On a Mac, the emoji picker is called Character Viewer. Put the insertion point where the emoji belongs, press Fn/Globe-E or Control-Command-Space, search for a description such as laughing face, then select the result. In the expanded viewer, double-clicking inserts the character. Click and hold an emoji to choose available variations, including skin tones.
This guide explains every Apple-documented way to open Character Viewer, search instead of browsing, use inline suggestions, configure keyboard access, customize the expanded panel, and recover when a shortcut or search does not behave as expected.
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What the Mac emoji picker is called
macOS does not label its built-in emoji tool “Emoji Picker” in the interface. Apple calls it Character Viewer. It contains emoji along with other symbols and characters, so the same panel can be used when you need punctuation, symbols, or non-emoji characters.
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There are two main ways to open it while typing: a keyboard shortcut and the app menu. You can also expose an Input menu in the menu bar for desktop access. The best route depends on whether you are already typing, browsing with a mouse, or troubleshooting a key that does not respond.
Choose the fastest way to open Character Viewer
| Access method | What to press or click | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard shortcut | Fn/Globe-E or Control-Command-Space | Fastest when your hands are already on the keyboard. |
| Application menu | Edit > Emoji & Symbols | Discoverable when you prefer menus or cannot remember the shortcut. |
| Input menu | Turn on Show Input menu in menu bar, then open Character Viewer from that menu. | Useful when you want a persistent desktop entry point. |
| Inline suggestion route | Press Fn/Globe-E while typing a commonly used word or phrase. | Lets macOS suggest an emoji without opening the full panel first. |
All of these routes open the same Character Viewer feature. The keyboard shortcut is normally the quickest, while the menu and Input menu are useful alternatives when a key assignment, keyboard layout, or app prevents the shortcut from working.
Open the picker with a keyboard shortcut
Use Fn/Globe-E
- Click the destination text field so the insertion point is visible.
- Press Fn or the Globe key together with E: Fn/Globe-E.
- When Character Viewer appears, use its search field or browse the available categories.
Apple documents Fn/Globe-E both for opening the viewer and for invoking inline emoji suggestions while you type. What appears depends on the text around the insertion point: a matching suggestion may be offered, or the full viewer may open instead.
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Use Control-Command-Space
- Place the insertion point in the app where you want the emoji.
- Press Control-Command-Space.
- Choose an emoji from the panel that appears.
This shortcut is a direct way to request Character Viewer and is a useful fallback if the Fn or Globe key has been assigned another function.
Open it from the Edit menu
If you would rather use an on-screen command, choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols in the active app. The wording is Apple’s documented menu path. The command is especially useful when you are learning macOS, using a keyboard without a clearly marked Globe key, or checking whether the app supports the shortcut.
The menu command acts on the active insertion point just like the keyboard shortcuts. Click in the intended text area first, then choose the command. After the viewer opens, continue with search, browsing, or variant selection.
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Find a specific emoji with search
Searching is usually faster than scanning every category when you already know what you want. Character Viewer accepts a descriptive word or phrase, not just a character name. Apple’s example is laughing face.
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- Click the search field in the viewer.
- Type a description of the image or emotion, such as
laughing face. - Review the matching results.
- Select the result you want to insert it at the active insertion point.
Use ordinary language rather than trying to guess an internal code. For example, describe the expression, object, or activity you remember. If your first phrase does not produce the intended result, replace it with a shorter or more direct description instead of continuing to scroll through unrelated categories.
Search is most efficient for a known target. It also helps when several visually similar emoji are grouped together, because the result list narrows the choices before you insert one.
Insert the selected emoji
In the compact picker, select the result to place it in the active text field. Apple’s instructions for the expanded Character Viewer specify a double-click on the character or symbol. If a single click only highlights an item in your layout, double-click that item to insert it.
The insertion happens wherever the text cursor was positioned before you opened the viewer. If the emoji appears in the wrong place, click the intended field, move the insertion point, and open Character Viewer again rather than trying to drag the symbol between apps.
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Choose skin tones and other emoji variations
Many people emoji have variants, including different skin tones. To inspect them, click and hold the emoji in Character Viewer. A variant selector appears when alternatives are available.
- Locate the base emoji through search or browsing.
- Press and hold the emoji rather than releasing immediately.
- Move to the desired variation.
- Select the variation to insert it.
Not every emoji has variants. If holding an item does not reveal choices, that character may have no documented variation in the viewer. In that case, select the base emoji or search for a different character that represents the action or person you need.
