How to open and use the emoji keyboard on Mac
Last verified By Francesco Bonomi
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To get emojis on a Mac or MacBook, open the emoji keyboard. The fastest way is to press Fn + E. On Apple keyboards, the Fn key may also show a globe symbol.
The older Control + Command + Space shortcut still works too.
Both shortcuts open the Character Viewer, where you can search for an emoji and insert it into the text field you are using. Here is how each method works, plus what to check when nothing appears.
The quick answer
- Fastest current shortcut: press Fn + E or Globe + E.
- Classic Mac emoji shortcut: press Control + Command + Space.
- Without a shortcut: choose Edit → Emoji & Symbols from the menu bar.
- With the Fn or Globe key alone: first set that key to Show Emoji & Symbols in Keyboard settings.
Place the cursor in a text field before using a shortcut. When the Character Viewer appears, search for an emoji, then click it to insert it where you were typing.
Three ways to open the emoji keyboard on Mac
1. Press Fn + E
Click where you want the emoji to appear, then press Fn + E. If your Mac keyboard labels that key with a globe, press Globe + E instead.
Apple lists this as the standard way to open the Character Viewer in its guide to using emoji and symbols on Mac. The viewer may appear as a compact popover near the cursor or as the larger Character Viewer window, depending on its last-used state.
2. Press Control + Command + Space
The familiar Mac emoji keyboard shortcut is Control + Command + Space. It opens the same Character Viewer and is especially useful on an external keyboard without an Fn or globe key.
Apple continues to include this combination in its Mac keyboard shortcuts reference, so there is no need to relearn the shortcut if it is already in your muscle memory.
3. Use the Edit menu
If you would rather not remember a shortcut, click Edit in the menu bar and choose Emoji & Symbols. This is also a useful fallback when another app has claimed the keyboard shortcut for itself.
Some apps customize their menus, so the exact position can vary. If the command is missing, use one of the two keyboard shortcuts above.
Optional: make the Fn or Globe key open emoji by itself
You can configure the Fn or Globe key to open the viewer with a single press:
- Open System Settings.
- Select Keyboard.
- Find Press Fn key to or Press Globe key to.
- Choose Show Emoji & Symbols.
The wording depends on your Mac and keyboard. Apple documents the setting in its Keyboard settings guide.
How to search for and insert an emoji
Opening the picker is only the first step. Searching is usually faster than scrolling through every category.
- Place the cursor in the message, document, or text field.
- Open the Character Viewer with Fn + E or Control + Command + Space.
- Type a plain-language search such as laugh, coffee, party, or heart.
- Click the result you want. In some views, double-clicking inserts it.
The viewer also groups characters into categories such as smileys, people, animals, food, activities, travel, and symbols. Frequently used characters are kept together, which helps when you tend to reuse the same small set.
For emoji with skin-tone or other variants, click and hold the character to see the available choices. macOS can remember the variant you select for later use.
Turn a word into an emoji without browsing
Recent versions of macOS can suggest an emoji from a word you have already typed:
- Type a word or phrase, such as smile or red heart.
- Press Fn + E or Globe + E.
- If macOS shows a matching character, press Return to replace the text.
If there is no direct suggestion, macOS opens the Character Viewer so you can search manually. This makes the same shortcut useful whether the match is obvious or not.
When the Mac emoji shortcut does not work
Work through these checks in order. Most shortcut problems are either a key setting or an app-specific conflict.
Try both official shortcuts
First try Fn + E, then Control + Command + Space. External and third-party keyboards do not always treat the Fn key like an Apple keyboard, while the three-key shortcut is broadly available.
Open the viewer from the menu
Choose Edit → Emoji & Symbols. If this works, the Character Viewer itself is fine and the problem is likely limited to the shortcut.
Check the Fn or Globe key setting
Go to System Settings → Keyboard and review what the Fn or globe key does. Choose Show Emoji & Symbols if you want a single press to open the picker. This setting does not stop Fn + E from being the standard two-key shortcut, but it explains why pressing Fn alone may do something else.
Test another app
Try the shortcut in Notes or TextEdit. If it works there but not in the original app, that app may be intercepting the key combination or may not support text input in the same way. Check the app's own keyboard-shortcut settings before changing macOS settings.
Reopen the affected app
Quit and reopen the app where the shortcut stopped responding. If the problem appears everywhere, restart the Mac. This clears temporary input and menu-state problems without changing your keyboard configuration.
The built-in picker is useful, but it breaks your flow
The Character Viewer is capable, but it still asks you to stop typing, open a separate interface, search, choose, and return to your sentence. That is a lot of context switching for one character.
Mowji takes a more direct approach. You type a short trigger and the word you have in mind, then choose the emoji without leaving the current text field. It is designed to work across Mac apps, supports fuzzy search and favorites, and learns from the emoji you use. Your usage data stays on your Mac.
Mowji is coming soon. Join the waitlist if you want a faster emoji workflow without replacing the built-in macOS picker.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emoji keyboard shortcut on Mac?
Press Fn + E or Globe + E. You can also press Control + Command + Space, the long-standing shortcut for the Character Viewer.
How do I get emojis on my Mac?
Click where you want the emoji, then open the emoji keyboard with one of the three methods above. Search for the emoji by name and click it to insert it. Nothing needs to be installed.
How do I type emojis on a MacBook?
The same way as on any Mac. On a MacBook's built-in keyboard, the Fn key is in the bottom-left corner and on recent models also shows a globe, so press it together with E. You can also type a word and pick the emoji macOS suggests.
Why does the emoji shortcut open the Character Viewer?
That is the expected result. macOS uses the Character Viewer for emoji as well as symbols, accented characters, pictographs, and other special characters.
Can the Globe key open the emoji picker with one press?
Yes. In System Settings → Keyboard, set Press Globe key to to Show Emoji & Symbols. On keyboards where the same key is labeled Fn, the setting uses that name instead.
How do I open the emoji keyboard on a non-Apple keyboard?
Use Control + Command + Space. It does not depend on having a dedicated Fn or globe key.
Can I search for emoji by name on Mac?
Yes. Open the Character Viewer and use its search field. Everyday words such as thumbs up, sparkles, calendar, or warning are usually more useful than scrolling through categories.