WhatsApp now adds text to stickers natively, no third-party app required. Open a chat, tap the emoji icon, go to the Stickers tab, tap Create, and pick a photo or take one live. WhatsApp removes the background automatically, then tap the “T” icon to type your text and adjust its size, position, and color before sending. Since January 2026, there’s also a separate way to make text-only stickers: type directly into Sticker Search and WhatsApp turns the words themselves into a sticker.
Turning a photo into a sticker with text
In any chat, tap the emoji icon next to the text box, switch to the Stickers tab, and tap Create. Choose an existing photo from your gallery or take a new one. WhatsApp automatically cuts out the background so only the subject remains. Tap the “T” icon to add your text, drag it to position it, and use the on-screen controls to change its size and color. When it looks right, tap send, and it’s added to your sticker pack for reuse later.
New in 2026: type-to-sticker, no photo needed
WhatsApp’s own announcement in January 2026 added a second way to make text stickers that skips the photo step entirely. Type your words into Sticker Search, and WhatsApp turns the text itself into a sticker you can save straight to a pack. This is a different feature from the photo-plus-text method above, useful when you want a bold word or phrase rather than a labeled image.
When a third-party app is still worth it
Since both native methods now cover the core use case, an app like Sticker.ly is only worth installing if you want bulk sticker-pack creation or animated stickers, features WhatsApp’s own tools don’t offer. For a single sticker with text on it, there’s no longer a reason to leave the app.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to download an app to put text on a WhatsApp sticker? No. WhatsApp’s own sticker creator, inside the Stickers tab, handles this natively.
What’s the difference between the two text-sticker methods? One overlays text on a photo you choose. The other, added in January 2026, turns typed words alone into a sticker with no photo involved.
Can I still make animated or bulk sticker packs without a third-party app? No, that’s the one genuine gap. WhatsApp’s native tool makes one static sticker at a time.
Pritish Ray covers Android and Android updates alongside Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, and Xiaomi devices for The Leaker. Articles include step by step how to guides, gadget roundups, download resources, root tutorials, and top picks lists, plus ongoing news coverage tracking the latest software and hardware developments across these platforms.