You probably created your Memoji years ago. Maybe back when you had different hair, or before you started wearing those chunky glasses that everyone says make you look like a "distinguished architect." Now, every time you send a sticker or jump on a FaceTime call, this ghostly, outdated version of yourself pops up. It’s jarring. It’s like looking at a high school yearbook photo you never asked for.
Learning how to change memoji on iphone isn't just about vanity; it’s about digital identity. Apple has tucked these settings inside the Messages app, which feels a bit counterintuitive if you’re trying to change your system-wide Apple ID photo. But that’s where the magic happens.
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Most people think they’re stuck with the first one they made. You aren't. Honestly, you can have a whole stable of these things—one for when you’re feeling professional, and one where you’re literally an alien with purple skin.
The Quick Path to Updating Your Look
Open Messages. Tap on a conversation. It doesn't matter who it's with—even your own number works fine. See that little row of apps above the keyboard? You're looking for the icon with three little faces. That’s the Memoji button.
Once you tap that, don't just settle for the stickers. Look for the three dots (...) on the left side. This is the "More" menu. Tap it. Now you’ll see the options to Edit, Duplicate, or Delete.
Hit Edit.
This is where the real work begins. Apple’s skin tone slider is surprisingly deep. You can adjust the undertones to get that exact "I haven't seen the sun in three weeks" glow or a healthy post-vacation tan. If you’ve recently changed your hair color in real life, the hair section is massive. They’ve added everything from subtle highlights to "Manic Panic" neon shades.
Why Your Memoji Might Look Weird After an Update
Sometimes, after an iOS update, your Memoji might look... off. Apple frequently updates the rendering engine. Suddenly, your eyelashes might look like spider legs, or your favorite hat is clipping through your hair.
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If this happens, don't panic.
The best fix is usually to Duplicate the Memoji instead of editing the original. This gives you a "safe" version to mess with. If you screw up the nose shape or accidentally give yourself a goatee you regret, you can just delete the duplicate and try again. It's a low-stakes digital makeover.
Getting Specific with Accessories and Details
Let's talk about the "Details" tab. This is where most people give up because there are too many choices. But this is also where you make the avatar actually look like a human being and not a generic Pixar background character.
- Age Mimicry: There’s an age slider. It adds subtle lines around the eyes and mouth. If you’re 40 but your Memoji looks 12, slide that bar to the right. It adds "character."
- Eyewear: If you wear glasses, get the frames right. Apple added a bunch of new shapes recently, including those trendy transparent frames. You can even change the lens tint.
- Headwear: From hijabs to baseball caps. Pro tip: you can change the color of the hat to match your favorite sports team, though you won't find official logos there for copyright reasons.
iOS 17 and iOS 18 brought even more nuance. We’re talking about cochlear implants, oxygen tubes, and even different colored eyes (heterochromia). If you have one blue eye and one brown eye, your iPhone can finally reflect that.
The Apple ID Connection
Here is a common frustration: "I changed my Memoji in Messages, but my contact photo still shows the old one!"
Yeah, Apple likes to keep these things separate for some reason. To fix this, you need to go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and then tap Edit on your profile picture. From there, you can select the "new" Memoji you just finished. It’ll ask you to choose a "Pose."
Pick the one that looks the least smug. Or the most. It’s your brand.
Managing Multiple Personas
You aren't limited to just one. You can have dozens. Some people use this for roleplaying or just to have a "professional" version for work-related iMessages and a "chaotic" version for the group chat with friends.
To add a new one, go back to that same (...) menu in Messages and tap New Memoji.
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It’s actually a great way to test out a new hairstyle before you commit to it at the salon. Want to see if you can pull off a buzz cut? Try it on the Memoji first. It's not a perfect science, but it’s cheaper than a bad haircut.
Fixing the "Sticker" Overload
Sometimes the Memoji stickers clutter up your "Frequently Used" emoji tab. It drives some people crazy. If you want to change how your Memoji appears in your keyboard, you actually have to go into Settings > General > Keyboard and scroll all the way to the bottom to toggle "Memoji Stickers" off.
But if you just want to change the look of those stickers, updating the base Memoji automatically regenerates all those little icons of you holding a heart or exploding with steam coming out of your nose.
Troubleshooting Common Glitches
If the Edit button is grayed out or won't save, it's usually one of two things. First, check your iCloud storage. If your phone is completely full, it might struggle to save the new asset files. Second, try a hard restart. Volume up, volume down, hold the power button. It sounds cliché, but it clears the cache that occasionally hangs up the Memoji interface.
Another weird quirk: If you’re on an older iPhone (like an iPhone 8 or SE), you don't have the TrueDepth camera. You can still make and change Memojis, but they won't mimic your facial expressions in real-time. They’re basically just custom stickers for you. On the iPhone X and later (anything with FaceID), the hardware actually tracks your muscle movements.
Moving Forward With Your New Look
Now that you've mastered how to change memoji on iphone, don't let it sit stagnant for another three years. Update it when you get new glasses. Update it when you grow out your beard. It makes those little digital interactions feel a lot more personal.
Next Steps for Your Digital Identity:
Check your "Name and Photo Sharing" settings in the Messages app. Even if you've updated your Memoji, you might have sharing turned off, meaning your friends are still seeing a gray circle with your initials instead of your masterpiece. Open Messages, tap Edit in the top left corner, and select Edit Name and Photo to ensure your new look is actually being broadcast to the world. Ensure "Share Automatically" is set to "Contacts Only" so you aren't sending your avatar to every random delivery driver who texts you.
Once that's set, your iPhone identity is officially current.