Open the Updates tab, tap the camera or plus icon to add a status, and pick a photo or video. Tap the sticker icon at the top of the editor, choose a sticker (reaction, location, photo, music, question or a regular sticker), drag it into place and post. Plain text statuses don't get the sticker tray, so start from a photo or video.
Once a sticker is on your status you can tap and hold it to move it, and pinch with two fingers to make it bigger, smaller or tilt it. WhatsApp's help centre describes the same gestures for every sticker type, so once you've placed one, the rest work the same way.
The catch: you can't add a sticker to a text-only status. The coloured background you get from the pencil icon offers fonts, colours and emoji from your keyboard, but no sticker button. If you want a sticker on a plain colour, take a photo of a blank wall or a sheet of coloured paper and use that as your background. WhatsApp has been testing new options for text statuses, so check after each app update.
Add stickers to your status on Android
- Open WhatsApp and tap Updates at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the camera icon (or the plus next to My status).
- Take a photo or video, or pick one from your gallery.
- Tap the sticker icon at the top of the editor. It's the square smiley face next to the text and pencil icons.
- Scroll the tray or use the search bar, then tap the sticker you want.
- Drag it into place, pinch to resize, and add more if you like.
- Tap the green send arrow. Check the audience line above it first so the right people see it.
Add stickers to your status on iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and tap Updates in the bottom bar.
- Tap the camera icon or the plus next to My status.
- Take a new photo or video, or tap the gallery icon to choose one.
- Tap the sticker icon at the top right of the editor.
- Pick a sticker from the tray, or swipe to other tabs for location, photo and music stickers.
- Drag, pinch and rotate it until it sits where you want.
- Tap the send button, check who'll see it, and post.
Icons get moved around in updates. If you can't see a sticker icon, tap each icon along the top of the editor once; one of them opens the tray.
Which stickers you can use, and where to find them
| Sticker type | Where to find it | Works on a text status? |
|---|---|---|
| Regular and animated stickers | Sticker tray, search bar at the top | No, use a photo or video |
| Emoji | Sticker tray, or your keyboard on a text status | Yes, typed from the keyboard |
| Reaction | Sticker tray, Reaction, then pick an emoji | No |
| Location | Sticker tray, Location, then search a place | No |
| Photo sticker | Sticker tray, Photo, then choose a picture and shape | No |
| Music | Music icon or music sticker in the editor | No |
| Question | Sticker tray, Question, then type your question | No |
| Add Yours | Sticker tray, Add Yours, then write a prompt | No |
Music has its own set of steps and limits, so I've covered it separately in how to add music to your WhatsApp status.
Reaction, question and Add Yours stickers
These are the stickers that get replies. A reaction sticker lets viewers tap an emoji you chose. A question sticker lets them type an answer back to you. Add Yours invites friends to answer your prompt on their own status, which is how those little chains start, like "show your view from the window right now".
Photo stickers
A photo sticker turns a second picture into a sticker on top of your status. You can crop it, rotate it and change its shape, then drag it into a corner. It's handy for a before and after, or a small selfie on top of a photo of a place.
Make your own sticker from a photo
WhatsApp has a built-in sticker maker, so you don't need a separate app. In any chat:
- Tap the emoji or sticker icon in the message box, then open the stickers tab.
- Tap Create (the plus or scissors option at the start of the tray).
- Pick a photo and cut out or crop the part you want.
- Add text or drawing if you want, then tap Send or save it.
- Your new sticker lands in your sticker tray, ready to use on your next status.
WhatsApp can also turn a short video into a moving sticker, and in some countries it can make stickers from a written prompt using Meta AI, giving you up to four options to pick from. If AI stickers don't show for you, your country or language isn't supported yet. My guide to creating WhatsApp stickers with AI for free covers both routes.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Why stickers don't show on your status
- You started a text status. Go back and pick a photo or video instead.
- Your app is out of date. Newer stickers like question and Add Yours only appear on recent versions, so update WhatsApp in the App Store or Google Play.
- The feature hasn't reached you yet. WhatsApp rolls new status tools out gradually, so a friend may have a sticker you don't for a few weeks.
- Location is blocked. The location sticker may need WhatsApp to have location permission in your phone's settings.
- It posted but looks wrong. You can't edit a status after it's gone out. Delete it and post again; here's how to delete a WhatsApp status.
If a menu name above doesn't match your screen, open WhatsApp's settings and search for the word "sticker".
What I'd do
I'd use one sticker per status, and make it an interactive one: a question or an Add Yours. Decorative stickers look fun, but the ones that ask something are what get your contacts to reply.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no sticker option on my WhatsApp status?
You're probably on a text status, which doesn't have the sticker tray. Start a new status from a photo or video. If the icon is still missing, update WhatsApp.
Can I add a sticker to a text status on WhatsApp?
Not with the sticker tray. You can type emoji from your keyboard on a text status, but for stickers you'll need a photo or video background.
How do I make a sticker bigger on my status?
Place two fingers on the sticker and spread them apart. Pinch them together to shrink it, and twist to rotate it.
Can I add stickers to a video status?
Yes. The steps are the same as for a photo: pick the video, tap the sticker icon at the top of the editor and choose your sticker.
How long does a status with stickers stay up?
The same as any status: it disappears after 24 hours, or sooner if you delete it.
