How to Make a Memoji on iPhone (and Use It Everywhere)

How to make a Memoji on iPhone step by step

You do not need extra apps to build an animated avatar directly inside iOS. No extra downloads are required.

1. Open MessagesOpen the Messages app on your iPhone and tap an existing conversation or start a new draft.
2. Tap the plus buttonTap the plus icon next to the text field, tap More if needed, and select Stickers.
3. Enter the builderTap the Memoji icon showing small faces, then tap the plus button to create a new character.
4. Customize and saveChoose your skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, nose, glasses, and headwear from the deep customization tray, and then tap Done in the top right corner to lock in the design.

Your iPhone automatically generates a full sheet of expressive stickers based on your new look. You can create multiple characters for different outfits, moods, or alter egos.

How to set your Memoji as a Contact Poster and Apple ID photo

Your custom avatar can serve as your personal calling card whenever you phone or message someone new.

Set up your Contact Poster

1. Open the Phone appTap the Contacts tab at the bottom, then tap your own contact card at the very top.
2. Edit your posterTap Contact Photo & Poster, tap Edit, and choose Customize under your current poster.
3. Select your MemojiTap the Memoji icon in the bottom left row and select your avatar.
4. Pose and savePick a pose and facial expression, tap Next, adjust the background color, and tap Done.

If you want fresh inspiration for avatar designs or profile pictures, check out our guide on PFP ideas.

Update your Apple ID profile picture

Open Settings on your iPhone and tap your name at the top. Tap Edit right below your current profile picture, select the Memoji icon, pick your avatar, and choose a background color. Tap Done to finish. Everything syncs automatically across iCloud.

Where to use your Memoji stickers across apps

Apple embeds your avatar directly into the standard iOS keyboard so you can drop it into almost any conversation outside iMessage.

• WhatsApp and Signal: Tap the emoji button on your keyboard, swipe right to your Memoji stickers, and tap any sticker to send it as an image.
• Instagram Stories and DMs: Open a story draft or direct message, open the iOS keyboard, and tap a Memoji sticker to paste it onto your canvas.
• Notes and Mail: Add expressive reactions to personal notes or email drafts without exporting image files.

If your device features Face ID, open a chat thread, tap the Memoji app icon, choose your character, and press the red record button to capture your voice and facial movements for up to thirty seconds.

How to edit, duplicate, or delete an existing Memoji

You can tweak hair color, add piercings, or adjust accessories whenever your personal style changes.

• Edit: Open Messages, tap the plus icon, tap Stickers, and select the Memoji icon. Tap the three dots next to your character and tap Edit.
• Duplicate: Tap the three dots and choose Duplicate. This keeps your base face structure while letting you test wild hairstyles or seasonal fits.
• Delete: Tap the three dots and tap Delete to remove an avatar permanently from your sticker pack.

Bring your avatar to life: interactive 3D bobbleheads on your Home Screen

Memoji stickers work great for standard texts, but they remain flat stickers that only move when you tap them inside iMessage. They cannot show your crew what you are doing in real time.

Bobble turns a single selfie into an interactive 3D figure that lives right at the top of your phone alongside your close friends.

Instead of sending a static sticker to tell friends you are busy, your bobblehead updates automatically with real-time statuses like gym, asleep, work, school, coffee, eating, or listening to music without broadcasting your exact location. Reacting is instant. You can send four quick reactions to your crew: fire, kiss, slap, and wave.

On iPhone 14 Pro and newer, your friends hang out right in your Dynamic Island and Live Activity. On other models, they live on your Lock Screen and home screen widgets. Learn more about creating a 3D avatar from a single selfie.

Make your Bobble →

If you want to place friends directly on your display, see our tutorial on how to add widgets on iPhone. You can also explore other ways to represent your crew in our roundup of Bitmoji alternatives.

Troubleshooting Memoji glitches and missing keyboard stickers

A few quick adjustments resolve most keyboard visibility and face tracking bugs immediately.

1. Memoji stickers missing from keyboard

If the sticker drawer disappeared from your keyboard, iOS may have toggled the setting off after an update. Open Settings, tap General, tap Keyboard, and scroll to the bottom. Turn on the switch next to Memoji Stickers.

2. Animated Memoji not tracking facial expressions

Face tracking requires a device with the TrueDepth camera system found on iPhone X or newer. Make sure your hand or phone case is not blocking the sensor notch or Dynamic Island. Keep the lens clean.

3. Stickers failing to load in third-party apps

Third-party apps occasionally fail to render keyboard stickers after an update. Restart the device. If that fails, send one Memoji sticker to yourself in Messages to refresh the system cache, and then reopen the third-party chat.