Customizing Your iMessage: How to Personalize Chats with Memoji, Stickers, and More

Customizing Your iMessage: How to Personalize Chats with Memoji, Stickers, and More

iMessage offers a variety of fun and creative features to help you personalize your chats. From Memoji and stickers to message effects and custom wallpapers, you can make your messages stand out and express your personality in new ways. Here’s how to customize your iMessage experience:


1. Creating and Using Memoji

What Are Memoji?

Memoji are personalized avatars that you can customize to look like yourself or create entirely new characters. You can use them in iMessages to send stickers, animated expressions, or even use them for FaceTime calls.

How to Create a Memoji:

  1. Open iMessage: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Start a New Message: Tap the compose button to start a new conversation or open an existing one.
  3. Tap the Memoji Button: Tap the Animoji button (the monkey face) located in the app drawer below the text box.
  4. Create a New Memoji: Swipe left and tap New Memoji (the plus sign). This will open the Memoji creation screen.
  5. Customize Your Memoji: You can adjust various features, including:
    • Skin tone
    • Hairstyle and color
    • Eyes, nose, and mouth shape
    • Accessories (glasses, hats, etc.)
    • Facial hair and makeup
  6. Save Your Memoji: Once you’re happy with your creation, tap Done to save your Memoji.

How to Use Your Memoji in iMessage:

  • After creating your Memoji, it will appear in the Animoji section. Tap it to send a static Memoji sticker or hold the Memoji to send an animated one with your facial expressions.

2. Using Memoji Stickers

What Are Memoji Stickers?

Memoji stickers are a set of images that show your Memoji in various poses and emotions. You can send these stickers just like regular emoji.

How to Use Memoji Stickers:

  1. Open iMessage: Open the Messages app and start a conversation.
  2. Tap the Stickers Button: Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field, then select the Stickers icon (a smiley face) from the app drawer.
  3. Select Memoji Stickers: Scroll through the available stickers and tap on the Memoji stickers icon.
  4. Send Stickers: Choose a sticker and tap it to send it in your message.

You can also tap the three dots at the top of the screen to add more sticker packs from the App Store.


3. Adding Message Effects

What Are Message Effects?

Message effects allow you to add visual effects to your text, like balloons, confetti, or fireworks, making your messages more lively and engaging.

How to Add Message Effects:

  1. Open iMessage: Start a new message or open an existing conversation.
  2. Type Your Message: Type the text you want to send.
  3. Tap and Hold the Send Button: Instead of tapping the send button normally, tap and hold the blue send button (upward arrow).
  4. Select an Effect: You’ll be presented with a selection of effects:
    • Bubble effects: Change how the text appears on the screen (e.g., Slam, Loud, Gentle, Invisible Ink).
    • Screen effects: These affect the entire screen, like Confetti, Lasers, Fireworks, or Balloons.
  5. Send the Message: After selecting the effect you like, tap Send to send the message with the effect.

4. Using Stickers in iMessage

What Are iMessage Stickers?

Stickers are images or graphics that you can use to express yourself in iMessage. You can add fun, colorful stickers to your messages to enhance your conversations.

How to Use Stickers in iMessage:

  1. Open iMessage: Launch the Messages app and start a new conversation or open an existing one.
  2. Tap the App Store Icon: Tap the App Store icon next to the text input field.
  3. Browse Stickers: Tap on the Stickers icon in the app drawer. You’ll see a variety of stickers available in your app collection.
  4. Add New Sticker Packs: If you want more stickers, tap the four dots in the bottom left corner of the screen, then tap More to access the App Store and search for new sticker packs.
  5. Send Stickers: Select the sticker you want to use, and tap it to send it in your message.

5. Using Custom Wallpapers for iMessage

What Are Custom Wallpapers?

You can personalize your chat backgrounds with custom wallpapers to give your conversations a unique look.

How to Set a Custom Wallpaper:

  1. Open iMessage: Start a new conversation or open an existing one.
  2. Tap the Contact’s Name: Tap the contact’s name or the group name at the top of the screen to open the conversation settings.
  3. Tap “Info”: Tap Info (i) and scroll down to find the Wallpaper section.
  4. Choose a Wallpaper: You can select from pre-installed backgrounds or choose your own photo from the Photos app.
  5. Set the Wallpaper: Once you select the wallpaper, it will automatically be applied to the conversation.

6. Using the iMessage App Drawer for Customizations

The iMessage app drawer provides access to a variety of apps and features that allow you to further personalize your conversations.

How to Access the App Drawer:

  1. Open iMessage: Start a new message or open an existing one.
  2. Tap the App Store Icon: The app drawer is located just below the text input field. Tap the App Store icon to reveal a variety of iMessage apps, including stickers, games, and more.
  3. Add New Apps: Tap the four dots in the bottom left corner to access more apps. You can install new apps from the iMessage App Store, such as custom sticker packs, games, or tools like GIFs or photo editors.
  4. Use Apps in Your Messages: Tap on an app icon to send content directly within the conversation.

7. Using Digital Touch to Draw or Send Heartfelt Messages

What Is Digital Touch?

Digital Touch allows you to send handwritten messages, drawings, and even heartbeats, taps, or kisses to your contacts.

How to Use Digital Touch:

  1. Open iMessage: Start a new message or open an existing one.
  2. Tap the Heart Icon: Tap the Heart icon in the app drawer to open the Digital Touch feature.
  3. Draw or Send a Gesture: You can use your finger to draw a message or send a heartbeat by tapping the screen twice with one finger. You can also send other gestures like a kiss or a tap.
  4. Send the Message: Once you’ve created your Digital Touch message, tap the send button to send it to your contact.

Conclusion

Customizing your iMessage is a fun and creative way to make your conversations more engaging. From Memoji and stickers to message effects and Digital Touch, there are endless possibilities to personalize your messages. Whether you want to express your emotions, add a fun touch, or just make your chats more exciting, iMessage offers plenty of tools to help you do so. Try out these features today to make your conversations truly your own!