Avoid Sticker FOMO: Transfer Your WhatsApp Stickers to iMessage Easily

After dedicating significant time to cultivating a remarkable collection of WhatsApp stickers, the last thing you want is to be limited to basic text when chatting with someone on iMessage. Fortunately, there’s a way to bridge the gap between the two platforms so you can enjoy your beloved stickers without starting anew.

Understanding Sticker Incompatibility

The primary challenge in sharing stickers between WhatsApp and iMessage lies in differing file formats. WhatsApp utilizes WebP files, which are small, compressed image files that maintain visual quality while ensuring quick loading times—even on slow cellular connections. These stickers are capped at a resolution of 512 x 512 pixels, keeping them lightweight at a maximum of 100 KB.

Conversely, iMessage favors PNG files for static images, with preferences for APNG or HEIC for animated stickers. As Apple’s ecosystem does not support WebP stickers natively, it cannot process the raw data coming from WhatsApp.

Moreover, WhatsApp stores its sticker packs in a localized cache deep within the app, rather than in the iPhone’s camera roll. This storage method complicates any attempts to manually copy stickers, as they are not readily accessible without proper extraction.

Step-by-Step Manual Export and Conversion

Though the manual process for transferring stickers is time-consuming, it comes at no cost and offers complete control over the end result. Begin by utilizing the Export Chat feature in WhatsApp to access the raw files stored in the app’s local cache.

To start, create a new chat with yourself or form a private group where you are the sole member. This will streamline the export process, especially if you have a lengthy conversation history.

Send each sticker you wish to transfer into this designated chat thread. Tap on your contact or group name at the top of the chat screen, scroll to the bottom, and select Export Chat.

When prompted, choose Attach Media. Then, in the Share Sheet that appears, select Save to Files and decide on a familiar location to save your stickers.

Ios Whatsapp Stickers Export Attach Media

Once you’ve extracted the files, you’ll need to convert them from WebP format to PNG, enabling them to be accessible in your Photos app. Fortunately, iPhones launched in recent years come equipped with a built-in converter within the Files app.

Open the Files app and locate the zipped file you just saved. Tap on it once to unzip the contents, creating a new folder with both text documents and WebP sticker files.

Open the new folder, tap the Three-dot menu in the top right corner, and select Select. Choose all the WebP images you need to convert.

Tap the Three-dot menu at the bottom right and choose Quick Actions → Convert Image. Opt for PNG and select your desired file size—sticking to Original is advisable. Your device will swiftly generate PNG copies alongside the originals.

To distinguish between the files, check the date and time information beneath the images. Select the new PNG files and tap the Share icon followed by Save Images to transfer them to your Camera Roll.
With the images now in your Photos app, adding them to iMessage is straightforward. Launch an iMessage chat, click the Plus (+) icon next to the text field, select Stickers, and then tap the New Sticker icon (the blank sticker with a plus sign) to select your newly converted PNGs.

Be mindful that animated stickers will only display as static images within iMessage if this conversion isn’t completed properly.

Enhancing Sticker Quality with Google Lens

Upon transferring your stickers, you may notice a drop in quality, particularly if they appear as low-resolution, heavily compressed images. Since WhatsApp’s stickers are confined to a 512 x 512 pixel limit, moving them to iMessage may highlight this pixelation on devices with retina displays.

For those cherished stickers, consider using Google Lens to locate high-resolution versions of the original artwork.

Save your lower-resolution WebP sticker to Photos in PNG format using the previously mentioned methods.

Open the Google app on your iPhone, tap the Camera icon in the search bar, and allow photo access. Select the low-resolution sticker from your gallery.

Google Lens will often find the original image; select Visual Matches to access higher-resolution versions. Download your preferred high-res image straight to your Camera Roll.

Return to your Photos app, locate the high-resolution image, and long-press the subject. A shimmering white outline will appear around the object, detaching it from the background.
Select the Add Sticker option, which permanently saves the image to your iMessage sticker drawer.

This method ensures that popular reaction memes or cartoon images will look much sharper and clearer in iMessage compared to merely converting from WebP.

Streamlining with Batch Conversion through Third-Party Apps

For users with many stickers to transfer, undertaking manual export and conversion can be laborious. In such cases, third-party applications can be invaluable as they automate much of the process.

These apps generally feature batch import functionality, enabling them to scan your WhatsApp sticker library and compile entire packs for conversion in one go. Typically, importing stickers from WhatsApp is complimentary, but you might encounter fees when moving those stickers into the iMessage keyboard, as the app needs to create a Sticker Pack App container on your device.

While these applications enhance convenience, they often require expansive access to your photo library or raw WhatsApp data for optimal functionality. Given their need to repackage stickers into a mini app extension for iMessage, they can consume considerable storage space on your iPhone. If you are running low on storage, it may be wiser to stick with manual export methods that retain files in your Photos library rather than duplicating them in a third-party app’s vault.

Creating a Cross-Platform Sticker Library

To avoid the monotony of transferring stickers one app at a time each time you switch platforms, consider building a sticker library that exists independently of any specific app.

This can be achieved by setting up a dedicated Sticker Folder using services like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or OneDrive. You may choose to title this folder something recognizable, like “Meme replies.”As you encounter stickers you wish to keep, save every one as a raw, transparent PNG file in this folder.

By doing so, whenever you upgrade devices, switch phones, or start using a new app, accessing your sticker collection is straightforward. Simply visit your cloud folder, locate your stickers, and utilize them as you wish.

Whenever you stumble upon a new favorite sticker in a group chat that you want to save, promptly save the original file, convert it to a PNG, and add it to your Sticker folder. Addressing this task immediately often takes less than a minute, while attempting to recover past stickers from deleted chats later can prove nearly impossible.

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