Everyone remembers how awesome it was to have those little customizable Bitmoji characters right? They were all over Snapchat and then they continued to expand and soon could be found everywhere.
When Apple released the iPhone X and iOS 12, the Cupertino company decided to step things up a notch with Memoji and Animoji. Memoji are personalized emoji that aim to look just like you, along with giving you the ability to customize every aspect, and even record messages with them.
With iOS 13, Apple introduced a few new features for Memoji. The biggest of these features is the aptly-named Memoji Stickers which are built right into iOS while letting you use your custom avatar.
What’s new with Memoji?
With the release of iOS 13, Apple has introduced new options for skin color, facial hair, makeup, hair designs and more. There are sliders that you create unique and sometimes wild combinations to make your Memoji truly unique.
Another addition is the inclusion of new accessory options, thanks to new earrings, piercings, glasses and more. But perhaps my favorite addition is the ability to add AirPods to your Memoji, allowing you to flex harder than ever on your non-AirPod owning friends.
How to customize your Memoji in iOS 13
Chances are, you already created a Memoji when Apple released iOS 12, and this carries over into iOS 13.
However, you can also go back in and change things up if your look has changed since last year. Plus, you now get even more customization options than you’ve ever had.
Customize your memojis easily with these steps
Here are the steps you need to take to customize your Memoji:
Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad
Tap the New Message icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen
If this is a new message, enter the contact in the “To” field
If you don’t see the app drawer below your message input bar, tap the App Store icon to unhide the app tray
Scroll and select the Memoji icon–it’s the three-headed icon
Below the app drawer, tap on the three-dot More button to create a new memoji sticker
Before beginning, you’ll see an array of different Animoji to choose from, but what you want to do, is tap the “…” icon found on the left-hand side. From here, you see a blank canvas to create your own Memoji.
On the first panel, you will find the following options:
Skin Tone
Freckles
Cheeks
Beauty Spot
As you continue to slide through the options, you will select your hairstyle, brows, eyes, head shape and age, nose, mouth, and so much more. Then, once you get to the Headwear section, you’ll be able to start flexing with those AirPods.
How do I edit my Memoji?
If you were worried that you would have to stick with the same Memoji and have to create a new one whenever you wanted to make a change, fear not.
Follow these steps in order to edit your Memoji:
Open the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad
Tap the New Message icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen
If this is a new message, enter the contact in the “To” field
If the app tray is hidden, tap the App Store icon
Scroll and select the Memoji icon
Tap the three dots to the left of the lineup of Animoji
After you hit those three dots, your Memoji will appear, and you will have the following options:
New Memoji
Edit
Duplicate
Delete
Simply tap “Edit” and you will be able to go through the different aspects in order to customize everything and anything.
When you are done, tap the “Done” button in the top right-hand corner and all of the changes will be saved.
How to send a Memoji Sticker in iOS 13
If you have already created and edited your Memoji but now want to send off some stickers, it’s easy. All you have to do is make sure that you are in the correct message, tap the App Store icon next to the message bubble.
Then, you’ll want to make sure that your newly-created Memoji is selected and an array of options appear. In fact, there are 24 stickers that will be based on your character that can be sent via Messages.
Perhaps the best part of this is the fact that even your friends that own an Android phone will be able to see them. That means you can flex a little bit more and show off just how awesome these are.
Don’t you like memojis? How to hide memoji stickers in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13
Depending on the iOS version you use, you can either hide or disable memoji stickers.
How to hide memoji stickers on your iPhone or iPad keyboard with iPadOS and iOS 13 all versions
This method hides memoji stickers from your keyboard’s emoji menu.
Open an app that uses the on-screen keyboard
Tap the emoji icon (smiley face or globe icon) and open your device’s emoji keyboard
Swipe left until you no longer see any memoji stickers, then tap on the emoji icon again to close the emoji keyboard
The next time you open your emoji keyboard, it defaults to the last layout–keeping those memojis hidden!
Get rid of memojis with iPadOS and iOS 13 all versions
Open the Messages app
Tap on one of your conversations
Swipe all the way right on the app drawer until you see the three-dot More button
Tap on that (…) More button
Tap Edit
Under Favorites, tap the red minus sign next to Memoji Stickers
Confirm by tapping Remove from Favorites
Tap Done
The next time you use your keyboard, memoji stickers won’t be available in the app drawer
Disable memoji stickers entirely with iPad and iOS 13.3+
If you’ve updated to iOS 13.3, you’re in luck. You can disable memoji stickers!
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard
Scroll down and toggle off Memoji Keyboard–this disables Memojis in all apps
Close all your apps and restart
Conclusion
We are anticipating more changes to come to Memoji and Animoji as new iOS releases arrive. For the time being, you can have fun and show off just how awesome these are with your friends, family members, coworkers, and whoever else.
