Where are iMessage apps in iOS 17? Here’s how to access and customize them

 

 

 

 

A big change comes to Apple’s Messages with a new expandable menu for iMessage apps on iPhone. The update brings a cleaner and simpler UI but at first, you might be thinking, where are iMessage apps in iOS 17? Here’s a look at how to access, add, and customize them.

Apple describes the new UI like this: “An expandable menu that can be accessed with a simple tap to display iMessage apps gives Messages a sleeker look.”

The fresh iMessage app menu arrives alongside new features like Messages stickers, improved search filters, the Check In safety feature, and more. All of these improvements are part of Apple’s efforts to “enhance the way users communicate” on iPhone in iOS 17.

Where are iMessage apps in iOS 17?

iOS 17 is currently in beta. Keep in mind features can change during the beta period.

1. Open the Messages app on your iPhone running iOS 17
2. Instead of apps appearing above the keyboard, tap the + icon to the left of the text field
3. You’ll see the main 6 native apps first
4. Swipe up or tap the More button to see the rest of your iMessage apps
5. Note: Leaving voice messages in the Messages app is now under Audio in the app menu

 

 

 

 

How to add and customize iMessage apps

1. Press, hold, and drag iMessage apps to reorder them – you can move them from the lower section to the top section to prioritize your most used apps
2. On an iPhone 14 Pro, after moving apps from the bottom to the top screen I was able to fit 10 apps (11 including the More button)
3. To add apps, after tapping More, choose Store to add new iMessage apps
   • At this time, the Store can’t be moved from the bottom to the top section
4. In the first beta, there doesn’t appear to be a way to delete Messages apps – that will likely come before long

 

 

 

 

What do you think about the new iMessage app menu? Do you like the cleaner design? Share your thoughts in the comments!

How to make and use iPhone Messages stickers with iOS 17

 

 

 

 

The Messages app gets a number of valuable upgrades with iOS 17. One of the biggest changes is the ability to create and place stickers including emoji, custom ones, and Live Stickers anywhere in a message. Follow along for how to make and use iPhone Messages stickers with iOS 17.

Arriving as a big expansion beyond the six Tapback reactions with iMessage, Apple has an all-new iPhone Messages stickers experience with iOS 17.

There’s tons of fun and customization with the ability to easily make your own static or GIF-style stickers. And you can now use and place any of the emoji, Animoji, Memoji, or even third-party app stickers anywhere in a message.

iPhone Messages stickers: How to make and use with iOS 17

iOS 17 is currently in beta. Keep in mind features can change during the beta period.

1. On iPhone running iOS 17, open the Messages app
2. Tap the + icon to the left of the text field
3. Now choose Stickers
4. Tap the sticker icon (next to the recents clock icon) and choose the “New Sticker” button to make one or tap the emoji or Memoji icon to use existing stickers (read more below on how to make and customize stickers)
5. Drag a sticker into a message and let go to place it where you’d like
6. If you just tap a sticker from the sticker drawer, you can send it in the message like an emoji or text
7. Alternatively, you can make stickers directly in the Photos app by long pressing on a subject in an image, letting go, then tapping Add Sticker

Here’s how it looks to make and use the new iPhone Messages stickers in iOS 17 and more fine details:

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t made any stickers yet, you can tap the second icon to make some or tap the emoji or Memoji icon to immediately start using those stickers (look for the + or “New Sticker” button.

 

 

 

 

Now you can drag your sticker and place it next to a message or press and hold on the sticker to add an effect or rearrange your stickers.

 

 

 

 

Memoji stickers open up a lot of fun options.

And when you’re creating a new sticker, look for the “Live” tab at the top to quickly create “Live Stickers” which are essentially GIF stickers 😁. Even with Live Stickers, you can add an effect.

Make Messages stickers in the Photos app

Along with making stickers in the Messages app, you can also do it any time in the Photos app. Just long press on a subject in a photo, then let go and look for the “Add Sticker” option.

Stickers with SMS texts?

It does work to put stickers in SMS texts but while Apple hasn’t specified, I assume it does not show up for users on the receiving end, but can be seen on the iOS 17 sender’s side.

iPhone Messages stickers wrap-up

All-in-all, the new Messages stickers experience is a fantastic improvement that allows a lot more freedom with communication and expression. And the legacy Tapback reactions for Messages remain as a fast way to respond.

One thing to keep in mind, along with all the other iMessage apps, stickers are behind the new + icon so it takes an extra tap to get to it as opposed to the iOS 16 and earlier UI that had iMessage apps right above the keyboard.