Skip to main content

How to create a Memoji on a Mac

What started as the Animoji, or animated emoji, has turned into an even more fun way to express yourself with the Memoji. This gives you a cool way to turn yourself into a cartoon-like character to share in the Messages and FaceTime apps.

The great part about Memoji is that you get to design them yourself. You can pick out each feature of the face, hair, headwear, eyewear, and clothing to make the Memoji look just like you or a nifty version of you. Here’s how create a Memoji on Mac.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Mac computer

  • Messages app

Make a Memoji on Mac

When you create your Memoji on Mac, the cute little you syncs across your devices. So, you can use the Memoji on an iPhone and iPad in Messages or FaceTime. It all starts in the Messages app.

Step 1: Open Messages and select any conversation or start a new one.

Step 2: Click the Apps button, which looks like the letter A, and choose Memoji stickers.

Memoji Stickers selected in Messages on Mac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Click the Plus sign on the top-left of the pop-up window.

Plus sign in Memoji Stickers in Messages.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: In the subsequent pop-up screen, you’ll use the tools on the left to customize each part of your Memoji. Apple gives you detailed options too, not just basic skin colors and hairstyles.

For example, you can add freckles or beauty spots to the skin, piercings or an oxygen tube to the nose, and eyeliner or eyeshadow to the eyes. You can even age your Memoji with the head tool to make it look older or younger.

When you’re choosing colors for things like hair, eyes, and brows, you can go all the way to the right and pick the Palette icon to display more colors. Then, use the slider to adjust the shade of the color you choose.

As you make each selection, you’ll see a preview at the top. This lets you add features and elements to see how it will look as you go, and you can choose and customize the items in any order you like.

Memoji creation screen in Messages on Mac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 5: When you finish, click Done to save your Memoji.

Memoji created in Messages on Mac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Edit a Memoji on Mac

Once you create a Memoji, you aren’t stuck with it forever. Maybe you grew a beard or got a new hairstyle. You can edit your Memoji anytime.

Step 1: Open Messages, click the Apps button, and select Memoji stickers.

Step 2: Choose your current Memoji in the pop-up window.

Step 3: Click the Three dots on the top-right and pick Edit.

Edit selected to change a Memoji on Mac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: You’ll then see your current Memoji with the same tools as before. Simply make your changes and click Done when you finish.

Memoji in full view in Messages on Mac.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Using your Memoji

As mentioned, you can use a Memoji in Messages and FaceTime.

In Messages, click the Apps button, select Memoji stickers, and then pick one of the expressions for your Memoji in the pop-up window. This places it into your message, ready for you to send.

In FaceTime, you can add a Memoji sticker or use the animated Memoji as your face during a video call. Click the Effects button, which looks like a star. Select the Memoji sticker icon to add the sticker to the screen or the Memoji icon to use the animated version.

Creating a Memoji is fun, and using it to represent yourself in Messages, FaceTime, or even as your Apple profile picture is a terrific alternative if you don’t want to use an actual photo.

Editors' Recommendations

Sandy Writtenhouse
Sandy has been writing about technology since 2012. Her work has appeared on How-To Geek, Lifewire, MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog…
How to show the battery percentage of your Mac
A person holds a MacBook Air at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in 2023.

You rely on your MacBook for just about everything, so don’t you think it’s important to keep its battery topped off? After all, it is laptop, and while laptop batteries are stronger than ever these days, your MacBook likely won’t last a full day without its power adapter. But how does one know exactly how much juice a MacBook has left? Why, with the battery percentage indicator!

Read more
Forgot your Mac password? Here’s how to reset it
A person plays Stray using a PlayStation controller on a silver 13-inch MacBook Air.

We all forget a password once in a while. It’s really just a fact of life at this point, but things are a little different when you forget crucial login info for your go-to computer. And if you’ve ever forgotten your MacOS password, you’ll know just how frustrating it is to be locked out of your do-everything PC. But even if one of your Mac or MacBook’s system-stored hints isn’t enough to jog your memory, there’s a couple of ways you’ll be able to reset your MacOS password.

Read more
The 5 best iMac alternatives in 2024
Best iMac Alternatives

The iMac is potentially one of the most well-known all-in-one desktops and probably launched the whole concept of having a full desktop tower contained in a tiny little thin device. Of course, the issue with going with an iMac is that you have to be in the Apple ecosystem, or you'll have to pay a pretty penny to get one of the newer iMacs. Luckily, the all-in-one market has boomed in the last few years, and there are a lot of great alternatives outside of Apple that you can pick from. To that end, we've gone out and scoured all the major manufacturers out there and found our favorite all-in-one picks for you below to save you a bit of effort, although if you don't find what you're looking for below, you may want to check out some of these other excellent desktop computer deals as well.
The Best iMac Alternatives in 2024

Buy the  if you want the best overall iMac alternative
Buy the  if you want the best 27-inch iMac alternative
Buy the  if you want the best small business iMac alternative
Buy the  if you want the best touchscreen iMac alternative
Buy the  if you want the best budget iMac alternative

Read more