Can I add a custom emoji to my iPhone to use in texting?

You cannot add custom images directly to the standard Unicode emoji set on your iPhone keyboard because emojis are part of a global standard. However, you can use the Stickers feature in iOS 17 and later to turn any photo into a sticker that functions similarly to an emoji. To do this, open a conversation in the Messages app, tap the plus icon, select Stickers, and then tap the New Sticker icon to select a photo from your library. These stickers can be sent as individual messages or dragged onto existing message bubbles. You can also create Memoji to represent yourself. While third-party keyboard apps from the App Store offer custom icons, these are usually sent as images rather than true text-based emojis.