How to make a sticker pack app for iOS and Android in 2026

Step 1

Prepare your sticker assets

Before you open Xcode or Android Studio, your artwork needs to be the right size, format, transparency, padding, and file weight. Most sticker app problems come from assets that are too large, have a solid background, use the wrong dimensions, or do not match the filenames in the app configuration.

Sticker file requirements

Make a master version of each sticker at high resolution, then export platform-ready files from the master. Do not edit the compressed export repeatedly because quality gets worse each time.

Recommended tools

You only need one design tool and one optimizer. Choose tools you are comfortable with; the important part is exporting the exact specs.

• Design and cleanup: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Procreate, Photopea, or Canva Pro if it can export transparent PNGs.
• Free background removal:remove.bg, Photopea, or your design app's subject selection tools. Always inspect the edges after automatic background removal.
• PNG compression: TinyPNG, ImageOptim, Squoosh, or pngquant.
• WebP conversion: Squoosh, XnConvert, Photoshop export, Android Studio conversion, or cwebp.
• Batch resizing: Figma export settings, Photoshop Image Processor, XnConvert, ImageMagick, or a simple script.

Prepare a master sticker template

1. Create a 512×512 px canvas with a transparent background.
2. Add guides 16 px from every edge. Keep the important art inside those guides.
3. Place your sticker art centered on the canvas.
4. Use consistent stroke width, shadow style, and visual scale across the whole pack.
5. Export a master transparent PNG for each sticker.

Transparency and backgrounds

All sticker files must have a transparent background. This means exporting as PNG with alpha or WebP with alpha. JPEG is only acceptable for iMessage stickers that intentionally have a rectangular background; it is a bad default for sticker packs.

• Do not export with a white, black, or colored background. It will show as a square in chat apps.
• Do not use JPEG. JPEG does not support transparency.
• Check your exports by placing them on a colored background in your design tool. If you see a box around the sticker, the background isn't transparent.

Export iMessage sticker files

Choose one sticker size for the whole iMessage pack in Xcode. Medium is the safest default because it looks substantial without crowding the tray.

• Export static stickers as transparent PNG.
• Export animated stickers as APNG or GIF and keep each file under 500 KB.
• Use the same visual size across the pack so one sticker does not look tiny next to another.

Export WhatsApp sticker files

1. Resize each static sticker to exactly 512×512 px.
2. Export as WebP with transparency.
3. Compress each static sticker to 100 KB or less.
4. Create a 96×96 px transparent PNG tray icon under 50 KB.
5. Prepare at least 3 stickers and no more than 30 stickers per pack folder.

Tray icons and app icons

In addition to individual stickers, you need icons for the sticker tray and the app store listing.

iOS tray icon

• Xcode uses your sticker pack assets for the Messages tray experience.
• You still need a 1024×1024 px app icon for App Store Connect.
• The app icon must be square, opaque, and have no transparency or rounded corners.

Android / WhatsApp tray icon

• WhatsApp tray icon: 96×96 px PNG with transparency, under 50 KB.
• Play Store icon: 512×512 px PNG, no transparency.
• Feature graphic: 1024×500 px PNG or JPEG for the Play Store banner.

Animated stickers

Animated stickers are harder to ship because file sizes grow quickly. Start with static stickers unless animation is central to the pack.

• iMessage supports animated sticker files such as APNG and GIF under 500 KB each.
• WhatsApp sticker apps support animated sticker files up to 500 KB when the app/template is configured for them.
• Keep loops short, simple, and readable at small sizes.
• Test on a real device. Simulators do not always reveal playback or file-size problems.

How many stickers do you need?

For a public app, aim for 12 to 30 stickers in a starter pack. Fewer than that can feel unfinished, even when the store technically allows it. WhatsApp packs require at least 3 stickers and allow up to 30 stickers per pack.

File naming conventions

• Use lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only
• No spaces or special characters
• Sequential numbering: sticker_01.png, sticker_02.png
• Tray icon: tray_icon.png (Android) or handled in Xcode (iOS)

Optimizing file size

1. PNG: Run through TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or Squoosh. Keep iMessage exports under 500 KB.
2. WebP: Use lossy compression around 80 to 90% quality, then lower quality only if needed to get under 100 KB.
3. Remove metadata: Strip EXIF data from exports.
4. Check every file: Do not assume one good export setting works for every sticker. Detailed art often needs extra compression.

