How to add sparkles to a photo on iPhone
In the Photos app, open the photo, tap Edit, then Markup, and draw a star in one stroke: pause and it snaps into a perfect star. Those stay still; for sparkles and glitter that keep moving, open Tada, tap Add effects, pick Classic, Face stickers or Vibes and save it as a Live Photo.
In the Photos app (still sparkles)
- Open Photos and tap the photo you want.
- Tap the Edit button, then tap the Markup button.
- Tap a drawing tool. Draw a star in one stroke with your finger, then pause. A perfect star snaps into place.
- For more, tap the Add button, then Add Sticker to drag on a sticker from your collection, or Add Text to type the sparkles emoji from the emoji keyboard.
- Tap Done to save your edits.
These steps follow Apple’s guides to Markup and editing photos. Everything you add with Markup stays still.
In Tada (sparkles that move)
- Open Tada, tap Add effects and pick a photo.
- Pick a pack with some shine. Classic has sparkles, stars and a starburst. Face stickers has glitter and star tears. Vibes has sequins, confetti, fireworks, bokeh, bubbles and strings of hearts and stars. In about a second the whole set is placed.
- Tap the dice (Shuffle) for a new set. Drag, pinch or turn any sticker to fix it, or drag it to the bin.
- Tap Save. The photo goes to Photos as a Live Photo, and the sparkles keep moving when you touch and hold it.
For a sparkler in your hand, try Things to hold. All of these packs are free, and each saved Live Photo is about 3 seconds long, like the ones your camera takes. Glitter and star tears on the face are a festival look of their own; see star stickers on face and the full set of face stickers.
Which way to use
| Photos app | Tada | |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkles move | No | Yes, saved as a Live Photo |
| How you add them | Draw or place them one by one | A whole set placed at once |
| Cost | Free | Free packs |
Sparkles go well with other small touches: crowns, heart glasses and blush. See more cute photo edits.
Questions
How do I add glitter to a photo on iPhone?
In Tada, tap Add effects, pick the photo and choose Face stickers, which has glitter, or Vibes, which has sequins and confetti. Tap Save to keep it as a Live Photo.
Can I add sparkles in the Photos app?
Yes, with Markup. Tap Edit, then Markup, and draw stars, add stickers from your collection, or type the sparkles emoji with Add Text. They stay still.
Do the sparkles move in the saved photo?
In Tada, yes. The photo is saved to Photos as a Live Photo, and the stickers keep moving when you touch and hold it.
Sources: Apple Support: Edit photos and videos on iPhone · Apple Support: Add text, shapes, stickers, and more with Markup on iPhone · Apple Support: Add emoji, Memoji, and stickers with the iPhone keyboard