Create your own emoji with Genmoji on Mac

With Apple Intelligence,* you can create custom emoji called Genmoji. Simply describe what you want the Genmoji to look like, combine existing emoji with descriptions, or create one of a friend or family member based on their photo. You can add Genmoji to messages, share them as a sticker or Tapback, and more.

[The Messages app on Mac showing a Genmoji being created to use in a conversation.]

Note: Apple Intelligence is not available on all Mac models or in all languages or regions. ** To access the most recent available features, make sure youre using the latest version of macOS and have Apple Intelligence turned on.

Create Genmoji

While writing in an app, press Fn/ [the Globe key]-E on your keyboard.
Tip: In some apps, like Mail or Messages, you can also click [the Emoji button].
Click [the Genmoji button] at the top right of the Character Viewer.
Add what you want to your Genmoji. You can mix and match up to seven elements to create original Genmoji.
- Concepts: Click Show More, click [the Forward button] and [the Back button] to browse concepts themes, expressions, costumes, accessories or places then click an option.
- Existing emoji or Genmoji: Click an emoji below Suggestions, or click [the Genmoji button] to choose a different emoji.
- A description: Click Describe a Genmoji, enter a description, then press Return.
- A person: Click [the Person button], then choose a person from your photo library or an emoji. To add a person or pet from Photos, you need to name them in the Photos app.
  If you already added a person and want to change how they look, click [the Person button], click Edit, choose a new starting point, then click Done. See Edit the starting point of a Genmoji.
  Tip: You can also create a Genmoji of a person based on an emoji. Click [the Person button], click [the Choose Emoji button], choose a skin tone and appearance, then click Done.
Refine your image by doing any of the following:
- See variations: Click [the Next button] and [the Previous button] on either side of the Genmoji.
- Remove a concept: Click the Genmoji, then click [the Remove button].
When youre happy with your Genmoji, click Add.
Genmoji you create are saved with your stickers in the Character Viewer.

You can also create Genmoji in Image Playground. See Create original images with Image Playground.

Edit the starting point of a Genmoji

You can change the appearance of a person by choosing a different photo as a starting point or changing personal attributes like hairstyle, facial hair and eyewear.

While creating a Genmoji based on a person, click [the Person button], then click Edit.
Do any of the following:
- Choose a different photo: Click Choose Other Photo, then double-click a photo to choose it.
- Change the hairstyle, facial hair or eyewear: Click Customise Appearance, then choose options from the pop-up menus.
  Tip: If the starting point still isnt quite right, try entering a description in the Additional details field. For example, if you added prescription glasses, but theyre the wrong colour, you can specify the colour glasses.
- Return to the original starting point: Click Reset Appearance.
When youre happy with your starting point, click Done.

Delete Genmoji

Press Fn/ [the Globe key]-E on your keyboard.
Click [the Stickers button].
Control-click the Genmoji you want to delete, then choose Delete.

You can also click [the Apps button] in a Messages conversation, click Stickers, click [the Stickers button], Control-click a Genmoji, then choose Delete.

You can block access to image creation features, like Genmoji, in Screen Time settings. See Block access to image creation features.

*Apple Intelligence uses generative models and outputs may vary. Check important information for accuracy.**Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for the following languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions. For more information on language and feature availability and system requirements, see the Apple Support articleHow to get Apple Intelligence.

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Mac User Guide

Create your own emoji with Genmoji on Mac

Create Genmoji

Edit the starting point of a Genmoji

Delete Genmoji

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