Quality checklist

• Correct dimensions for the selected platform and Xcode sticker size
• Transparent background (no white/colored box)
• 16 px minimum padding from canvas edges
• Under file size limits: 100 KB static WhatsApp WebP, 50 KB WhatsApp tray icon, 500 KB iMessage sticker
• Consistent naming convention
• Tray icon and app icon prepared at required sizes
• You own the artwork or have written permission to use it commercially

Step 2

Set up your developer accounts

You can prepare stickers before you pay for anything, but you need developer accounts before you can publish under your own name. Create these accounts early because identity checks, organization verification, and store access can take longer than the actual sticker build.

Account costs and timing

Apple Developer Program setup

1. Create or choose the Apple Account that will own the app. Use an email you can keep long term, not a temporary contractor email.
2. Go to Apple Developer Program enrollment.
3. Choose Individual if you are publishing under your personal legal name, or Organization if a company should appear as the seller. Organizations usually need a D-U-N-S Number and authority to bind the company.
4. Complete identity verification, accept the license agreement, and pay the annual membership fee.
5. Confirm you can sign in to App Store Connect. This is where you create the app listing after uploading the Xcode build.

Apple details to decide before building

• App name: The public name users see in the App Store and on device. Keep it short, searchable, and specific to your pack.
• Bundle ID: A unique identifier such as com.yourbrand.stickers. It must match Xcode and App Store Connect.
• SKU: An internal ID for App Store Connect, such as stickers-001. Users do not see it.
• Privacy policy URL: Required even if your sticker app collects no personal data.

Google Play Console setup

1. Create or choose the Google Account that should own the app and go to Play Console signup.
2. Choose a personal or organization account. Organization accounts require business details and may avoid the extra production-access testing requirement that applies to new personal accounts.
3. Accept the developer agreement and pay the $25 registration fee.
4. Complete identity verification. Google may ask for a government ID, payment profile details, phone number, and address.
5. Create your app in Play Console after your Android package name is final. The package name, such as com.yourbrand.stickers, cannot be changed after publishing.

Google details to decide before building

• Package name: Use lowercase reverse-domain format, for example com.yourbrand.stickerpack. Do not use com.whatsapp, sample names, or someone else's brand.
• App signing: Let Google Play manage app signing, but still save your upload keystore and passwords. You need them for future updates.
• Contact email: Shown on the Play listing. Use an inbox you monitor.
• Privacy policy URL: Required for the listing and Data safety form, even for no-data apps.

Before you move on

• You can sign in to App Store Connect and Play Console.
• Your app name is available or you have a backup name.
• You chose final bundle/package IDs.
• You know whether the app will be free or paid.
• You have a privacy policy URL ready.
• You planned extra time for Google closed testing if required.

Step 3

How to make an iOS sticker pack app in Xcode

iOS is the simpler platform for sticker apps because Apple provides a dedicated Sticker Pack App template in Xcode. You do not need to write code for a basic pack. You create the project, drag your sticker files into the sticker asset catalog, configure signing and icons, test in Messages, then upload the archive to App Store Connect.

Prerequisites

• Mac with a macOS version supported by the current Xcode release
• Current Xcode from the Mac App Store or Apple Developer downloads
• Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year)
• Sticker PNGs prepared per the asset section
• 1024×1024 opaque app icon with no rounded corners
• Privacy policy URL

Install Xcode and sign in

1. Install Xcode from the Mac App Store.
2. Open Xcode once so it can install additional components.
3. In Xcode, open Settings → Accounts and add the Apple Account enrolled in the Apple Developer Program.
4. Select the account and confirm your team appears. If it does not, finish enrollment at developer.apple.com/account.

Create a new Sticker Pack project

1. Open Xcode → File → New → Project
2. Select the iOS tab → choose Sticker Pack App
3. Fill in Product Name, Team, Organization Identifier (e.g. com.yourname), and save

Choose identifiers carefully

• Product Name: The project name in Xcode. It can match your public app name.
• Organization Identifier: Reverse-domain prefix such as com.yourbrand.
• Bundle Identifier: Xcode combines the prefix and product name. Make it match the Bundle ID you create in App Store Connect.
• Team: Your enrolled developer team. Without this, distribution signing will not work.

Add your stickers

1. Click Stickers.xcstickers in the Project Navigator
2. Drag PNG files into the Sticker Pack folder
3. Xcode validates dimensions and file sizes automatically
4. Remove any placeholder stickers before shipping

Configure sticker pack settings

• Sticker Size: Small, Medium, or Large. Match this to the export size you prepared: 300, 408, or 618 px.
• Display name: Keep the app name concise so it does not truncate badly on device.
• App Icon: Add your 1024×1024 icon in the asset catalog and let Xcode generate smaller slots if prompted.

Set up signing and certificates

Automatic signing (recommended)

1. Select your target → Signing & Capabilities
2. Check Automatically manage signing
3. Select your Team from the dropdown

App Store Connect bundle ID

1. Go to Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles.
2. Create an App ID if Xcode did not create one automatically.
3. Use the same bundle identifier shown in Xcode.
4. Return to Xcode and confirm signing shows no errors.

