Currently, you can find 'official emojis' on WhatsApp and many other apps. These emojis are managed and updated annually by the Unicode Consortium , establishing the global standard so that a symbol looks the same on any device. But is it possible to create emojis like on an iPhone?
Today emojis are a fundamental part of social networks and there is the option of being able to create your own emojis online thanks to an editor designed solely for it and in some applications you will be able to upload them and use them normally.
One example is Slack , an instant messaging app that works very similarly to WhatsApp and lets you upload images to create your own emojis. Currently, WhatsApp doesn't offer this feature natively within its standard keyboard, and it seems they have no intention of ever adding it as text emojis. In any case, today we'll talk about different emoji editors that allow you to create emojis to your liking and explain how to do it. So, we're going to show you how to easily create emojis like the ones on the iPhone , whether using external tools, artificial intelligence, or native Apple features.
Genmoji: The AI ​​revolution on iPhone with Apple Intelligence
If you have a modern Apple device, you no longer need to rely exclusively on external websites. With the arrival of Apple Intelligence , Apple has introduced a disruptive feature called Genmoji . This tool allows you to generate custom emojis from scratch using generative artificial intelligence , breaking the limitation of Unicode's predefined designs.
To use Genmoji, your device must be set to a compatible language (such as Spanish, English, French, etc.) and the operating system must be updated to the latest version ( iOS 18.2 or later). It's important to note that some Apple Intelligence features may have daily usage limits because they rely on cloud-based server models (AFM 3 Cloud).
How to create a Genmoji step by step
The process for creating these custom emojis is extremely intuitive and is done directly from the Messages (iMessage) application :
- Enter an iMessage chat and open the emoji keyboard.
- Click on the new Genmoji icon which appears in the upper right corner or use the button +.
- Write a prompt or detailed instructions. For example: "A cat drinking coffee" o "A blue alien with sunglasses and a mischievous smile".
- The system will generate several options based on your description. You can combine existing emojis or even use photos of your friends and family to create an emoji version of them.
- Once you've selected a design, you can save it to your sticker collection.
A key detail is that Apple maintains an ethical filter ; the AI ​​will not allow the generation of violent or pornographic content. Furthermore, although incredibly versatile, Genmoji are optimized for iMessage. To use them in other apps like WhatsApp, the current solution is to take a screenshot or send them as stickers if the app allows it.
Free websites to create your own emoji like iPhone
If you don't have an iPhone with Apple Intelligence or prefer manual control over the design, there are excellent web tools that emulate the visual style of iOS.
Emoji Builder, the reference
Emoji Builder lets you create emojis, but only faces. You start editing with the classic face, the one with the hat, the vomiting face, the red face, the clown face, the cat face, and many others. First, you choose the base of the emoji, then you select the other facial features like the eyes, and then you automatically select the mouth.
The next step is more dynamic, as you'll need to choose the accessories you want to add to the emojis and customize them with your photos. You also have the option to import external elements . For this to work correctly, the file must be in PNG format with a transparent background , ensuring the element integrates seamlessly onto the emoji base.
When you've finished editing your emoji, click the 'Save' button and the file will be downloaded to your computer in PNG format with the correct cropping. If you don't have a clear idea, you can use the 'Randomize' button to generate random combinations until you find one you like.
You can try this program available through the following link: Emoji Builder.
Other alternatives to consider
Although Emoji Builder is the most popular tool, there are other free websites that offer different approaches to customizing your icons:
- Angel Emoji Maker: This platform stands out for its enormous amount of predefined shapesIt organizes its options by strict categories: eyes, mouths, noses, hands, glasses, eyebrows, and beards, which makes navigation and precise design much easier.
- Disney Emoji Maker: An ideal themed option for fans. It's available as an app for Android and iOSIt allows you to customize very detailed aspects such as face color, hairstyle, facial expressions and specific accessories, all under the aesthetic of Disney characters.
How to use your custom emoji on WhatsApp
Since WhatsApp doesn't allow adding new emojis to the system's standard keyboard, the only way to use your creations (whether from Genmoji or Emoji Builder ) is to turn them into stickers . Both iPhone and Android have dedicated apps for creating stickers from images saved in your gallery.
The process is the following:
- Send the image of the emoji you created (in format PNG) to your mobile phone.
- Open a sticker creation app (such as Sticker.ly or the native iOS sticker feature).
- The image is important. At this point, you can leave it as is or perform additional settings of size and contrast.
- Save the sticker and add it to the WhatsApp gallery.
This way, you can share your custom designs with any contact. The advantage of this method is that the emoji will appear larger than the originals, allowing the details of your creation to be much more noticeable to the recipient.
Having the ability to design our own icons, whether through advanced artificial intelligence on Apple devices or intuitive web editors, allows for a much richer and more personal expression in our digital conversations. While direct integration into the WhatsApp keyboard remains a long-awaited goal, the alternative of stickers and new automatic generation tools makes customizing our communication more accessible than ever.