How To Use Genmoji On IPhone And IPad: Create Your Own AI Emoji

Ever searched your emoji keyboard for exactly the right emoji and couldn’t find it? Genmoji is Apple’s answer.

Powered by Apple Intelligence, Genmoji lets you describe the emoji you want and have your iPhone or iPad generate it for you. You can make something completely original, combine existing emoji ideas, or even create a Genmoji inspired by people, pets, food, and other subjects in your Photos library.

Apple has now detailed how the feature works in its updated iPad User Guide. Here’s how to start creating your own emoji.

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What Is Genmoji?

Genmoji stands for generative emoji.

Instead of choosing only from the standard Unicode emoji library, you can type a description of what you want.

For example, try:

“A golden retriever wearing sunglasses”

“A smiling cactus holding a coffee”

“A cat working on a MacBook”

“A birthday cake wearing a party hat”

Apple Intelligence generates custom emoji-style images based on your description. Once created, Genmoji are saved with your stickers and can be reused later.

You can add them inline in supported messages or send them as stickers and Tapback reactions.

How to Create a Genmoji

Apple has integrated Genmoji directly into the emoji keyboard, so you don’t need to install another app.

Step 1: Open the Emoji Keyboard

Open Messages or another supported app and tap a text field.

Switch to the Emoji keyboard.

Step 2: Tap Genmoji

Look for the Genmoji button at the upper-right corner of the onscreen emoji keyboard.

Tap it to open the creator.

Step 3: Describe Your Emoji

Enter a description of what you’d like Apple Intelligence to create.

The more descriptive you are, the easier it is to communicate the idea you have in mind.

For example:

“A happy robot eating pizza.”

Submit your request and Apple Intelligence will generate a Genmoji.

Create Genmoji From Existing Emoji

You aren’t limited to text prompts.

Apple’s current Genmoji creator lets you choose an existing emoji or another Genmoji as your starting point.

You can then add a description to transform or expand the idea.

This is useful when an existing emoji is close to what you want but doesn’t quite capture it.

Create a Genmoji of Friends or Family

Genmoji can also use people from your Photos library.

Inside the Genmoji creator, tap Choose Person, then select someone recognized in Photos.

Apple currently allows you to include up to three people.

You can then customize the scene or appearance. For example, you could create a Genmoji showing friends celebrating a birthday.

Apple notes that when your text description conflicts with the person you’ve selected, personalization is based primarily on the selected photo.

You Can Use Pets and Other Photos Too

This is another useful addition to Apple’s current Genmoji experience.

Tap Choose or Take Photo, and you can select an image of something other than a person.

That might be your:

Dog • Cat • Favorite food • Plant • Car • Vacation scene

You can then use that photo as inspiration for your Genmoji.

This gives Genmoji considerably more creative potential than simply generating random emoji from text.

Keep Refining Until It Looks Right

You don’t have to accept the first result.

After generating a Genmoji, describe another change to refine it. You can also add existing emoji or Genmoji to the creation.

Apple provides multiple generated versions that you can browse by scrolling.

When you find one you like, tap: Done

Your creation is then saved with your stickers for future use.

Can You Delete a Genmoji?

Yes. Open the emoji keyboard and navigate to Stickers.

Touch and hold the Genmoji you no longer want, then choose: Delete

You can also access your stickers from a Messages conversation and delete saved Genmoji there.

Which iPhones and iPads Support Genmoji?

Genmoji requires Apple Intelligence compatible devices.

Apple Intelligence compatible devices are;

iPhone:
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 models, and newer compatible models.
iPad:
iPad models with M1 or later and iPad mini with A17 Pro.

You’ll also need compatible software and Apple Intelligence enabled.

To check, open: Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri

Apple Intelligence availability can vary depending on your device, language, software version, and region.

Is Genmoji the Same as Image Playground?

Not exactly. Both use Apple Intelligence for image generation, but they’re designed for different purposes.

Genmoji creates small emoji-style graphics designed for conversations, reactions, and stickers.

Image Playground creates larger original images in different visual styles.

Interestingly, Apple also lets you create Genmoji from within Image Playground, further connecting the two tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a Genmoji?

Open a text field, switch to the emoji keyboard, tap Genmoji, enter a description, and submit it. You can then refine the generated result before saving it.

Can Genmoji create an emoji of a real person?

Yes. You can select recognized people from your Photos library and use them as inspiration. Apple’s current implementation supports up to three people in a Genmoji.

Can I create a Genmoji of my dog?

Yes. Apple now lets you choose or take a photo of subjects such as pets, nature, or food and use that image to help create a Genmoji.

Where are my Genmoji saved?

Genmoji you create are automatically stored with your stickers, allowing you to reuse them later.

Does Genmoji work on every iPhone?

No. Genmoji depends on Apple Intelligence, so older iPhones that don’t support Apple Intelligence cannot create Genmoji.

Verdict

Genmoji turns Apple’s emoji keyboard into a miniature AI image generator.

Instead of waiting for a particular emoji to be added to the standard collection, you can describe what you want, combine existing emoji, use a friend’s appearance, or even start with a photo of your pet.

Apple’s latest implementation also lets you browse multiple versions and continually refine a Genmoji until it matches your idea.

If you have an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone or iPad, simply open the emoji keyboard and look for the Genmoji button. Try something unusual—you’ll quickly see why Genmoji offers much more creative freedom than the traditional emoji keyboard.

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How to Use Genmoji on iPhone and iPad: Create Your Own AI Emoji