iOS 18's New 'Genmoji' Feature Lets You Create Your Own Emoji

One of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 is Genmoji, which allows you to instantly create your own custom emoji.

Genmoji iOS 18
AI-generated emoji can be created with text prompts like "smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers" or "t-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard."

Just like emoji, Apple says Genmoji can be added to messages, shared as a sticker, or used as a Tapback reaction in the Messages app.

iOS 18 Genmoji
Apple Intelligence features are not included in the first beta of iOS 18, and instead will become available for testing over the U.S. summer.

iOS 18 should be publicly released in September.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

enjoi52 Avatar
16 months ago
Mark my words, Genmoji may be one of the most impactful features to in terms of getting consumers comfortable with AI.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
garotemonkey Avatar
16 months ago
I believe the Braindead Monkeys put it best about a year and a half ago, in "You're Not Helping ('http://bdmonkeys.net/alac/BDM-Meta_Meat-17-Youre_Not_Helping.m4a')".
"Do you really NEED a smiley face eating a pickle while wearing a sombrero?"
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
16 months ago
One of the new Apple Intelligence features coming to the iPhone with iOS 18 is Genmoji, which allows you to instantly create your own custom emoji.

The emoji can be created with text prompts like "t-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard."
That's the power of Apple Intelligence.

Will this put Apple's emoji creators out of a job?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Supercyborgninja Avatar
16 months ago
Tbh the Image Playground & this seem really Un-Applelike.

But more than anything, the lack of demo hearing Siri is worrying to me.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dulcimer Avatar
16 months ago
Genuinely impressed by this. The fact that they can be sent inline with message makes adding new Unicode emoji kinda useless haha.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ghost31 Avatar
16 months ago
People take things too seriously. This looks fun as hell to play with and i know me and my wife are gonna enjoy playing with it
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)