Add Stickers Using Markup? A Quick Guide

Yes, you can add stickers using Markup on iPhone and iPad, but only in the Photos app and only with iOS 17 or later. This guide explains exactly how to do it, what types of stickers work, and how to fix common issues.

What Markup Stickers Are

Markup is Apple’s built-in annotation tool for drawing, adding text, and now adding stickers to photos and documents. The sticker feature, introduced in iOS 17, lets you place stickers you’ve created from your photos, emoji, or Memoji onto any image you’re editing in Markup. It’s a fun way to personalize photos without using a third-party app, and it works on both iPhone and iPad.

How to Add Stickers in Markup

Here’s the step-by-step process for adding a sticker to a photo using Markup:

1. Open the Photos app and select the photo you want to edit.
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
3. Tap the Markup button (the circle with three dots inside a circle) at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap the + button in the bottom-right corner of the Markup toolbar.
5. Select Add Sticker from the menu that appears.
6. Choose a sticker from your sticker collection (these are the stickers you’ve created or saved in the emoji keyboard).
7. Drag the sticker to position it on the photo, and use two fingers to pinch to resize or rotate it.
8. Tap anywhere outside the sticker to confirm its placement.
9. Tap Done to save your edited photo.

You can add multiple stickers to the same photo. Each sticker is treated as a separate object, so you can move, resize, or delete them individually by tapping on them and selecting the appropriate option.

What Stickers Can You Use?

Markup stickers come from the same sticker collection you use in Messages. This includes:

• Emoji stickers – any emoji you can access from the keyboard.
• Memoji stickers – personalized Memoji you’ve created in Messages.
• Custom stickers – stickers you’ve created by cutting out subjects from photos (using the “Cut Outâ€� feature in iOS 16 or later).
• Third-party sticker packs – if you’ve downloaded sticker packs from the App Store that are compatible with the emoji keyboard.

If you don’t see your stickers, make sure they are saved in your sticker collection. To create a custom sticker from a photo, open the photo, touch and hold the subject, then select “Add Sticker� from the pop-up menu. That sticker will then appear in your sticker collection and be available in Markup.

How to Create Custom Stickers from Photos

Creating a custom sticker is a two-step process. First, you need to cut out the subject from a photo. Here’s how:

1. Open the photo with the subject you want to turn into a sticker.
2. Touch and hold the subject until a white outline appears.
3. Tap Add Sticker in the pop-up menu.
4. The sticker is now saved to your sticker collection.

You can then use that sticker in Markup by following the steps in the previous section. Note that this feature works best with photos where the subject is clearly separated from the background. If the outline is jagged or incomplete, try a different photo or adjust the lighting.

Common Problems and Solutions

If you’re having trouble adding stickers, here are some common issues and fixes:

• Stickers not appearing in Markup: Make sure you’re running iOS 17 or later. The sticker feature is not available in earlier versions. Also, check that your stickers are saved in the sticker collection (open the emoji keyboard in Messages and look for the sticker icon).
• Can’t move or resize a sticker: Tap on the sticker to select it. You should see a bounding box with handles. Drag the handles to resize, and use the rotate handle (above the box) to turn it.
• Sticker disappears after saving: This can happen if you tap “Doneâ€� before confirming the sticker placement. Make sure you tap outside the sticker to lock it in place before tapping Done.
• Sticker looks pixelated: Stickers are saved at a fixed resolution. If you enlarge them too much, they will look blurry. Try to resize them to a size close to their original resolution.
• Can’t add stickers to PDFs: Markup in the Files app does not support adding stickers. Stickers are only available in the Photos app’s Markup editor.

Alternatives to Markup Stickers

If you want more sticker options or more control over placement, there are several alternatives:

• Use the Photos app’s built-in “Cut Outâ€� feature – this creates a sticker that you can use in Messages and Markup, but it doesn’t let you add effects like outlines or shadows.
• Third-party photo editing apps – apps like Picsart, Canva, and Snapseed offer extensive sticker libraries and editing tools. They often allow you to add text, filters, and other effects alongside stickers.
• Use the Messages app to send stickers – if you just want to send a sticker to someone, you can do that directly in Messages without using Markup.
• Use the “Markupâ€� in Mail – if you’re editing an image attachment in an email, you can use Markup there too, but stickers are not available in that context.

Each alternative has its own learning curve, but Markup is the simplest for quick edits on your iPhone or iPad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do stickers work in Markup on iPad?

Yes, stickers work in Markup on iPad as long as you have iPadOS 17 or later. The process is the same as on iPhone, but you may need to use an Apple Pencil or your finger to tap the + button and select Add Sticker.

Can I add stickers to a PDF using Markup?

No, the sticker feature is only available in the Photos app’s Markup editor. If you open a PDF in the Files app and use Markup, you won’t see the Add Sticker option. You can still draw, add text, and use shapes, but not stickers.

Why don’t I see the Add Sticker option in Markup?

The most common reason is that you’re running an older version of iOS or iPadOS. Stickers were introduced in iOS 17. Check your software version by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If you’re up to date and still don’t see the option, make sure you have at least one sticker saved in your sticker collection.

Can I use a sticker I created in a third-party app in Markup?

If the third-party app adds stickers to your sticker collection (the one accessible from the emoji keyboard), then yes, they will appear in Markup. However, many apps have their own internal sticker libraries that don’t integrate with the system sticker collection. In that case, you’ll need to use the app’s own editing tools.

How do I delete a sticker from my collection?

Open the emoji keyboard in any app (like Messages), tap the sticker icon (the one that looks like a folded square), then touch and hold the sticker you want to delete. A menu will appear with the option to delete it. Deleting a sticker from your collection will remove it from Markup as well.

Can I add stickers to Live Photos?

Yes, you can add stickers to Live Photos, but the sticker will only appear on the still frame you see when editing. The Live Photo effect (motion) will still work, but the sticker will remain static. If you want the sticker to move with the photo, you’ll need to use a video editing app.

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