Whenever there is an instant urge to spice up the iMessaging, the one name that comes calling straightaway is “Animoji”. Being available in a wide variety of avatars such as “Lion”, “Tiger”, “Robot”, and more, it brings a ton of fun into the play. Sadly, for a handful of iPhone users, the Animoji is malfunctioning. If this issue has spoiled your messaging as well, follow along to try out these 11 handy tips and tricks to fix Animoji not working on iPhone and iPad.
Best Tips & Tricks to Fix Animoji Not Working on iPhone and iPad
From a miscellaneous software glitch to incompatibility to a lack of clear understanding, there could be multiple reasons why Animoji is missing or misbehaving on your iOS device. So, let’s dig in and look for ways to troubleshoot the problem and bring this noted iMessage feature back on track!
1. Check Animoji Compatibility
To begin with, ensure that your device is compatible with Animoji.
List of iPhone models that support Animoji
- iPhone X, iPhone XS, XS, and XR
- iPhone 11 Series
- iPhone 12 Series
- iPhone 13 Series
- iPhone 14 Series
- iPhone 15 Series
List of iPad Models That Support Animoji
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
- iPad Pro (11-inch)
2. Right Ways to Use Animoji
Before going on to try various ways to resolve the Animoji issues, it would be better to know how it works.
In iOS 17/iPadOS 17, Apple has revamped the user interface of iMessage. While the redesigned user interface feels pretty intuitive, it has slightly buried a few features including Animoji, which might have triggered confusion among many users.
- Launch the Messages app on your device -> open a chat -> tap on the “+” button at the bottom -> More.
- Now, select Memoji -> swipe left/right to choose the desired avatar.
- After you have chosen the preferred avatar, be sure to bring your face into view. Also, ensure that there is sufficient light in the room. Otherwise, Animoji might not work.
- Now, tap on the record button to record a message. Once you have recorded the message, hit the upward arrow to send the message.
3. Restart Your iPhone/iPad
At times, just restarting your iPhone can let you bring the missing Animoji back. So, turn off your iPhone -> after that, wait for a few seconds. Then, turn your iOS device back on.
4. Check Camera Access
Another important thing that you must do beforehand is to make sure that the Apple Messages app has the needed permission to access and use your device camera.
- Head into the Settings app on your iPhone -> Privacy & Security -> Camera -> Scroll down to find Messages and ensure that the toggle for Messages is turned on.
5. Clean Your TrueDepth Camera
If the TrueDepth camera is covered with dust or smudge, it could prevent Animoji from mapping your face. Therefore, use a soft lint-free cloth to clean the TrueDepth camera.
6. Remove the Screen Guard
If the screen protector installed on your iPhone lacks neat cutouts, there is a decent chance it could become a roadblock. Thus, remove the screen guard and check if Animoji has started to work as expected.
7. Check Storage Space
If your iPhone’s storage is cluttered and doesn’t have much space to breathe, Animoji and other features might ill-function.
- Dive into the Settings app on your iPhone/iPad -> General -> iPhone/iPad Storage.
- Check the available and used space and then take the relevant steps to get rid of the clutter.
8. Disable/Enable iMessage
Reactivating iMessage is also a reliable way to fix related issues.
- Launch the Settings app -> Messages. Now, turn off iMessage.
- After that, reboot your iPhone and then turn iMessage back on.
9. Check iMessage Server
If iMessage’s server is embroiled in some issues, it might affect the way Animoji works. Thus, head over to the Apple System Status website -> and ensure that iMessage is live and kicking as usual.
10. Update iOS/iPadOS
In order to keep bugs and miscellaneous software glitches at bay, it’s always recommended to keep the iPhone updated with the latest version of iOS. Software updates often come packed with several bug fixes and improvements, which might troubleshoot issues related to Animoji.
- To check for updates, navigate to the Settings app on your iOS/iPadOS device -> General -> Software Update.
11. Reset Animoji Settings
If Animoji continues to misbehave, it would be apt to reset the Animoji settings.
- On your iOS/iPadOS device, go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad -> Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Bear in mind that it will remove all the custom settings including network settings and wallpaper and put everything back to the default state.
There you go! Most probably, Animoji has come back into action again and so has your fun-filled messaging. Make sure to share your two cents and the solutions that have proved to be your savior.
Read more: How to Save Long-Form Web Articles to Photos App in iOS 17 on iPhone and iPad
