How to Turn On Genmoji on Your iPhone or iPad

Genmoji is Apple's AI image generator built into iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

Genmoji lets you create custom emoji by describing what you want — a cat wearing sunglasses, a pizza slice doing yoga, your friend's face as a cartoon. The feature is built into Apple's Messages, Notes, and other apps on devices running iOS 18 or later (iPhone XS and newer) or iPadOS 18 (iPad Pro 2nd generation and newer, or iPad Air 2 and newer).

To use Genmoji, you need an Apple Intelligence subscription. This is a monthly service that gives you access to Apple's AI tools. The first month is free, then it costs $20 per month. You also need an active internet connection and an Apple ID signed into your device.

The feature works only in certain regions right now. Apple has rolled it out in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. If you are in another country, you will not see the Genmoji option even if your device supports it.

Key Takeaways

Genmoji requires iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 on a compatible device (iPhone XS or newer, or certain iPad models).
You must subscribe to Apple Intelligence, which costs $20 per month after a free trial month.
The feature is only available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
Once enabled, you access Genmoji through the emoji keyboard in Messages, Notes, Mail, and other Apple apps.

Check your device and iOS version first

Open Settings and go to General, then About. Look for the iOS or iPadOS version number. You need iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later. If your device shows iOS 17 or earlier, you cannot use Genmoji yet.

Next, check that your device model is supported. Genmoji works on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and all newer iPhone models. For iPad, you need iPad Pro (2nd generation or newer), iPad Air (2nd generation or newer), iPad (5th generation or newer), or iPad mini (5th generation or newer). If you have an older device, Genmoji is not available to you.

Set up Apple Intelligence on your device

Go to Settings and tap Apple Intelligence & Siri. You will see an option to set up Apple Intelligence. Tap it and follow the prompts. You will need to sign in with your Apple ID and agree to Apple's terms.

During setup, Apple will ask you to choose a region. Select the country or region where you are located. If you are not in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland, you will not be able to turn on Apple Intelligence, and Genmoji will not work.

After setup completes, Apple Intelligence may take a few minutes to fully activate on your device. You may see a notification when it is ready.

Subscribe to Apple Intelligence if you do not have it

Apple Intelligence includes a free trial month. If you have not used it yet, you can start the trial without entering a payment method. Go to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, and look for the subscription option. Tap it and follow the steps to start your free month.

After the trial ends, the subscription will renew automatically at $20 per month unless you cancel it. You can cancel anytime in Settings under your Apple ID, then Subscriptions. If you cancel, you will lose access to Genmoji and other Apple Intelligence features, but you can resubscribe later.

Open the emoji keyboard and find Genmoji

Open any app where you can type — Messages, Notes, Mail, or the search bar. Tap the emoji button on your keyboard (it looks like a smiley face). The emoji picker will open.

At the top of the emoji picker, you will see a search bar and several tabs. Look for the Genmoji tab — it usually appears as a star or sparkle icon. Tap it to open the Genmoji creator.

If you do not see the Genmoji tab, make sure Apple Intelligence is fully set up and your subscription is active. You may need to restart your device or update to the latest iOS or iPadOS version.

Create your first Genmoji

In the Genmoji creator, you will see a text field that says "Describe what you want." Type a description of the emoji you want to create. Be specific: instead of "cat," try "orange tabby cat wearing a tiny hat." The more detail you give, the better the result.

Tap the Generate button (or press Enter). Apple's AI will create four versions of your Genmoji. Look through them and tap the one you like best. You can also tap the refresh icon to generate four new versions if none of them match what you wanted.

Once you have chosen a Genmoji, tap it to insert it into your message or note. You can also tap the plus icon to save it to your Genmoji library so you can use it again later without regenerating it.

Troubleshoot if Genmoji is not showing up

If you have set everything up but still do not see Genmoji, first check that you are in a supported region. Apple Intelligence is not available everywhere yet. If you are traveling or using a VPN, your region setting may have changed.

Restart your device by turning it off and back on. Sometimes Apple Intelligence takes time to activate fully after setup. If Genmoji still does not appear after a restart, go to Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, and turn Apple Intelligence off, then back on.

Make sure your subscription is active. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then Subscriptions. Look for Apple Intelligence in the list. If it shows "Free Trial" or "Active," your subscription is working. If it shows "Expired" or "Cancelled," you need to renew it to use Genmoji.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay for Genmoji every month?

Genmoji is included with Apple Intelligence, which costs $20 per month after a free trial month. You cannot buy Genmoji alone. If you cancel your Apple Intelligence subscription, you lose access to Genmoji and other AI features, but you can resubscribe anytime.

Can I use Genmoji offline?

No. Genmoji requires an internet connection because the image generation happens on Apple's servers. If you are offline, the Genmoji tab will not work. Once you create a Genmoji and save it to your library, you can use the saved version offline.

What if Genmoji creates something I do not like?

Tap the refresh icon in the Genmoji creator to generate four new versions. You can keep refreshing until you find one you want. There is no limit to how many times you can regenerate, so experiment with different descriptions to get closer to what you are looking for.

Can I share Genmoji with people who do not have Apple Intelligence?

Yes. Once you create a Genmoji and insert it into a message or note, anyone can see it — they do not need Apple Intelligence themselves. However, they cannot edit or regenerate the Genmoji. Only you can create new ones with your subscription.

Is Genmoji available on Mac?

Genmoji is not yet available on Mac. It works only on iPhone and iPad with iOS 18 or iPadOS 18. Apple may add it to Mac in a future update, but there is no official timeline.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.