Test, archive, and upload

1. Run on a simulator or real iPhone with Product → Run.
2. Open Messages, start a conversation, tap the app drawer, and find your sticker app.
3. Send several stickers and peel one onto a message bubble to check scale and transparency.
4. Fix any blurry, cropped, oversized, or white-background stickers.
5. Set the build destination to Any iOS Device or a generic iOS device.
6. Increment the version/build if needed under target settings.
7. Product → Archive → Distribute App → App Store Connect.

Once uploaded, continue to App Store submission to complete your listing.

What to prepare for App Store Connect

• App name, subtitle, category, and keywords.
• Short promotional text and full description.
• Support URL and privacy policy URL.
• Age rating questionnaire answers.
• iPhone screenshots that show the sticker tray and stickers in Messages.
• Review notes explaining that this is an iMessage sticker pack.

Common iOS issues

Step 4

How to make a WhatsApp sticker app for Android

Android sticker packs for WhatsApp are distributed as a normal Android app. The app exposes sticker files through WhatsApp's content provider integration. Users install your app, open it, tap Add to WhatsApp, and then your stickers appear in their WhatsApp tray.

How WhatsApp sticker apps work

1. User installs your app from Google Play
2. User taps “Add to WhatsApp”
3. Your app registers a content provider with WhatsApp
4. WhatsApp reads contents.json and sticker files
5. Stickers appear in the user's WhatsApp tray

Install the Android tools

1. Install Android Studio.
2. Open Android Studio once and install the recommended Android SDK packages.
3. Install Git if your computer does not already have it. You can also download the WhatsApp repository as a ZIP, but Git makes updates easier.
4. Install WhatsApp on a real Android phone for testing. The emulator is useful for layout checks, but the Add to WhatsApp flow should be tested on a real device.

Fork or copy the WhatsApp sticker template

1. Open github.com/WhatsApp/stickers and fork it to your own GitHub account if you want version control.
2. Clone your fork, or download the repository ZIP and extract it locally.
3. Open the Android/ folder in Android Studio.
4. Let Gradle sync complete
5. Run the sample app once before changing anything so you know the starting project works.

Rename the app and package

1. Choose a unique package name such as com.yourbrand.stickers. This becomes the permanent Google Play app ID.
2. In Android Studio, update the application ID in the app's Gradle configuration to your package name.
3. Update app name strings so the launcher and Play listing use your brand.
4. Replace launcher icons in the Android resources with your own icon.
5. Search the project for sample names and replace only values that refer to app identity or sample metadata.

Add your sticker files

app/src/main/assets/
  └── 1/
      ├── tray_icon.png       ← 96×96 px
      ├── sticker_01.webp     ← 512×512 px
      ├── sticker_02.webp
      ├── sticker_03.webp
      └── ...

Each numbered folder is one sticker pack. If you have more than one pack, add sibling folders such as 2, 3, and 4. Each folder needs its own tray icon and sticker files.

Create contents.json

{
  "android_play_store_link": "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yourname.stickers",
  "ios_app_store_link": "https://apps.apple.com/app/id0000000000",
  "sticker_packs": [{
    "identifier": "1",
    "name": "My Cool Stickers",
    "publisher": "Your Name",
    "tray_image_file": "tray_icon.png",
    "publisher_email": "[email protected]",
    "publisher_website": "https://example.com",
    "privacy_policy_website": "https://example.com/privacy",
    "license_agreement_website": "https://example.com/terms",
    "stickers": [
      { "image_file": "sticker_01.webp", "emojis": ["😀", "🎉"] },
      { "image_file": "sticker_02.webp", "emojis": ["😍"] },
      { "image_file": "sticker_03.webp", "emojis": ["😂"] }
    ]
  }]
}

Validate contents.json before testing

• JSON syntax is valid: commas, quotes, brackets, and braces all match.
• Every image_file exactly matches a file in the asset folder.
• tray_image_file exactly matches the tray icon filename.
• Every sticker has 512×512 px dimensions and meets the file-size limit.
• The Play Store package ID in the link matches your final application ID.
• Publisher, website, email, privacy policy, and license links are yours.

Generate a signing keystore

Back up your keystore. Losing it means you can never update your app with the same upload key unless Google helps you reset it through Play App Signing.

