(Credit: René Ramos; Pornprasit Panada/Shutterstock; Apple)
Emoji provide a fun way to express yourself in a message, but the selection of built-in options can be limited, even on an iPhone or iPad. Why not create your own? With a device that supports Apple Intelligence, you can now do it with ease.
Introduced with iOS 18.2, the Genmoji feature lets you make custom emoji by describing the character, object, or symbol you want to create. Alternatively, type the name of someone identified in your photo library and choose a specific photo. Apple’s AI then works its magic to turn the subject into an emoji. Your new Genmoji can then be copied, shared, captioned, turned into a sticker, or used in any app from the emoji keyboard.
To use Genmoji and other Apple Intelligence AI features, you must have a supported device. That includes any iPhone 16, an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, any iPad model with an M1 chip or later, or a 2024 iPad mini with an A17 Pro chip. Mac support is coming in 2025 with macOS Sequoia 15.3.
Activate Apple Intelligence
In order to use the Genmoji feature, you'll also need to update your iPhone or iPad to version 18.2 if you haven’t already done so. Head to Settings > General > Software Update and tap the Update Now button. Next, enable Apple Intelligence. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and turn on the switch next to Apple Intelligence if it’s not already on.
Generate a Genmoji From a Description
Now, open an app in which you want to create a Genmoji. Apple Messages is a safe bet, so let’s use that one. In Messages, open a conversation, tap the Emoji icon on the virtual keyboard or the Globe icon, and change the keyboard to Emoji. Next, tap the face icon to the right of the Describe an Emoji field and type a description of the emoji you want.
You can also select the microphone icon under the keyboard and describe the emoji verbally. Based on your description, the Genmoji appears on the screen. To flesh it out further, you can add more words with further details, and the image is modified.
Apple’s AI creates a few different versions of the Genmoji. Swipe left and right on the image to view the various versions. When you find one you like, tap Done to insert it into your text. You can now add or edit the message that will accompany the image. When done, tap the arrow icon to send the Genmoji.
Generate the Genmoji From a Photo
Instead of describing the image, you can create a Genmoji based on a person in your photo library. For this to work, the person must be identified by name through the Photos app. Again, tap the face icon next to the Describe an Emoji box and type the name of someone in your photo library. Tap the Choose option just above the keyboard or the Choose a Person button on the main screen.
A list of people identified by name in your photo library appears. Tap the photo for the person on which you want to base the Genmoji. The next screen lets you choose a starting point, meaning a specific photo from which to base the Genmoji. Swipe left and right on the generated images. If you don’t see one you like, tap Choose Other Photo and pick a different photo of the person.
When finished, tap Done. You can now swipe left and right to view the different versions of the Genmoji. When you find the one you like best, tap Add and then tap the arrow to send the image to the recipient.
Generate the Genmoji From an Emoji
If you can’t find a suitable photo from your library, you can create a Genmoji from a generic image. To try this, type any name in the description field and then tap the Choose option above the keyboard or the Choose a Person button on the main screen. From the list of people, select Emoji.
At the screen to choose a person, select Appearance and choose one of the small icons at the bottom. You can also alter the skin tone by selecting one of the colored circles. When finished, tap Done. Swipe to the left and right to view different versions of the image and select your preferred image, then tap Done and Add.
How to Edit a Genmoji
Before sending the Genmoji to someone else, you can run other actions on it. With the Genmoji on the screen, tap the ellipsis icon next to it. From the menu, select Copy to paste the image elsewhere. Select Share to send it to another person or app. Select Save to Stickers to add it to your Sticker library. Tap Add Caption to write a caption for the Genmoji that others can see.
Apple Fan?
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