How to Delete Custom Emojis on iPhone: What You Need to Know

Custom emojis on iPhone can pile up fast. Whether you've been experimenting with Memoji stickers, downloaded third-party emoji keyboards, or created custom stickers through iMessage apps, managing and removing them isn't always obvious. The process depends heavily on where the custom emojis came from in the first place.

Understanding Where Custom Emojis Live on iPhone

Before you can delete anything, it helps to understand that iPhones don't have a single centralized emoji library you can freely edit. Custom emojis on an iPhone typically exist in one of three places:

• Memoji and Memoji Stickers — created natively through Apple's built-in system
• Third-party keyboard apps — emoji packs installed via apps like Gboard, SwiftKey, or dedicated emoji keyboard apps
• iMessage sticker apps — installed as iMessage extensions through the App Store

Each location has its own removal method, and confusing them is the most common reason people get stuck.

How to Delete Memoji on iPhone 🎭

Memoji are the customizable cartoon avatars Apple introduced in iOS 12. When you create a Memoji, it automatically generates a set of stickers that appear in your emoji keyboard and iMessage app drawer.

To delete a Memoji:

1. Open the Messages app and start or open any conversation
2. Tap the App Store icon (the small icon that looks like an "A") in the iMessage app bar below the text field
3. Tap the Memoji Stickers icon (the one showing a cartoon face)
4. Find the Memoji you want to remove and swipe left on it
5. Tap Delete

Alternatively, on newer iOS versions:

1. Open Messages and tap the compose button or any conversation
2. Tap the smiley face icon or the plus (+) icon in the text input area
3. Select Stickers, then locate your Memoji
4. Press and hold the Memoji, then tap Delete

Deleting a Memoji removes both the character and all of its associated sticker poses. This action is permanent and cannot be undone — you would need to recreate the Memoji from scratch if you change your mind.

What About the Default Apple Memoji?

The default Memoji that Apple pre-loads (generic characters not tied to your face setup) cannot be deleted. Only Memoji that you personally created are removable.

How to Remove Custom Emoji Keyboards from Third-Party Apps

If your custom emojis came from a third-party keyboard app, simply deleting the emoji pack from within the app isn't always enough — you may also need to remove the keyboard itself from your iPhone's settings.

To remove a third-party emoji keyboard:

1. Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner
3. Find the third-party keyboard in the list
4. Tap the red minus (–) icon and then tap Delete

If the keyboard is bundled with an app, you may also want to delete the app entirely from your home screen to free up space and fully remove any associated emoji content.

Keep in mind that some keyboard apps store emoji packs internally and allow deletion within the app before you uninstall it. Check the app's own settings menu first — many have a "Manage Stickers" or "My Emoji" section.

Removing Custom Stickers from iMessage Apps

iMessage has its own app ecosystem, accessible through the App Store icon inside the Messages app. Sticker packs installed here function somewhat differently from system-wide keyboards.

To remove an iMessage sticker app:

1. Open Messages and tap the App Store icon in the message input area
2. Tap the three-dot menu or swipe through apps to find the sticker pack
3. Press and hold the app icon in the app drawer
4. Select Delete App (on supported iOS versions)

Or remove it the standard way:

1. Long-press the app icon on your Home Screen
2. Tap Remove App → Delete App

Deleting the sticker app from your iPhone removes it from both the Home Screen and the iMessage app drawer entirely.

iOS Version Differences Matter

The exact steps above can shift depending on which iOS version your iPhone is running. Apple has redesigned the iMessage app drawer, the sticker interface, and the Memoji menu several times across iOS 13 through iOS 17+.

If an option described above doesn't appear exactly where expected, checking your iOS version (Settings → General → About → iOS Version) is a useful first diagnostic step.

A Note on iCloud and Cross-Device Sync

Memoji are tied to your Apple ID and iCloud account. If you use the same Apple ID across an iPhone and iPad, deleting a Memoji on one device will typically remove it across all devices signed into that account. This is worth considering before deletion if you use your Memoji on multiple Apple devices.

Third-party keyboard customizations, by contrast, are not universally synced — they behave according to each app's own sync or backup policies, which vary widely.

The Part That Depends on Your Setup

How straightforward this process feels — and which steps actually apply — comes down to specifics that vary from person to person: which iOS version you're on, whether your custom emojis came from Apple's native tools or a downloaded app, and whether iCloud sync is enabled. Someone on a fully updated iPhone 15 navigating through iOS 17's unified sticker drawer will have a noticeably different experience than someone on an older device running iOS 14. Your exact path to deletion starts with knowing where your custom emojis actually live.