How to Turn On Genmoji on Your iPhone or iPad

What Genmoji actually is and where to find it

Genmoji is Apple's tool for creating custom emoji using artificial intelligence. Instead of choosing from Apple's preset emoji library, you describe what you want — "a cat wearing sunglasses" or "a purple dinosaur" — and the system generates an image that looks like an emoji. It's built into the Messages app, Notes app, and the emoji keyboard on iPhones and iPads running iOS 18.1 or later.

Genmoji is not turned on by default. You need to enable it in your device settings, and it requires an internet connection to work. The feature is available only on newer devices: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro with M1 or later, and iPad Air with M1 or later. If you have an older iPhone or iPad, the option will not appear in your settings.

The generated emoji live in your device's emoji keyboard alongside traditional emoji. Once you create one, you can use it in messages, notes, and anywhere else you would normally use an emoji. You can also edit or delete them later.

Key Takeaways

Genmoji requires iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 and works only on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro (M1 or later), or iPad Air (M1 or later).
You enable Genmoji in Settings under Apple Intelligence, then toggle it on.
Once enabled, you access Genmoji through the emoji keyboard in Messages, Notes, and other apps by tapping the sparkle icon.
Creating a Genmoji requires an active internet connection and sends your description to Apple's servers to generate the image.
You can edit, duplicate, or delete any Genmoji you create, and they sync across your Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account.

Check your device and iOS version first

Before you look for the Genmoji setting, confirm your device is compatible. Open Settings, tap General, then About. Look for the iOS or iPadOS version number. You need version 18.1 or later. If your version is 18.0 or earlier, you will need to update your device first.

Next, check your device model. Genmoji works on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro with M1 chip or newer, and iPad Air with M1 chip or newer. If you have an iPhone 15, iPhone 14, or an older iPad, Genmoji is not available on your device, and the setting will not appear even if you update to iOS 18.1.

Enable Apple Intelligence in Settings

Genmoji is part of Apple's broader Apple Intelligence feature set. To turn on Genmoji, you first enable Apple Intelligence on your device. Open Settings, scroll down, and tap Apple Intelligence. You will see a toggle labeled "Apple Intelligence" at the top of the screen. Tap it to turn it on.

Your device will ask you to confirm. Tap "Enable Apple Intelligence" in the popup. This may take a moment to process. Once it is on, you will see additional options below, including one for Genmoji. Some features require you to be signed into iCloud with two-factor authentication enabled, so if you see a message about that, follow the prompts to set it up.

Turn on Genmoji specifically

After Apple Intelligence is enabled, you should see a section for Genmoji in the same Apple Intelligence settings screen. Look for the toggle next to "Genmoji" and tap it to turn it on. The toggle will turn green or blue depending on your device theme.

If you do not see a Genmoji option in Apple Intelligence settings, your device may not be compatible, or your iOS version may not be 18.1 or later. Go back to Settings > General > About and double-check your version number. If it is 18.0, you need to update your device. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the prompts.

Access Genmoji from the emoji keyboard

Once Genmoji is enabled, you can create custom emoji in any app where you would normally use emoji. Open Messages or Notes, tap in the text field, and bring up the keyboard. Look for the emoji button — usually a smiley face icon at the bottom of the keyboard. Tap it to open the emoji picker.

At the top of the emoji picker, you will see a sparkle icon (✨). Tap it to open the Genmoji creation screen. Type a description of what you want — be specific, like "a golden retriever wearing a chef's hat" or "a moon with a sleepy face." Tap the plus button or "Create" to generate the emoji. Apple's servers will process your description and create an image that matches it.

The generated emoji will appear in your emoji keyboard. You can use it when ready in your message, or save it to use later. Tap and hold on any Genmoji you have created to edit it, duplicate it, or delete it.

Understand what happens when you create a Genmoji

When you create a Genmoji, your description is sent to Apple's servers over an encrypted connection. Apple uses that description to generate the image on its servers, then sends the finished emoji back to your device. The description itself is not stored on Apple's servers after the emoji is created, but you should be aware that the text you type is transmitted.

You need an active internet connection — Wi-Fi or cellular — to create a Genmoji. If you are offline, the sparkle icon will not work. Once the emoji is created and saved to your device, you can use it offline in messages and notes.

Manage and sync your Genmoji across devices

Any Genmoji you create is stored on your device. If you sign into the same iCloud account on multiple compatible devices, your Genmoji will sync across them automatically. This means a Genmoji you create on your iPhone 15 Pro will appear in the emoji keyboard on your iPad Pro as well.

To delete a Genmoji, open the emoji keyboard, tap the sparkle icon, find the emoji you want to remove, tap and hold it, and select Delete. To edit one, tap and hold it and select Edit, then change the description and regenerate. You can also duplicate a Genmoji and modify the copy if you want variations of the same idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the sparkle icon does not appear in my emoji keyboard?

The sparkle icon only appears if Genmoji is enabled in Settings and your device is compatible. Go back to Settings > Apple Intelligence and confirm the Genmoji toggle is on. If it is not there at all, your device may not support Genmoji — check that you have an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad Pro (M1+), or iPad Air (M1+) running iOS or iPadOS 18.1 or later.

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

Genmoji appears in the emoji keyboard, so you can use it anywhere the standard emoji keyboard appears — in Mail, third-party messaging apps, social media apps, and most text fields. However, the ability to create new Genmoji is currently limited to Messages and Notes. You can still access and use ones you have already created in other apps.

Does creating a Genmoji cost money?

No. Genmoji is included with Apple Intelligence and does not charge per emoji created. You do need an active internet connection, which may use a small amount of data, but there is no separate fee or subscription required.

What if my Genmoji does not look like what I described?

The AI does its best to interpret your description, but results vary. If the emoji does not match what you wanted, tap and hold it, select Edit, and rewrite the description more specifically. For example, instead of "happy cat," try "orange tabby cat with big smile and closed eyes." You can regenerate as many times as you want.

Will my Genmoji descriptions be saved or used to train AI?

Apple states that descriptions are not stored on its servers after the emoji is generated. However, you should review Apple's privacy policy for the most current information about how data is handled. If you have concerns about what text you send to Apple's servers, you can choose not to use Genmoji.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.