Apple's recent update with iOS 18.1 brought a range of new Apple Intelligence features, such as advanced writing tools and improved notification summaries. However, one eagerly awaited feature was missing—Genmoji, a tool allowing users to create custom emojis from simple prompts. Now, with the release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 public betas, Genmoji is finally available for users to test. Introduced at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Genmoji has quickly gained popularity because it enables users to create unique emojis from both text prompts and photos. This functionality has sparked interest for the level of customization it brings to the Apple ecosystem, especially within Messages.
Genmoji operates within the emoji keyboard, allowing users to generate emojis by entering descriptions like “A sloth wearing a suit and tie” or by uploading images. Once created, Genmojis can be integrated into Messages, Stickers, and Tapbacks, allowing users to respond to conversations with a personalized touch. To use Genmoji, users must first ensure that Apple Intelligence is enabled on their device. They can then open the Messages app, start a new conversation or join an existing chat, and open the emoji keyboard. From there, they type a prompt into the search bar, select “Create New Emoji,” and within seconds, Apple Intelligence generates multiple versions of a new emoji based on the description. If they find a favorite version, they can save it to their keyboard by tapping “Add.”
Genmoji is currently available only for users who are part of Apple’s public beta program for iOS 18.2. Access to the feature may involve a waitlist, so users might have to wait a few days or weeks before they are able to try it. Apple is expected to officially release Genmoji in early December, making it accessible to all compatible devices without requiring beta enrollment.
Genmoji works with specific Apple devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, and all iPads equipped with Apple silicon chips. Support for macOS Sequoia devices is expected in the near future. However, Apple Intelligence, and consequently Genmoji, is currently unavailable in China and the EU due to regulatory restrictions. At this stage, Genmoji is only supported in U.S. English, though Apple has plans to extend localized English support to other regions, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K., by late 2024. By 2025, additional language support will include Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Apple’s Genmoji feature promises to enhance personalization in digital communication by enabling users to create emojis that reflect their unique ideas and styles. This innovation illustrates Apple’s ongoing commitment to providing users with interactive and customizable experiences, positioning Genmoji as an engaging addition to the Apple Intelligence suite.
