Can You Export Memoji Models on iOS 12?

This article explores whether it is possible to export 3D Memoji models from an Apple device running iOS 12 into external 3D graphics applications. It covers the technical limitations imposed by Apple’s operating system, details the formats that actually can be shared, and outlines alternative approaches for digital artists seeking custom 3D character models.

The short answer is no; you cannot export the actual 3D Memoji models or meshes from iOS 12 to use in external 3D modeling or animation software such as Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, or Unity. Apple does not provide any native feature or API that allows users to extract the underlying 3D geometry, rigging, blendshapes, or texture files of a Memoji.

On iOS 12, Memojis are strictly proprietary assets integrated directly into the TrueDepth camera framework, Messages, and FaceTime. The underlying file architecture is locked within the iOS sandbox, meaning users cannot save or convert a Memoji into standard 3D file formats such as OBJ, FBX, or USDZ.

While extracting the 3D model is impossible, iOS 12 does allow users to export the visual output of a Memoji in flat 2D formats:

• Video Recordings: You can record a Memoji performance through the Messages app and save it to your Photos library as an MP4 or MOV video.
• Still Images: You can pause a recording or capture a screenshot of your Memoji to use as a standard image (JPEG or PNG) in graphic design programs.

If your project requires fully customizable 3D character models with export capabilities, you must look outside the native iOS Memoji feature. Third-party applications designed specifically for 3D scanning, photogrammetry, or custom avatar creation (such as Ready Player Me or specialized TrueDepth scanning apps on the App Store) allow users to generate rigged 3D models and directly export them in formats compatible with external digital content creation software.