Genmoji Not Working | Hardware Check

If Genmoji is not working on your iPhone, it is almost always due to hardware incompatibility or a specific keyboard setting that is turned off by default.

Since Genmoji is part of the “Apple Intelligence” suite (introduced in iOS 18.2), it has strict requirements.

1. The “Litmus Test”: Hardware Check

Genmoji relies on on-device AI processing. If you do not have one of these specific chips, the feature will never appear for you, even if you are on the latest iOS.

• Supported Phones:

  • iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max (or newer)

  • iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max

  • Note: The base iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 series are NOT supported.

• Supported iPads/Macs: Any device with an M1 chip or newer (M2, M4, etc.).

2. The “Stickers” Toggle (Most Common Fix)

If you have a supported phone and Apple Intelligence is on, but Genmoji is missing from your keyboard, this hidden setting is the culprit.

1. Go to Settings $\rightarrow$ General $\rightarrow$ Keyboard.

2. Scroll to the very bottom.

3. Ensure the toggle for “Stickers” is turned ON.

   • Why: Genmojis are technically generated stickers, not standard Unicode emojis. If you disable the Stickers menu, you disable Genmoji.

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3. Check Apple Intelligence Status

Genmoji is not “pre-installed”; your phone must download a specific AI model to run it.

1. Go to Settings $\rightarrow$ Apple Intelligence & Siri.

2. Look for a status bar. If it says “Downloading…” or “Joined Waitlist,” you cannot use Genmoji yet. You must wait for the download to finish (connect to Wi-Fi and charge your phone overnight).

3. Ensure Language is set to a supported region (e.g., English US/UK). In late 2025, support has expanded, but if you are in the EU or China, the feature may still be geoblocked due to regulatory restrictions.

4. How to Actually Find It

Many users look in the wrong place.

• Open Messages.

• Tap the Emoji icon (bottom left) to open the standard emoji keyboard.

• Do not look for a separate app. Look at the search bar where it says “Search Emoji.”

• Type a description (e.g., “Cat eating pizza”).

• A button saying “Create New Emoji” (or the Genmoji icon) should appear right there in the search results.

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