A great aspect of this is that there are no additional apps that need to be downloaded. Apple has built all of this directly into iOS, and you have all the options you need from the convenience of your fingertips.
If you run into any issues throughout the process, please let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to help you through them. In the meantime, show off your Memoji and have some fun with it!
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
I successfully created my personal Memoji and sent a few out successfully But when I played them back, on my phone, they didn’t work properly. Only my voice, but not the image. What happened?
Hi,
it says i have animoji, and memoji in my emoji keyboard so i enabled it in settings but when i go to imessage it shows i don’t have it… also i got ios 13.4 update on my ipad so it should work
You mentioned that there is not currently a way to edit memoji outfits yet. Would it be possible to create outfits and accessories separately and have them as an add on in the apple store? Perhaps branded etc? If so I’d love to talk to someone about how to do that and or find out some more information on more extensive customization.
So I’ve edited my Memoji and it looks great, but whenever i text newer contacts it asks if i want to share my Memoji and it’s just the same old one I initially made. How do i update the Memoji that is shard with others?
Open Settings > Messages and choose Share Name and Photo. Tap Edit underneath your current Memoji and choose the new one from the suggestions or Animoji section.
Hi there
Thank you for valuable content! I have set up my new Memoji, but the silly thing only sends as a pic, and not a sticker. You know, like Bitmoji displays?
On a white background. I have a fairly new Apple iPhone XR, and I’ve recently updated to iOS 13.1 something, my Whatsapp was also recently updated, so now I have NO idea what on earth is this thing’s problem.
Please, could you help me?
Thank you so much for your time!
Regards
Mari-Lize
At this time, memoji stickers do not appear the same way as those Bitmoji.
To add memoji stickers, open your keyboard and tap either the memoji icon fro the app drawer or tap the emoji icon key (smiley face) on the keyboard, then select the memoji sticker that you want to send.
Not stupid at all! Apple just didn’t make it that easy. You can create a Memoji sticker on any device using iOS 13/iPadOS, but you need an iPhone X or later, or an iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch (3rd generation) to create and use an animated Memoji.
Open Messages
Tap compose a new message
Tap the animoji icon (looks like a Monkey) or the Memoji stickers icon (looks like three heads)–if you don’t see either icon, scroll right to the More button and look under More Apps
Swipe right and tap the Plus sign (+) or the three-dots button (…)to create a New Memoji
Customize your memoji
Tap Done
Sadly I am unable to either delete or edit the appearance of my Animoji on my IPhone 7. The three dots allow me to manage it (meaning I can change its poses), but I can’t alter its appearance or delete it to start over. I’m stuck with what I’d originally created.
Your iPhone should allow this. Take a look at your Message app settings and make sure you are signed into iMessage with your Apple ID and that Send as SMS and MMS Messaging are both toggled on.
I created my personal emoji. I want to use that very emoji, not the stickers (thumb up, star eyes, etc.) How do I use just that original emoji, unadorned.
Thank you.
I have made my Memoji, but the Memoji stickers icon doesn’t show in the menu bar. It shows the animoji icon, but not the stickers either. I don’t know if I’m doing anything wrong, but i have followed all the steps. Can you help me with this?
My memojis are shown as a picture, not as an emoji. Whenever I send a memoji the recipient becomes a picture of my sticker that is saved in my and their photo gallery! Please help!
Millie says
I love memoji’s but I think they are obnoxiously too big can they be made smaller?
Gloria Laverty says
I’d like to make my Memoji smaller and attach it to a message, not just send a big Memoji by itself. Is it possible to do that?
Sarah says
wowwwwwwwwww can I make one bitmoji
Elizabeth Helsten says
I successfully created my personal Memoji and sent a few out successfully But when I played them back, on my phone, they didn’t work properly. Only my voice, but not the image. What happened?
lily says
Hi,
it says i have animoji, and memoji in my emoji keyboard so i enabled it in settings but when i go to imessage it shows i don’t have it… also i got ios 13.4 update on my ipad so it should work
Janet Hopkins says
I find the Memoji a bit to large, is there a way to make it a bit smaller?
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Janet,
Try using Memoji stickers–they are smaller than animated memoji.
Carol Alford says
I edited my Memoji, but it didn’t change in my header on my phone or when I sent it to my friend’s. The stickers did change. Can you help me?
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Carol,
You probably just need to relink that updated Memoji to your Apple ID.
Ho to Settings > Message App > and tap Share Name and Photo. Then tap Edit under the current Memoji picture and choose the updated Memoji.
Pat C says
How can you make them smaller? They come out so much bigger than the other emoji.
heidi backström says
Please add a short track skate to the emojis.