1. Build → Generate Signed Bundle/APK
2. Select Android App Bundle → create new keystore
3. Store the .jks file and password securely

Build and test

1. Run a debug build on a real Android phone.
2. Open your app and confirm each sticker pack appears with the correct tray icon.
3. Tap Add to WhatsApp for each pack.
4. Open WhatsApp, start a chat, and send several stickers from each pack.
5. Check that stickers have transparent backgrounds, correct scale, and no missing files.
6. Build a signed Android App Bundle (.aab) for Google Play.

Common Android issues

What to prepare for Google Play

• Signed release .aab.
• 512×512 app icon and 1024×500 feature graphic.
• Phone screenshots that show your app and the stickers inside WhatsApp.
• Short description, full description, support email, and privacy policy URL.
• Data safety answers that match what the app actually collects.
• Tester list if your Play account needs closed testing.

Once your .aab is ready, continue to publishing.

Step 5

Submit to the app stores

Your app is built and signed. Now create store listings, upload metadata, answer policy questions, attach screenshots, and submit for review. The store listing matters for both approval and downloads, so treat it as part of the product, not an afterthought.

Apple App Store Connect

Create your app record

1. Go to appstoreconnect.apple.com
2. My Apps → + → New App
3. Set platform, name, primary language, bundle ID (must match Xcode), and SKU

Complete app information

Write an App Store listing that can rank

• Name:Include the brand or theme and the word “stickers” only if it reads naturally.
• Subtitle:Explain the use case, such as “Funny reaction stickers for iMessage.”
• Keywords: Use comma-separated relevant phrases without repeating words from the app name when possible.
• Description: Mention who the pack is for, what styles are included, how to use it in Messages, and that more stickers can be added through updates.

App Store screenshots and previews

• Show the sticker tray in Messages.
• Show stickers sent in a conversation so users understand the result.
• Use clean mock conversations and avoid real private messages.
• Do not use Apple, WhatsApp, celebrity, or copyrighted branding unless you have rights.
• App previews are optional; screenshots are usually enough for a sticker pack.

Submit for review

1. Select the build uploaded from Xcode (may take 10 to 30 min to appear)
2. Complete pricing and availability. Free packs do not need paid app agreements.
3. Complete App Privacy and age rating questionnaires.
4. Add review notes: explain that this is an iMessage sticker pack and how to find it in Messages.
5. Add for Review → Submit to App Review
6. Most sticker apps reviewed within 24 to 48 hours

Google Play Console

Create your app

1. Go to play.google.com/console
2. Create app → fill app name, default language, app/game, and free/paid status
3. Complete the app setup checklist in the Dashboard

Store listing & policies

• App icon (512×512), feature graphic (1024×500), screenshots
• Content rating (IARC questionnaire)
• Data safety declaration and privacy policy URL
• Target audience and content settings
• Ads declaration, even if the app has no ads
• App access instructions if any feature requires a login, which sticker apps usually do not

Write a Google Play listing that converts

• Short description:One clear sentence with the theme, platform, and benefit, such as “Add cute cat reaction stickers to WhatsApp.”
• Full description: Explain what is in the pack, how to add it to WhatsApp, what updates are planned, and who made it.
• Screenshots: Include the app screen and WhatsApp chat examples. Use readable captions if they help.
• Feature graphic: Use big artwork and very little text because it may be cropped in different Play surfaces.

Closed testing flow for new personal accounts

1. Create a closed testing track in Play Console.
2. Add tester email addresses or a Google Group.
3. Upload your signed .aab to the closed testing track.
4. Share the opt-in link and ask testers to stay opted in for 14 continuous days.
5. Have testers install the app, open it, add stickers to WhatsApp, and send feedback.
6. After the requirement is met, apply for production access and describe your testing honestly.

Upload and publish

1. Release → Production → create a new release and upload .aab
2. Use Play App Signing when prompted
3. Fix any pre-launch report, policy, or bundle warnings
4. Add release notes and start rollout
5. First review typically takes 3 to 7 days

After approval

• iOS stickers appear in the iMessage App Store
• Android users install from Play Store to add stickers to WhatsApp
• Share store links with your audience
• Ask early users to report missing stickers, install problems, or confusing instructions
• Plan regular sticker updates so the app stays useful

Updating your pack

1. iOS: Add stickers in Xcode → increment version → archive → upload
2. Android: Update assets and contents.json → new .aab → upload
3. Update store screenshots if the new stickers materially change the app

Final launch checklist

• All sticker files meet platform dimensions and file-size limits.
• Every sticker was tested in Messages or WhatsApp on a real device.
• App icons, tray icons, screenshots, and feature graphic are final.
• Bundle ID and Android package name match the store records.
• Privacy policy, support URL, and contact email work.
• Store descriptions explain exactly how to use the stickers.
• You saved signing credentials and keystore passwords somewhere secure.
• You have permission to use every character, phrase, logo, and artwork file.