macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta brings Genmoji to Mac, so you can offer custom emojis that really suit you
- Apple’s macOS Sequoia 15.3 beta introduces Genmoji, which lets Mac users create custom emojis
- Genmoji works offline, requires Apple Silicon Macs, and expands the use of emojis with personalized designs based on clues or photos
- Genmoji is now available to developers and 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 includes a feature powered by Apple Intelligence that the company has been excited about for a while: Genmoji. This developer beta follows quickly on the heels of the release of macOS Sequoia 15.2, which came out about a week ago.
Genmoji allows Mac users to generate their own unique emojis based on a prompt and this is also the first time we’re seeing it on a desktop (the feature was already available on iOS 18.2 for iPhones and iPadOS 18.2 for iPads and now for Mac -users to join the party), as reported by MacRumors.
To access this developer beta (and future developer betas), you must register as a developer with Apple (subscription fees apply).
Genmoji aims to expand the way people can express themselves through custom emojis. On the support page for the feature on iPhone, Apple claims that you can give Genmoji a simple description of what you want your custom Genmoji to look like, or create one from a photo of a person, such as a friend or family member.
Once you’ve generated a custom emoji, you can use it like other emojis that come standard in the Apple software. These emojis will then 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 emojis will still appear, but as an image instead of an emoji (which are different as far as Apple OS’s are concerned).
How to use Genmoji on your Mac
You can create a Genmoji and use it from the emoji palette on Mac. Here are some ways you can open Genmoji on Mac:
To use a keyboard shortcut: Press Control + Command + Room 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 can apparently see options to create and use Genmoji in addition to your standard emoji.
Please note that Genmoji is part of Apple’s brand new Apple Intelligence suite of AI features, which means your Mac must be equipped with an Apple silicon chip (such as the M1, M2 or newer).
All Genmoji generation takes place on whatever device you use, without the need for an internet connection, so you can use it offline.
If you’re particularly expressive when it comes to using emojis, I imagine this would be fun to try, if only to see what Genmoji spits out and how appropriate it is for your prompt. It can make messaging and note-taking more personal and expand the possibilities of how people can express themselves. 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.
Since Genmoji is currently in the developer beta of macOS Sequoia, it still has a little way to go before it’s rolled out to the public. It will have to go through a public beta, which you can sign up for for free, and if Apple thinks it’s ready to go, it will be added to a future macOS Sequoia update in the next few months.