegram, Viber)

If you found a sticker in another messenger (for example, Telegram or Viber) and want to send it to WhatsApp, use one of the methods:

Method 1: Save as image

  1. Open the sticker in another application.
  2. Take a screenshot or save the image (in Telegram - long press → Save).
  3. Open WhatsApp, select the chat and attach the saved image as a file.

Method 2: Using a file manager

Some stickers are stored in application folders, for example, in Telegram they can be found along the path:

/storage/emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Images/

Copy the sticker file (format .webp or .png) and send via WhatsApp as a document.

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Stickers sent as images lose animation and transparent background. To save all the effects, use specialized conversion applications.

5. Problems with stickers: why they are not sent or displayed

Sometimes stickers may not work correctly:

Problem Possible reason Solution
Stickers are not sent Weak Internet connection Connect to Wi-Fi or check your mobile data
The pack of stickers disappeared after the update Reset cache WhatsApp Reinstall the pack from the catalog
Stickers are displayed as white squares Outdated version WhatsApp Update the application in Google Play
You cannot add custom stickers Restrictions Android 13+ Give permission to access files

If stickers are not downloaded from the catalog, try:

  • 🔄 Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
  • 📥 Clear the application cache in settings Android.
  • 🌐 Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi (sometimes the provider blocks the download).
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If the stickers are not displayed for the recipient, ask update it WhatsApp. Older versions of the messenger (before 2.18) do not support some formats.

6. How to manage stickers: favorites, search and delete

To speed up access to frequently used stickers, add them to favorites:

  1. Open the tab Stickers in the chat.
  2. Find the desired sticker and press it.
  3. In the menu that appears, select Add to favorites.

Now the sticker will be available in the tab ⭐ Favorites. To remove it from there, repeat the long press and select Remove from favorites.

To search for stickers by keywords:

  • At the top of the tab Stickers there is a line search.
  • Enter a word (for example, “cat” or “holiday”), and the messenger will show all suitable stickers from your packs.

To delete the entire sticker pack:

  1. Open the tab Stickers.
  2. Tap on the pack icon (thumbnail at the bottom of the screen).
  3. Select Delete in the menu that appears.
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Selected stickers are synchronized between devices if you use one account WhatsApp on several phones.

7. Animated stickers: how to find and send

Animated stickers (with motion effects) are available in some packs from the official catalog. To find them:

  1. Open the catalog of stickers (➕ in the tab Stickers).
  2. In the search bar, enter “animated” or “animation.”
  3. Download the one you like pack - animated stickers are marked with an icon 🎬.

Custom stickers created in applications like Personal Stickers or Sticker Makeralso support animation. To do this:

  • Select format APNG or GIF when creating.
  • Make sure that the file weight does not exceed 500 KB.
  • Add a sticker to WhatsApp via the export menu.

Please note: Animated stickers may not appear on devices with Android 8 and below due to system limitations.

8. Security and privacy when using stickers

Even something as harmless as stickers can cause privacy problems. It is worth paying attention:

  • 🔍 Source of stickers —download packs only from the official catalog WhatsApp or verified applications (Google Play). Stickers from unknown sources may contain malicious code.
  • 📸 Personal data —do not create stickers with photos of documents, bank cards or personal correspondence.
  • 👥 Group chats —in large chats, stickers are visible to all participants, including those you do not know personally.

If you suspect that the sticker contains a virus:

  • Do not send it to other users.
  • Remove the pack from your collection.
  • Scan your device with an antivirus (for example Malwarebytes or Kaspersky).
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Before installing third-party sticker apps, check reviews and ratings Google Play. Apps with ratings below 4.0 stars often contain ads or collect data.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about stickers on WhatsApp

Is it possible to send a sticker from WhatsApp to another messenger?

Yes, but only as a regular image. Open the sticker in WhatsApp, take a screenshot or save it through the long-press menu, then send the file to another messenger. The animation and transparent background are lost.

Why don’t I have the “Stickers” tab in WhatsApp?

This means that you have an outdated version of the application. Update WhatsApp to the latest version in Google Play. remains, check the region of your account - in some countries the sticker function may be limited.

How to restore deleted stickers?

If you deleted a pack of stickers, you can re-add it from the catalog (➕ in the Stickerstab). stickers are more difficult to restore - if you did not save the original files, you will have to create them again.

Is it possible to make a sticker from a Live Photo?

Yes, but for this you need to convert Live Photo in GIF or APNG. Use apps like IntoLive or Motion Stillsto export the animation, then import it into Sticker Maker.

Why are stickers sent as images?

This happens if:

  • You send a sticker as a file (via Gallery or Documents).
  • The recipient is using the old version WhatsApp (up to 2.18).
  • The sticker was created in an incompatible format (for example, JPEG instead of PNG).

To send the sticker correctly, use the Stickers tab in the chat.