You’ve been able to send stickers in WhatsApp chats for a long time now. A new feature lets you create custom stickers from any image. You can also add text, doodles and other stickers to make your own unique creation.
Currently, this is only possible using the web and desktop versions of WhatsApp, but you never know: it may come to the mobile app in time.
So here’s what you need to do if you want to create your own library of personalised stickers.
How to make a sticker in WhatsApp
Before you do anything, find an image on your computer that you want to use for the sticker. You could use a photo, or you could search for one online and save it.
Next, head to WhatsApp Web in a web browser.
Alternatively, you can download the WhatsApp desktop app which is available for Windows and Mac. We’re using the Windows app here.
Now open WhatsApp on your phone and tap the menu (three dots on Android and the Settings cog on iPhone) and tap Linked Devices.
Scan the QR code in the web or desktop version of WhatsApp and it will load your chats.
Obviously, you can skip all that if you already have it set up.
Next, click on a conversation – the person or group you want to send the sticker to – and click on the paperclip icon.
You’ll see a new Sticker option in the menu, highlighted below.
Click on it and then navigate to the image you want to use in the window that pops up.
Use the scissor tool to draw around the object that will form the sticker. You don’t have to do this, but it looks a lot more like a sticker if you do, and the tool adds a small white border as well.
The more precise you are, the better the result.
Click Done to apply the cut-out, then you can other tools to add text, doodles or other stickers.
You can move objects by clicking on them and dragging, and resize them by clicking and dragging on the white dot at the bottom-right corner. Use the white dot above an object to rotate it (highlighted below).
The Crop tool allows you to trim your creation to avoid lots of blank space, or to remove parts of it.
When you’re happy, you can click the Send button and your sticker will appear in the chat.
Strangely, there’s no way to save the sticker without sending it, but once sent, you’ll find the sticker in the Recent tab of the main Stickers section. To get to it, click the smiley face to the left of the message box in any chat, then click the Sticker icon.
And that’s it: you can create and send as many stickers as you like – the only limit is your imagination.
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Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.