Can You Use Memoji in Mail or Notes on iOS 12?

You cannot natively insert Memoji stickers directly from the keyboard into the Mail or Notes apps on iOS 12. Apple originally introduced Memoji in iOS 12 exclusively for the Messages and FaceTime apps on devices equipped with a TrueDepth camera system. However, you can still include a Memoji in an email or a note by using a simple workaround that involves saving the Memoji to your Photos app first.

Why Memoji Is Limited on iOS 12

When Apple launched iOS 12, Memoji was designed strictly as an interactive feature for messaging and video calls. The dedicated Memoji sticker keyboard—which allows users to drop static Memoji expressions into any text field, including Mail and Notes—was not introduced until iOS 13. Consequently, the iOS 12 keyboard lacks the sticker interface required to add a Memoji directly into standard text documents or third-party applications.

The Workaround: Exporting via Messages

To use a Memoji as an attachment in Mail or Notes on iOS 12, you must generate the media inside the Messages app and save it to your device's camera roll:

  1. Open the Messages app on an iPhone X or newer running iOS 12.
  2. Open a conversation (you can use a thread with yourself).
  3. Tap the App Store icon next to the text field, then select the Animoji/Memoji icon (the monkey face).
  4. Select your custom Memoji, look into your screen, and tap the red record button to capture a short video, or pose and tap the screen to capture a still frame.
  5. Send the recording or image in the thread.
  6. Tap and hold the sent Memoji, then select Save to store it in your Photos app.

Attaching the Memoji to Mail or Notes

Once the Memoji is saved to your Photos library, you can attach it like any standard picture or video clip:

  • In Apple Mail: Compose a new message, double-tap the body area where you want the file to appear, tap the right arrow on the popup menu, and select Insert Photo or Video. Select your saved Memoji from the library.
  • In Apple Notes: Open a note, tap the Plus (+) icon or camera icon above the keyboard, select Photo Library, and choose the saved Memoji file to insert it inline.

If your device supports it, updating to iOS 13 or later permanently removes the need for this workaround by integrating Memoji stickers directly into the default iOS keyboard.