What a Bitmoji is and where you can use it

A Bitmoji is a cartoon avatar of yourself that you create and customize in the Bitmoji app, then use across messaging apps, email, and social media. Once you make one, it appears as a sticker option in Snapchat, iMessage, Gmail, Slack, and other platforms where the app has integration. You control how it looks — hair color, face shape, clothing, expressions — and Bitmoji generates thousands of sticker variations automatically based on your choices.

The app is free to download and use. You do not pay to create a Bitmoji or to use it in other apps. Bitmoji is owned by Snapchat, but you do not need a Snapchat account to make one, though having one unlocks a few extra features.

Key Takeaways

  • Download Bitmoji from the App Store or Google Play, create an account with your email or phone number, and the app walks you through customizing your avatar's face, hair, and clothing in about five minutes.
  • After you finish creating your Bitmoji, you must connect it to the apps where you want to use it — Snapchat, iMessage, Gmail, and Slack all have separate steps to enable Bitmoji stickers.
  • You can edit your Bitmoji at any time by opening the app and changing your avatar's appearance; the changes sync to all connected apps automatically.
  • Bitmoji stickers appear as a dedicated keyboard or button in messaging apps, separate from your regular emoji keyboard.

Download the app and create your account

Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search for "Bitmoji". Tap the official app published by Snapchat and select Install or Get. The app is free.

Open Bitmoji once it finishes downloading. You will see a screen asking you to sign up. Enter your email address or phone number, create a password, and tap the button to continue. Bitmoji will send you a confirmation code — check your email or text messages and enter it in the app to verify your account.

If you already have a Snapchat account, you can log in with those credentials instead. This skips the verification step and immediately connects your Bitmoji to Snapchat.

Customize your avatar's appearance

After you log in, Bitmoji shows you a cartoon face and asks you to customize it. The app presents options one category at a time: face shape, skin tone, hairstyle, hair color, eyes, nose, mouth, and facial hair. Tap through each section and choose the features that look most like you. You can see a preview of your avatar updating in real time as you make changes.

Once you finish the face, the app moves to clothing and accessories. Choose an outfit, glasses, hats, and other items. These do not have to match your real appearance — many people choose clothes their Bitmoji wears that they do not wear themselves. You can change clothing later without affecting your face.

When you are satisfied with how your Bitmoji looks, tap Done or Finish. The app saves your avatar and shows you a gallery of stickers Bitmoji has generated based on your choices. These stickers are ready to use immediately in Snapchat if you logged in with a Snapchat account.

Connect Bitmoji to messaging and email apps

Your Bitmoji exists in the Bitmoji app, but to use it in other platforms, you must enable the connection in each app separately. The steps differ depending on which app you want to use.

For iMessage (iPhone only): Open the Messages app, start a new conversation or open an existing one, tap the App Store icon (looks like a plus sign in a circle) at the bottom left, then tap the three dots to see more apps. Search for Bitmoji and tap it. Tap Open, then tap Allow when prompted. Bitmoji stickers now appear as a keyboard option in Messages — tap the Bitmoji icon to access them.

For Gmail: Open Gmail in a web browser on a computer, click the Settings gear icon in the top right, select Settings, then click the Labs tab. Search for "Bitmoji" and click Enable next to it. Save your changes. Bitmoji stickers now appear as an option when you compose an email.

For Slack: Open Slack, click your profile picture in the top left, select Preferences, then click Emoji. Toggle on "Bitmoji" and log in with your Bitmoji account if prompted. Bitmoji stickers appear in the emoji picker.

For Snapchat: If you logged in to Bitmoji with your Snapchat account, stickers are already available. If you created a separate Bitmoji account, open Snapchat, tap your profile icon, tap Settings, then Bitmoji. Tap Connect and log in with your Bitmoji credentials.

Edit or change your Bitmoji

Open the Bitmoji app at any time and tap the Edit button (usually a pencil icon) to change your avatar. You can modify your face, hair, clothing, or any other feature. The changes take effect immediately and sync to all apps where you have connected Bitmoji.

If you want to create a second avatar, some versions of Bitmoji allow you to add a new character from the main menu. Check your app version — older versions may only support one avatar per account.

Troubleshooting common issues

If Bitmoji stickers do not appear in an app after you have connected it, try closing and reopening the app. Some platforms require you to restart the app for the connection to take effect. If stickers still do not show, check that you are logged into Bitmoji with the same account you used to set up the connection.

If you cannot find the Bitmoji option in an app's settings, the app may not support Bitmoji integration. Bitmoji works with most major messaging and email platforms, but smaller or older apps may not have this feature. Check the app's support page or help section to confirm.

If your Bitmoji looks different in different apps, this is usually normal — each platform displays stickers at a different size and may crop or adjust them slightly. The avatar itself is the same across all apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Snapchat account to use Bitmoji?

No. You can create a Bitmoji account with just an email address or phone number. A Snapchat account is optional and only adds the ability to use Bitmoji stickers directly in Snapchat without an extra setup step.

Can I use the same Bitmoji in multiple apps at once?

Yes. Once you create your Bitmoji, you can connect it to as many apps as you want. Your stickers appear in all of them simultaneously, and any changes you make to your avatar update everywhere.

What happens if I delete the Bitmoji app?

Deleting the app removes Bitmoji stickers from your keyboard in messaging apps, but your avatar is still saved to your account. If you reinstall Bitmoji and log back in, your avatar and all your stickers return immediately.

Can I make my Bitmoji look like someone else?

Yes. Bitmoji does not verify that your avatar matches your real appearance. You can customize it to look however you want — as a different person, a fictional character, or an exaggerated version of yourself.

Are Bitmoji stickers the same as regular emoji?

No. Bitmoji stickers are custom cartoon images based on your avatar, while emoji are standard symbols that look the same for everyone. Bitmoji stickers appear in a separate section of your keyboard and only show up in apps that support Bitmoji.