A Memoji is a personalized avatar you build right inside Messages, with full control over skin tone, hair, eyes, accessories, and even clothing. Once you make one, it turns into a sticker pack you can drop into chats, use as a contact photo, or animate so it mirrors your face and voice.
This guide walks through creating a Memoji from scratch on a current iPhone running iOS 26, then editing it, animating it, and using it across the apps that support it. Every step reflects the latest Messages layout, so the menus match what you see on screen.
What You Need Before You Start
Any iPhone running a modern version of iOS can create and send Memoji stickers, so the basic builder is available to nearly everyone. You do not need Face ID just to design a Memoji and use it as a sticker.
To record an animated Memoji that copies your facial expressions and voice, you need an iPhone with Face ID, meaning iPhone X or later. The front TrueDepth camera tracks your movements in real time, which is why older home-button models can use stickers but not the live animation.
If you want the same Memoji to appear on your iPad, Apple Watch, and other devices, sign in to iCloud with the same Apple Account everywhere and keep two-factor authentication turned on. Your Memoji collection then syncs automatically.
Creating Your First Memoji
Open the Messages app and either start a new conversation or open an existing one so the text field and toolbar are visible. Memoji creation lives inside this chat toolbar, not in a separate Settings screen.
Tap the Plus button to the left of the text field, then choose Memoji from the menu. If you do not see Memoji right away, tap Stickers first, then open the Memoji tab.
You will see your existing Memoji and Apple's built-in characters. To start a brand new one, tap the New Memoji button, usually shown as a plus icon at the start of the row.
The customization screen opens on skin. Drag the slider to fine-tune your skin tone, then add freckles, blush, or other details if you want extra realism before moving on.
Customizing Every Feature
Across the top of the editor you will find category tabs such as Skin, Hairstyle, Brows, Eyes, Head, Nose, Mouth, Ears, Facial Hair, Eyewear, Headwear, and Clothing. Tap each one and pick from the options shown below.
Hair, eyes, eyebrows, and lips all include color controls, and many sections let you set a second color for highlights or accents. Take your time with eye shape, brow thickness, and head shape, since those features do the most to make a Memoji actually resemble a person.
Accessories add the finishing touches. You can add eyewear and choose frame and lens colors, pick a hat or face covering, add earrings, and select accessibility options like cochlear implants, oxygen tubes, or a soft helmet. When everything looks right, tap Done to save the Memoji to your collection.
Editing an Existing Memoji
You are never locked into your first design. Open Messages, tap the Plus button, then choose Memoji or open the Stickers menu and its Memoji tab.
Select the Memoji you want to change, then tap the More button, shown as three dots. From this menu you can choose Edit, Duplicate, or Delete.
Tap Edit to reopen the full customization screen with every option you had during creation. Duplicate is handy when you want a second version with a small change, like a different outfit or hairstyle, without rebuilding from scratch. Tap Done to save your changes.
Recording an Animated Memoji
On an iPhone with Face ID, your Memoji can come to life and follow your expressions. In a conversation, tap the Plus button, then Memoji, and swipe to the Memoji you want to use.
Hold the phone so your face is centered in the front camera, and you will see the Memoji copy your movements. Tap the Record button to capture a clip up to 30 seconds long, then tap the Send button to share it in the chat.
You can also snap a still Memoji photo instead of recording, which is useful for reactions or a quick custom sticker without audio.
Using Your Memoji Everywhere
Every Memoji you create automatically becomes a sticker pack that lives in your keyboard. Tap the emoji or sticker key while typing to find your Memoji stickers, then drop them into Messages, Mail, and many third-party apps.
During a FaceTime call you can hide behind your avatar. Open the camera effects controls, tap Memoji, and pick the avatar you want, then select the same option again to turn the effect off.
You can also set a Memoji as your contact photo and Apple Account picture, and on Apple Watch it can become an animated watch face. Building a few different Memoji for various moods or styles makes it easy to match the tone of any chat.
Memoji and Genmoji Are Not the Same
It is easy to mix these up because both let you make custom characters. A Memoji is the hand-built avatar you design feature by feature in the steps above, and it can be animated with your face.
Genmoji is a separate Apple Intelligence feature that generates a custom emoji from a text description or from a photo of someone in your library. Genmoji creations are still images rather than animated avatars, and they require a device that supports Apple Intelligence.
If your goal is an avatar that looks like you and can mirror your expressions, stick with Memoji. If you want a quick one-off emoji from a prompt, Genmoji is the faster route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no Memoji option in my Messages app
Make sure you opened the menu from the Plus button inside an actual conversation, not from the Home Screen. If Memoji still does not appear, look for it under the Stickers menu, and confirm your iPhone is updated, since the Memoji tools live inside Messages rather than in Settings.
Can I make an animated Memoji without Face ID
No. Live animation that mirrors your face needs the TrueDepth camera found on iPhone X and later. Older iPhones without Face ID can still design Memoji and send them as stickers, just not record the moving version.
How do I delete a Memoji I no longer want
Open the Memoji menu through the Plus button or Stickers, select the Memoji, tap the More button shown as three dots, and choose Delete. The built-in characters that come with iOS cannot be deleted, only your own creations.
Will my Memoji show up on my other Apple devices
Yes, as long as you are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account on each device and have two-factor authentication turned on. Your Memoji collection then syncs to your iPad, Apple Watch, and other compatible devices automatically.
Can I use my Memoji as my contact or Apple Account photo
Yes. When setting a profile picture in Contacts or for your Apple Account, choose the Memoji option, pick the avatar you made, and select a pose and background color before saving.
How long can an animated Memoji recording be
A single animated Memoji clip recorded in Messages can be up to 30 seconds long. You can also record with Memoji in the Clips app if you want to build a longer video project.
First published October 13, 2025. Last updated June 4, 2026.
