- Apple’s macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta introduces Genmoji, allowing Mac users to create custom emojis
- Genmoji works offline, requires Apple Silicon Macs, and expands the use of emoji with custom designs from messages or photos.
- Available to developers now, Genmoji will soon roll out to public beta and future macOS updates
Apple has released its first beta for the upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.3 developer update, and it reportedly brings an Apple Intelligence-powered feature that the company has been touting for some time now: Genmoji. This developer beta quickly follows the release of macOS Sequoia 15.2, which came out about a week ago.
Genmoji will allow Mac users to generate their own unique emojis based on a message and this is also the first time we will see it on a desktop computer (the feature was already available in iOS 18.2 for iPhone and iPadOS 18.2 for iPad and now users of Mac). join the party), as reported by MacRumors.
To access this developer beta (and future developer betas), you must register with Apple as a developer (which comes with a subscription fee).
Genmoji aims to expand the way people can express themselves through custom emojis. On the support page for the feature on iPhone, Apple states that you can give Genmoji a simple description of what you want your custom Genmoji to look like or create one based on a photo of a person, such as a friend or family member.
Once you generate a custom emoji, you can use it like other emojis that are included in Apple’s software by default. These emojis will work on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later. For those using older versions or an Android device, custom generated emojis will still appear, but as an image instead of an emoji (which are different when it comes to Apple operating systems).
How to use Genmoji on your Mac
You can create a Genmoji and use it through the emoji palette on Mac. Here are some ways to access Genmoji on Mac:
Use a keyboard shortcut: press Control + Domain + Space in any app that supports text input, such as Notes or Messages
Click the emoji icon: If you’re using an app like Messages, look for the smiley face emoji button in the text bar.
When the emoji palette opens, you’ll apparently be able to see options to create and use Genmoji alongside your standard emoji.
Note that Genmoji is part of Apple Intelligence’s shiny new set of AI-powered features, which means it will require your Mac to be equipped with an Apple silicon chip (like the M1, M2, or newer).
All Genmoji generation happens on whatever device you’re using without needing an internet connection so you can use it offline.
If you’re particularly expressive when it comes to using emojis, I can see it being fun to try, even just to see what Genmoji spits out and how appropriate it is for your message. It can make messaging and note-taking more personal and expand people’s possibilities for expression. I don’t know if I would use this every time I wanted to send a message or even use an emoji, so it will be interesting to see if it catches on with users.
As Genmoji is currently in the macOS Sequoia developer beta, it has a little way to go before being released to the public. It will have to go through a public beta, which you can sign up for for free, and then, if Apple thinks it’s ready, it will be added to a future macOS Sequoia update in the coming months.