Thank you!
michelle says
You mentioned that there is not currently a way to edit memoji outfits yet. Would it be possible to create outfits and accessories separately and have them as an add on in the apple store? Perhaps branded etc? If so I’d love to talk to someone about how to do that and or find out some more information on more extensive customization.
cynthia says
So I’ve edited my Memoji and it looks great, but whenever i text newer contacts it asks if i want to share my Memoji and it’s just the same old one I initially made. How do i update the Memoji that is shard with others?
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Cynthia,
Open Settings > Messages and choose Share Name and Photo. Tap Edit underneath your current Memoji and choose the new one from the suggestions or Animoji section.
Mari-Lize says
Hi there
Thank you for valuable content! I have set up my new Memoji, but the silly thing only sends as a pic, and not a sticker. You know, like Bitmoji displays?
On a white background. I have a fairly new Apple iPhone XR, and I’ve recently updated to iOS 13.1 something, my Whatsapp was also recently updated, so now I have NO idea what on earth is this thing’s problem.
Please, could you help me?
Thank you so much for your time!
Regards
Mari-Lize
Elizabeth Jones says
HI Marie-Lize,
At this time, memoji stickers do not appear the same way as those Bitmoji.
To add memoji stickers, open your keyboard and tap either the memoji icon fro the app drawer or tap the emoji icon key (smiley face) on the keyboard, then select the memoji sticker that you want to send.
Judy Hadley says
Can’t find how to create Memoji on iphone7pkus despite following instructions so feeling stupid
Please help
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Judy,
Not stupid at all! Apple just didn’t make it that easy. You can create a Memoji sticker on any device using iOS 13/iPadOS, but you need an iPhone X or later, or an iPad Pro 11-inch or 12.9-inch (3rd generation) to create and use an animated Memoji.
Open Messages
Tap compose a new message
Tap the animoji icon (looks like a Monkey) or the Memoji stickers icon (looks like three heads)–if you don’t see either icon, scroll right to the More button and look under More Apps
Swipe right and tap the Plus sign (+) or the three-dots button (…)to create a New Memoji
Customize your memoji
Tap Done
Hope that helps
Papa says
Sadly I am unable to either delete or edit the appearance of my Animoji on my IPhone 7. The three dots allow me to manage it (meaning I can change its poses), but I can’t alter its appearance or delete it to start over. I’m stuck with what I’d originally created.
Kat T says
Just edited mine.
You don’t tap the app store icon.
After selecting a contact to text tap the message box and then the memoji icon in the app drawer or tray below the text message entry box.
The 3 dots button appear to the left of all the memojis/animojis. Tap those dots and the edit Memoji screen appears.
Lyndsay Hayes says
Hi why won’t my phone let me send any pictures or Memoji via normal message or iMessage?
Elizabeth Jones says
Hi Lyndsay,
Your iPhone should allow this. Take a look at your Message app settings and make sure you are signed into iMessage with your Apple ID and that Send as SMS and MMS Messaging are both toggled on.
That usually does the trick!
Liz
Tom McIntyre says
I created my personal emoji. I want to use that very emoji, not the stickers (thumb up, star eyes, etc.) How do I use just that original emoji, unadorned.
Thank you.
Meagan says
Hello, when selecting my settings I clicked to allow all contacts to view. How can I manage the settings to change it to more private? Thanks!
Elizabeth Jones says
Megan,
I assume you mean the Share name and photo option that’s now available in the Messages app.
To change these settings, go to Settings > Messages > Share Name and Photo and change from Contacts Only to Always Ask.
Carmen says
I have made my Memoji, but the Memoji stickers icon doesn’t show in the menu bar. It shows the animoji icon, but not the stickers either. I don’t know if I’m doing anything wrong, but i have followed all the steps. Can you help me with this?
Thanks,
Carmen
Elizabeth Jones says
HI Carmen,
After tapping the Memoji/Animoji icon in the Message app drawer, swipe all the way right on the animoji icons to reveal the memoji sticker options.
Carmen says
Hi Elizabeth:
Thanks for your reply. I’ve followed the steps you mentioned, but it’s not working. Is there anything else I can check or do?
Thanks,
Carmen
ciera says
I don’t know how to change my memoji on the settings to where it shows the one i want.
Cas says
Can I change my Memoji outfit? The one on the stickers looks like she’s on the prison yard lol
Elizabeth Jones says
Hey Cas,
You nailed it! There aren’t any options right now to change the stickers outfit–but we expect that to change in a future update to iOS and iPadOS.
Aleksandra says
My memojis are shown as a picture, not as an emoji. Whenever I send a memoji the recipient becomes a picture of my sticker that is saved in my and their photo gallery! Please help!
LM says
Same issue! The Memojis go as images everywhere and not as a sticker.
Ankita says
My memoji’s are not transparent it goes as a images instead of sticker