Genmoji are AI-generated emoji you make yourself on Apple devices

Genmoji are custom emoji created by artificial intelligence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Unlike standard emoji, which Apple provides as fixed images, Genmoji generate based on what you describe — you can ask for a cat wearing sunglasses, a pizza slice with a face, or anything else you imagine. Apple creates them using on-device processing, meaning the image generation happens on your device rather than on Apple's servers.

You create Genmoji through the same keyboard where you access regular emoji. The feature is built into iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later. If you have a compatible device and the right software version, you do not need to read anything separate — the tool is already there.

Key Takeaways

  • Genmoji appear in your emoji keyboard on iPhone, iPad, and Mac running the latest Apple operating systems, alongside your regular emoji.
  • You describe what you want — a style, an object, an expression — and the AI generates a small square image that works like any other emoji.
  • Generated Genmoji save to your device and sync across your Apple devices if you use iCloud, so you can reuse them in messages and apps.
  • The generation happens on your device itself, not on Apple's servers, so you do not need to send descriptions to the internet.

Open the emoji keyboard and find the Genmoji button

On iPhone or iPad, open any app where you can type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or a text field in any other app. Tap the emoji button (the smiley face icon) on your keyboard to open the emoji picker. At the top of the emoji panel, you will see a row of category icons. Look for a star or sparkle icon — that is the Genmoji section.

On Mac, click in a text field and open the emoji picker by pressing Control + Command + Space. The same category icons appear at the top. Select the Genmoji category (marked with a star or sparkle) to access the creation tool.

If you do not see the Genmoji category, your device may not be running the required software version. Check that you have iOS 18.1 or later on iPhone, iPadOS 18.1 or later on iPad, or macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later on Mac. Genmoji also requires a compatible Apple chip — iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPad Pro with M1 or later, or Mac with Apple Silicon.

Describe what you want and let the AI generate options

Once you are in the Genmoji section, you will see a text field that says something like "Describe a Genmoji." Type what you want: "a sleepy cat," "a robot made of pizza," "a smiling cloud with sunglasses," or any other description. Be specific about style, mood, or details if you want a particular look.

After you type your description, tap the generate button (usually a plus icon or a create button). The AI processes your request on your device and shows you four different versions of what you described. Each version interprets your description slightly differently — one might be more cartoonish, another more realistic, another with different colors or expressions.

Look through the four options and tap the one you like best. If none of them match what you imagined, you can go back, change your description, and generate again. There is no limit to how many times you can generate new versions.

Save your Genmoji and use it like a regular emoji

When you select a Genmoji you like, it saves to your device automatically. The image appears in your Genmoji section so you can use it again later without regenerating it. If you use iCloud, your Genmoji sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so a Genmoji you create on your phone is available on your Mac without any extra steps.

Once saved, you use Genmoji exactly like regular emoji. Tap it in the emoji picker to insert it into a message, email, note, or any other text field. You can send it to other people in Messages or Mail. The person receiving it sees it as an image file, not as a live Genmoji — they see the final picture, not the description you used to create it.

You can also edit or delete Genmoji you have created. In the Genmoji section of your emoji picker, press and hold (or right-click on Mac) a Genmoji to see options to remove it or regenerate a new version based on the same description.

Understand what works well in descriptions

The AI works best when you describe objects, animals, expressions, or styles clearly. Descriptions like "a happy dog," "a coffee cup with a face," or "a robot in the style of 1950s cartoons" tend to produce good results. The AI understands common objects, emotions, and art styles.

Descriptions that are too vague — "something cool" or "make it nice" — may produce results that do not match what you wanted. Descriptions that ask for text, specific people's faces, or complex scenes may not work as well. If a description does not produce what you want, try rephrasing it with more specific details about color, style, or mood.

Keep in mind that Genmoji are small — they display at emoji size, which is roughly the height of a line of text. Details that look good at that size work better than intricate designs that would be hard to see when tiny.

Check your device and software requirements

Genmoji require specific hardware and software. On iPhone, you need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model running iOS 18.1 or later. On iPad, you need an iPad Pro with M1 chip or later, or an iPad Air with M1 chip or later, running iPadOS 18.1 or later. On Mac, you need a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later) running macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later.

If your device does not meet these requirements, you cannot create Genmoji. You can still use regular emoji, and you can receive and view Genmoji that other people send you, but you cannot generate new ones yourself.

To check your software version, go to Settings on iPhone or iPad and select General, then About. On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then About. Look for the version number and compare it to the requirements above. If you are not on the latest version, go to Settings > General > Software Update (iPhone and iPad) or System Settings > General > Software Update (Mac) to install the latest release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share a Genmoji with someone who has an Android phone?

Yes. When you send a Genmoji in a message or email, it converts to a regular image file. The person receiving it sees a picture, not a live Genmoji. Android phones, Windows computers, and any other device can view and open the image, though they cannot edit or regenerate it.

Do I need an internet connection to create Genmoji?

No. Genmoji generation happens on your device using its built-in processor, so you do not need to be connected to the internet. However, if you want your Genmoji to sync across your devices using iCloud, you need an internet connection for that sync to happen.

Can I edit a Genmoji after I create it?

You cannot edit the image itself, but you can regenerate a new version. Press and hold the Genmoji in your emoji picker and select the option to regenerate. You can also delete it and create a new one with a different description.

What happens if I run out of storage space on my device?

Genmoji take up very little storage because they are small image files. You would need to create thousands of them before storage became an issue. If you do delete Genmoji to free up space, they are gone unless you regenerate them again.

Can I use Genmoji in apps other than Messages and Mail?

Yes. Genmoji work in any app that lets you type and access the emoji keyboard — Notes, reminders, social media apps, email clients, and most other text-based apps. If the app has a text field and an emoji button, you can insert a Genmoji there.