Current availability
Hatch is available for iPhone on the App Store. It requires iOS 18 or later, Photos access for source selection, and an internet connection for generation.
Hatch by FOF Labs · AI sticker generator for iPhone
One photo.
A whole reaction pack.
Hatch is an iPhone app from FOF Labs LLC that turns one confirmed photo into a consistent animated pixel-art sticker pack for Messages.
Last updated
confirmed photo
Quick answer
What does Hatch do?
Hatch takes one photo of a person, pet, food, or object and creates a coordinated set of expressive stickers. The result is a pack, not a single cutout, with reactions such as laughing, loving, surprised, annoyed, and sleepy. Completed packs are kept in Hatch's local library and can be used through its Messages extension.
How it works
From camera roll to conversation.
- 01
Choose and confirm
Pick a clear subject, adjust the square crop, preview it, and confirm that exact image before upload.
- 02
Let the pack hatch
Hatch sends the confirmed source through its online generation service and creates a consistent set of pixel-art expressions. Generation commonly takes around a minute, but network and provider load can make it longer.
- 03
Keep and use it
Hatch installs only a complete pack. The local library is shared with Hatch's Messages extension so the same stickers are available in the app and conversations.
Surprise Me is the deliberate exception to the normal preview flow: after you tap it, Hatch screens recent photos on device and uploads the selected result without another preview. Nothing runs or uploads from a reminder in the background. Read the complete photo and retention policy.
Comparison
Hatch, Live Stickers, or a sticker editor?
These tools solve different jobs. Choose based on the result you want rather than treating one as a universal replacement.
| Approach | What it makes | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Hatch | A coordinated pixel-art pack with multiple animated reactions, generated from one confirmed photo. | A personal subject you want to use repeatedly as an expressive Messages pack. |
| Apple Live Stickers | A lifted subject from a photo. Motion comes from a Live Photo, and Apple offers effects such as Comic or Shiny. | Keeping the look or captured motion of the original subject with Apple's built-in tools. |
| Manual sticker editor | A design you crop, arrange, caption, and style yourself, depending on the editor. | Precise layout, text, borders, or art direction. Hatch is not a general-purpose design canvas. |
Apple documents how its built-in option works in Make stickers from your photos on iPhone.
Availability and limits
What to know before you hatch.
Generation limits
Clear, well-lit photos with one recognizable subject work best. Screenshots, text-heavy images, crowded scenes, or a tiny subject may be rejected or produce a weaker result.
Storage and privacy
Finished packs live in local storage shared by Hatch and its Messages extension. Generation runs online and source photos are not published as a permanent gallery.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is Hatch by FOF Labs an AI sticker generator?
Yes. Hatch is an iPhone app from FOF Labs LLC that uses a confirmed photo to generate a consistent pixel-art reaction pack. The finished pack includes animated reactions for use in Hatch and its Messages extension.
Can Hatch animate a regular still photo?
Yes. Hatch can start from a regular photo. It generates a new reaction pack rather than replaying motion captured in the source photo.
Does Hatch work in Apple Messages?
Yes. Completed packs appear in Hatch's Messages extension, where a sticker can be inserted or peeled onto a message.
Does Hatch upload my photo?
Yes, because generation runs online. A manually chosen photo uploads only after its crop is previewed and confirmed. If you explicitly use Surprise Me, Hatch screens recent photos on device and uploads the selected result without another preview.
Where can I get Hatch?
Hatch is available for iPhone on the App Store and requires iOS 18 or later.
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