Apple Hig Imessage Apps And Stickers

---
name: apple-hig-imessage-apps-and-stickers
description: Use when designing or reviewing Messages apps, compact/expanded conversation workflows, sticker packs, sticker descriptions, or Messages extension artwork.
---

# Fit one expressive task into the conversation

Read [iMessage apps and stickers](../../references/imessage-apps-and-stickers.md). Inspect the shared/collaborative action, host-app content, compact/expanded views, sticker art, and requested design/review/adaptation. Preserve the existing stack; the source covers iOS/iPadOS Messages experiences and excludes the other platforms.

Choose one quickly understood experience. A lightweight decision, game, or relevant host-app content belongs in the conversation; unrelated collections/functions may need separate apps rather than one overloaded panel. Put frequent actions in compact view and reserve extras, especially text editing, for expanded view so the keyboard does not obscure the task.

For stickers, evaluate expression and inclusion at actual scale over varied conversation backgrounds. Use transparency when it helps integration, and keep meaning readable after scaling/rotation. Provide a localized VoiceOver description for each sticker that conveys its expression rather than a filename. Choose one pack-wide size and a format appropriate to transparency/animation, checking the guide's dimension and maximum-file-size specifications. Let the system mask square-cornered icon source art instead of pre-rounding it.

**Before → decision → after:** A dinner-planning extension presents its entire restaurant app and a text field in compact view, while a sticker named “asset_14” disappears over dark bubbles. Decision: the conversation needs a quick vote and understandable expression. After, compact view exposes the current choices/vote, expanded view handles custom suggestions, and the sticker gains contrast-resilient artwork plus a localized description such as “Excited to join.”

Deliver compact/expanded task flows and corrected sticker/icon export inventory or implementation. Fail if the keyboard hides a required action, a sticker loses meaning on common backgrounds, or pack assets violate the chosen size/format contract. File checks do not establish actual Messages/FaceTime presentation, localized speech, or conversation collaboration; report supported execution separately.

Use [Images](../../../apple-hig-foundations/.topics/apple-hig-images/SKILL.md) for exports, [Inclusion](../../../apple-hig-foundations/.topics/apple-hig-inclusion/SKILL.md) for expression assumptions, and [VoiceOver](../apple-hig-voiceover/SKILL.md) for meaningful descriptions.