What a Memoji is and where you can use it

A Memoji is a personalized cartoon avatar of yourself that you create on your iPhone or iPad. It's a 3D animated character that mimics your facial expressions and movements in real time. You build it by choosing your face shape, skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, nose, mouth, and accessories — then Apple's software generates a unique character that looks like you.

Once created, you can use your Memoji in Messages to replace your face during conversations, in FaceTime calls to show your avatar instead of your actual video, in email, and in third-party apps that support them. You can also create multiple Memoji if you want different versions — a professional one, a silly one, or one for different moods.

Memoji works on iPhone XS and newer, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (3rd generation and later). The device needs to have a front-facing camera with Face ID or a TrueDepth camera. If you have an older device or an iPhone without Face ID, you won't be able to create Memoji, though you can use Animoji instead — Apple's pre-made animated characters.

Key Takeaways

  • You create Memoji through the Messages app or the Memoji app (on newer iOS versions), not through Settings.
  • The creation process takes 2 to 5 minutes and involves choosing face shape, skin tone, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, and accessories one section at a time.
  • Once saved, your Memoji appears in your Messages contacts and can be used in FaceTime, Mail, and other compatible apps.
  • You can edit or delete any Memoji you've created at any time without losing the others.
  • Memoji requires a device with Face ID or a TrueDepth camera, which limits it to newer iPhones and iPads.

How to create your first Memoji in Messages

Open the Messages app and start a new conversation or open an existing one. Tap the App Drawer icon (the grid of dots) at the bottom left of the keyboard, then tap the Memoji icon (it looks like a smiling face). If you don't see the Memoji icon immediately, swipe left through the app icons until you find it.

Tap the plus sign or "Create Memoji" button. Your device will ask for camera access — allow it. You'll see your face on the screen with a grid overlay. The app is checking that your face is properly lit and visible. Once it detects your face, tap "get your free guide" or the arrow to move forward.

You'll now see customization options. Start with face shape — you'll see options like round, oval, square, and heart-shaped. Swipe left or right to browse, then tap the one you want. Move to the next section (usually skin tone) by swiping up or tapping the down arrow. Continue through each category: skin tone, hairstyle, hair color, eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears, facial hair, and accessories like glasses or hats.

After you've made your choices, review your Memoji on the final screen. If you want to change anything, tap "Edit" and go back to that section. When you're satisfied, tap "Done" or "Save." Your Memoji is now created and ready to use.

Using your Memoji in Messages and FaceTime

In Messages, open a conversation and tap the App Drawer again. Your newly created Memoji will appear in the Memoji section. Tap it to send it as a sticker in the conversation. You can also hold down on your Memoji to see animation options — tap one to send an animated version that shows your Memoji winking, laughing, or making other expressions.

In FaceTime, start a call with someone. During the call, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the effects menu. Tap the Memoji icon and select your Memoji. Your avatar will now appear on screen instead of your video feed. The Memoji will mirror your facial movements — if you smile, it smiles; if you tilt your head, it tilts. You can switch back to your actual video at any time by tapping the video icon.

In Mail, you can add a Memoji sticker to an email by tapping the App Drawer in the compose window, just as you would in Messages. Some third-party apps like Slack, WhatsApp, or Telegram also support Memoji if they've integrated Apple's sticker functionality.

Editing or deleting a Memoji you've already created

Open Messages and tap the App Drawer, then tap the Memoji icon. Long-press (hold down) on the Memoji you want to change. A menu will appear with options to edit or delete. Tap "Edit" to go back into the customization screen and change any features — hair, accessories, skin tone, anything you want. Tap "Done" when finished.

If you want to delete a Memoji, long-press it and tap "Delete." The Memoji will be removed, and you won't be able to recover it — but you can create a new one anytime. Deleting one Memoji doesn't affect any others you've created.

You can create as many Memoji as you want. Many people create different versions for different contexts — a professional-looking one for work conversations, a silly one for friends, or variations with different hairstyles or accessories.

Troubleshooting: Why your Memoji might not be working

If the Memoji icon doesn't appear in your Messages app, make sure you're running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update. If an update is available, install it and try again.

If the app says "Face not detected" when you try to create a Memoji, check your lighting. Make sure your face is well-lit and clearly visible to the front camera. Move to a brighter area or face a window. Also check that your device's camera lens is clean — wipe it gently with a soft cloth.

If you're on an older iPhone (iPhone 8 or earlier) or an iPad without a TrueDepth camera, Memoji won't be available. You can use Animoji instead, which works on these devices. Open Messages, tap the App Drawer, and look for the Animoji icon to choose from pre-made characters like a monkey, dog, or alien.

If your Memoji looks distorted or the facial tracking seems off during FaceTime, restart the FaceTime call. Sometimes the tracking needs to recalibrate. If the problem continues, restart your device.

Understanding Memoji privacy and storage

Your Memoji is stored locally on your device — it's not uploaded to Apple's servers or synced to iCloud by default. This means your Memoji exists only on the device where you created it. If you get a new iPhone or iPad, your Memoji won't automatically transfer.

If you want your Memoji on multiple devices, you can share it manually. In Messages, long-press your Memoji and look for a "Share" option (available on newer iOS versions). You can send it to another device via AirDrop or Messages. Alternatively, if you sign into the same Apple ID on multiple devices and have iCloud Keychain enabled, some Memoji data may sync, but this isn't may provide across all devices.

When you send a Memoji sticker in Messages or use it in FaceTime, the person receiving it sees the sticker or avatar — they don't get access to your Memoji data or the ability to edit it. Your Memoji is yours alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Memoji on Android or Windows?

No. Memoji is exclusive to Apple devices. Android users cannot create or use Memoji. However, you can send a Memoji sticker to an Android user via Messages, and they'll see it as a static image or animation, but they won't be able to use it themselves or see it animate in real time during a call.

What's the difference between Memoji and Animoji?

Animoji are pre-made characters created by Apple — a monkey, dog, cat, alien, and others. Memoji are custom avatars you design to look like yourself. Animoji work on older iPhones (iPhone X and later), while Memoji require Face ID or a TrueDepth camera (iPhone XS and later). Both can be used in Messages and FaceTime the same way.

Can I use my Memoji as my contact photo?

Not directly through the Memoji app, but you can take a screenshot of your Memoji and set it as a contact photo manually. Open your Memoji in Messages, take a screenshot, then go to Contacts, select your own contact, tap Edit, and set the screenshot as your photo.

Do I need an internet connection to create or use Memoji?

You don't need internet to create a Memoji — the process happens entirely on your device. However, you do need internet to send Memoji stickers in Messages or use them in FaceTime, since those require sending data to the other person.

Can I make my Memoji look exactly like me?

Memoji gives you many customization options, but it's a stylized cartoon character, not a photorealistic avatar. You can match basic features like skin tone, hair color, and eye shape, but the final result will always look like an animated version of you rather than a perfect replica. The goal is recognition and personality, not exact likeness.