How to Use Genmoji on Mac (and Find the Emoji Picker)
Genmoji are not only an iPhone feature. On a Mac with Apple Intelligence you can create a new emoji from a description, drop it into Messages, and find it again later, and the ones you made on your iPhone are already there. The button is just harder to find, because the Mac's emoji picker is tucked behind a keyboard shortcut most people never use. This guide shows what you need, how to open the picker, how to create and reuse Genmoji, and what to do on a Mac that does not support them.
The short version
- You need a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and a version of macOS with Apple Intelligence, turned on.
- Open the emoji picker with the Globe or fn key and E, or Control, Command and Space.
- Type a description in the picker's search field and choose to create a new emoji.
- Your Genmoji sync with your iPhone and iPad through iCloud.
- In Messages they sit inline; elsewhere they are pasted as an image.
What your Mac needs
- Apple silicon. Any Mac with an M-series chip. Intel Macs do not support Apple Intelligence.
- A recent macOS. Genmoji arrived on the Mac with macOS Sequoia 15.3, and current versions include it.
- Apple Intelligence turned on. Open System Settings, Apple Intelligence & Siri, and turn it on. The first time, the Mac downloads the models it needs, which can take a while.
- A supported language for Apple Intelligence, set for both the Mac and Siri.
If any of these is missing, the option to create an emoji simply does not appear in the picker.
How to open the emoji picker
Click in any text field, then use one of these:
- Press the Globe key (or fn) and E together.
- Press Control, Command and Space.
- In the menu bar, choose Edit, then Emoji & Symbols.
In Messages there is also an emoji button next to the text field.
How to create a Genmoji on Mac
- Open the emoji picker in a Messages conversation, or any other text field.
- Type a description in the search field, for example "cat wearing headphones" or "taco with sunglasses".
- Choose the option to create a new emoji. A creation window opens with a few versions.
- Click through the versions, change the description if needed, and click Add.
Short descriptions work best: one subject and one detail. You can also base a Genmoji on a person from your Photos library if they are named there; how to make a Genmoji of yourself explains that setup.
Tips for better results on the Mac
- Use the bigger keyboard. Typing a precise description is easier on a Mac, so name one subject, one action and one detail.
- Try a few rounds. The same description gives new versions each time; keep going until one reads clearly at emoji size.
- Make it in Messages. Creating it inside a conversation lets you send it straight away and see how it looks next to text.
Finding the ones you already made
Every Genmoji you create is saved with your stickers, and the collection syncs through iCloud. Open the emoji picker and look in the stickers section: the Genmoji you made on your iPhone are there too, and the ones you make on the Mac show up on your phone. How to rearrange or delete them is covered in where Genmoji are saved.
Where Genmoji work on the Mac
- Messages: inline, at text size, just like on the iPhone, and as a reaction on a message.
- Notes, Mail and other Apple apps: inserted into the text.
- Other apps: usually pasted as a small image, or not accepted at all, depending on the app.
- People on other devices: receive an image, or a sticker in WhatsApp. See can Android users see Genmoji.
No Genmoji on your Mac?
On an Intel Mac, or a Mac that cannot run Apple Intelligence, the picker shows only standard emoji. The practical route is to make custom emoji on your iPhone and send them from there.
Pixmoji does that on any iPhone with iOS 15 or later, including the ones without Genmoji:
- Choose Text to Emoji and describe what you want, or Image to Emoji and start from a photo.
- Tap Add to Pack to collect the results.
- Tap Install Pack to put them in WhatsApp's sticker tab. They also appear with your stickers in Messages.
For more on what Genmoji can and cannot do, see Genmoji vs custom emoji apps.
Quick answers
Can you use Genmoji on a Mac?
Yes, on a Mac with Apple silicon and a version of macOS with Apple Intelligence turned on. Open the emoji picker, type a description and choose to create a new emoji.
How do I open the emoji keyboard on Mac?
Press the Globe or fn key and E, or Control, Command and Space, or choose Edit, Emoji & Symbols in the menu bar.
Why don't I have Genmoji on my Mac?
Usually because the Mac has an Intel chip, macOS is older than the version that added Genmoji, or Apple Intelligence is turned off or still downloading.
Do Genmoji sync between iPhone and Mac?
Yes. Genmoji are saved with your stickers and sync through iCloud to devices signed in to the same Apple Account.
Can I use Genmoji in Slack or other apps on Mac?
It depends on the app. Some accept a Genmoji as an image, some do not accept it at all. Messages and Apple's own apps support them fully.
Your emoji, on the big screen too
Turn on Apple Intelligence, press Globe and E, and describe what you want. For custom emoji on any iPhone, download Pixmoji, free to download, and make a sticker pack your whole group chat can use.