Emoji Keyboard Shortcut for Mac (macOS)
Learn how to open the Character Viewer and type emojis instantly on any MacBook, iMac, or Mac Mini running macOS.
Press all three keys simultaneously in any text field (Safari, Messages, Notes, Slack, Word) to bring up the macOS Character Viewer.
Alternative: The Globe / Fn Key
If you are using an Apple Magic Keyboard or an Apple Silicon MacBook (M1, M2, M3, or newer), look at the bottom-left corner of your keyboard for the Globe 🌐 (fn) key. Tap it once to toggle the emoji palette.
How to Use the Mac Emoji Picker
Click into any text field
Focus your cursor in Notes, Slack, Mail, Safari, or an active browser text box.
Press Control + Command + Space
Or tap the Globe (fn) key on modern Apple keyboards.
Search or browse by category
Start typing the emoji name (e.g. "heart" or "coffee") to filter instantly.
Click to insert
Click your desired emoji to insert it at your cursor location.
Practical Uses on macOS
Add emojis into macOS folder names and file labels to visually categorize your projects.
Expand the Character Viewer to access copyright signs (©), arrows (→), and technical symbols.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the default emoji keyboard shortcut on Mac?
The universal shortcut is Control + Command + Space. Pressing all three keys simultaneously will instantly open the macOS Character Viewer in any active text field.
How do I use the Globe key to open emojis on newer Macs?
On modern Apple keyboards (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Magic Keyboard), simply tap the Globe 🌐 (fn) key in the lower-left corner. You can configure or verify this setting in Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > "Press 🌐 key to Show Emoji & Symbols".
How do I expand the Mac emoji viewer to see special symbols?
In the top-right corner of the floating emoji palette, click the small window icon. This expands the Character Viewer into a full palette with math symbols, arrows, currency, Latin characters, and custom favorites.
Why does Control + Command + Space not work on my Mac?
Verify that your cursor is in an editable text field. Next, open System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Input Sources (or App Shortcuts) and ensure the shortcut has not been overridden by another application.
Prefer an online keyboard?
Use our web tool with 1-click copying, Google & OpenMoji artwork styles, and Unicode 17.0 support.