Apple Intelligence works best when you tell it exactly what you want. But here's the thing—most people struggle with writing good prompts. They either make them too complicated or too vague.
I've tested hundreds of prompts across Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Genmoji over the past month. Some worked perfectly on the first try. Others needed multiple attempts before producing anything useful.
This guide cuts through the trial and error. I'm sharing the exact prompts that consistently work, organized by what you're trying to do: improve your writing, create images, or get things done. Each example is simple, clear, and ready to use right now.
The Secret to Good Prompts
Keep it simple. Apple Intelligence works better with clear, straightforward descriptions than complex, detailed instructions. Think "dog wearing sunglasses" instead of "a medium-sized brown dog with designer sunglasses reflecting the sunset."
Be specific about what you want, not how to do it. Tell the AI the result you're looking for, not the steps to get there.
Best Writing Tools Prompts
Writing Tools help you rewrite, proofread, or change the tone of your text. Here are the prompts that work best for different situations.
Making Emails More Professional
Result: "I wanted to follow up regarding the files I sent. Please confirm receipt at your convenience."
Fixing Grammar and Typos
Making Messages Friendlier
Result: "Hey! Unfortunately, I can't make it to tomorrow's meeting."
Summarizing Long Text
Writing Tools Tip
Don't like the first result? Hit "Rewrite" again. Writing Tools generates different versions each time, so you can try 2-3 times to find the best option.
Best Genmoji Prompts
Genmoji creates custom emoji from text descriptions. Simple, clear prompts work best. Here are examples that consistently produce good results.
Animals Doing Things
Expressing Emotions
Food and Objects
What Doesn't Work
Celebrity names: "Taylor Swift" or "Spider-Man" won't work. Apple blocks copyrighted characters and famous people.
Too many details: "Dog wearing blue hat with red spots running through green field" is too complex. Keep it to 2-3 elements maximum.
Best Image Playground Prompts
Image Playground creates cartoon-style images. Works best with concrete subjects and simple scenes.
Character Scenes
Celebrations and Events
Abstract and Fun
Image Playground Tip
Browse the suggested Concepts at the bottom: Themes, Costumes, Accessories, Places. Tap 2-3 of these along with your description for better, more detailed images.
Best Planning and Productivity Prompts
Use Writing Tools and AI features to organize your day, plan events, and stay productive.
Tips for Writing Better Prompts
After testing hundreds of prompts, here are the patterns that consistently work:
- Rule 1: Start Simple, Add Details if Needed. Begin with the basic subject. "Cat" → "Cat wearing hat" → "Cat wearing party hat". Don't start with the complex version—build up only if the simple prompt doesn't work.
- Rule 2: Use Concrete Words, Not Abstract Ideas. "Happy celebration" is vague. "Birthday cake with candles" is specific. The AI understands physical objects and actions better than emotions or concepts.
- Rule 3: Stick to 2-4 Main Elements. Subject + action/object + maybe a location. "Dog playing piano in library" works. "Brown and white spotted dog with glasses playing grand piano in Victorian library with chandelier" is too much.
- Rule 4: Test and Iterate. First result not quite right? Change one word and try again. "Embarrassed face" didn't work? Try "face palm". Small tweaks often produce better results than complete rewrites.
- Rule 5: Use The Suggested Options. Apple provides Concepts, Themes, Accessories in Image Playground and Genmoji for a reason—they're tested to work well. Browse and tap 2-3 suggestions along with your custom description.
Final Thoughts
Good prompts aren't complicated—they're clear. The prompts that work best are the ones that tell Apple Intelligence exactly what you want without overexplaining how to do it.
Start with these examples and adapt them to your needs. Change the subject, swap the objects, adjust the scenario. The formulas stay the same: simple subject + clear action or accessory + optional location.
Don't get frustrated if your first attempt doesn't work perfectly. Even after a month of testing, I still sometimes need 2-3 tries to get exactly what I want. The difference is knowing which direction to adjust—and now you do too.
Save the prompts that work for you. Build your own library of reliable descriptions. Over time, you'll develop intuition for what Apple Intelligence handles well versus what needs different phrasing.