Use inline emoji suggestions while typing
Fn/Globe-E can also work as an inline suggestion command. While typing a commonly used word or phrase, press Fn/Globe-E. macOS may display an emoji suggestion related to the text you just entered.
Accept a suggestion
- Type the word or phrase in the destination field.
- Press Fn/Globe-E.
- If a suggestion appears, press Return to accept it.
Suggestions are conditional, not guaranteed for every word. Apple notes that when no suggestion appears, the Character Viewer opens instead. That behavior gives you a fallback: you can search manually rather than guessing whether the shortcut failed.
When suggestions are not what you want
Do not accept a suggestion simply because it is visible. If it does not represent your intended meaning, leave it unaccepted and use the full viewer’s search field. A phrase-based search gives you a set of candidates so you can choose the exact expression.
Enable desktop access through the Input menu
macOS can place an Input menu in the menu bar. From there, you can open Character Viewer without relying on a keyboard shortcut.
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- Open Keyboard settings.
- Go to Text Input > Edit.
- Turn on Show Input menu in menu bar.
- Use the new Input menu in the menu bar to open Character Viewer.
This option is useful on a shared Mac, with an unfamiliar keyboard, or when the Fn/Globe key has been configured for another purpose. It also gives you a visible reminder that the character tool is available even when no application menu exposes the command clearly.
Configure the Fn or Globe key
Keyboard settings can assign the Fn or Globe key to Show Emoji & Symbols. If pressing Fn/Globe-E does not open the expected interface, check that assignment before assuming Character Viewer is unavailable.
The practical check is:
- Open Keyboard settings and inspect the behavior assigned to the Fn or Globe key.
- Choose the setting that makes the key show Emoji & Symbols if you want the documented shortcut behavior.
- Try Fn/Globe-E again in a text field.
- If you prefer not to change the key, use Control-Command-Space, Edit > Emoji & Symbols, or the Input menu instead.
Changing the key assignment affects how that physical key behaves generally. Use the alternative routes if you need its existing function for other tasks.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Customize the expanded Character Viewer
The expanded viewer is more useful for repeated work than the small popover. Apple documents several customization controls:
- Choose categories: select which groups of characters appear so the panel matches the kinds of symbols you use.
- Change character size: adjust the display size when visual recognition is difficult or when you want more items visible at once.
- Add favorites: save frequently inserted characters for quicker access without repeating a search.
- Clear frequently used characters: remove the accumulated recent-character list when it is no longer useful or when you want a clean history.
Use search for an occasional, known emoji. Use favorites for a small set you insert repeatedly. Use categories when browsing is part of the task, such as exploring several related symbols before deciding which one communicates best.
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| Your situation | Recommended route | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You know the emoji you need. | Search a descriptive word or phrase. | A phrase such as laughing face avoids scanning every category. |
| You use the same few emoji repeatedly. | Add them to favorites. | Favorites keep repeated choices close at hand in the expanded viewer. |
| You want to explore possibilities. | Browse categories. | Categories support visual discovery when you do not have a precise name. |
| You need a different skin tone. | Click and hold the base emoji. | The hold gesture exposes available variants. |
| You are already typing a recognizable phrase. | Try Fn/Globe-E for an inline suggestion. | Return accepts a matching suggestion; otherwise the full viewer opens. |
| The keyboard shortcut is inconvenient. | Use Edit > Emoji & Symbols or the Input menu. | Both routes provide visible, mouse-accessible entry points. |
Troubleshoot common problems
The shortcut does nothing
- Confirm that the insertion point is in an editable text field.
- Try Control-Command-Space if Fn/Globe-E is not responding.
- Use Edit > Emoji & Symbols to determine whether the viewer itself is available.
- Check the Fn or Globe key assignment in Keyboard settings. It may not be configured to show Emoji & Symbols.
- Enable the Input menu under Keyboard > Text Input > Edit and open Character Viewer from the menu bar.
Fn/Globe-E opens the viewer instead of showing a suggestion
That is expected when macOS has no inline suggestion for the word or phrase you typed. Search the viewer manually and select the intended result. The shortcut has still worked; it simply took the full-viewer path.
The search result is not the emoji you meant
Try a different descriptive phrase, then compare the returned candidates before inserting one. Search is based on language, so a term that describes the object may produce a different set from a term that describes its emotion, activity, or role.
You cannot find a skin-tone choice
Click and hold the emoji itself. A quick click selects it, while the hold gesture is what reveals variants. If no selector appears after holding, that emoji may not have skin-tone alternatives.
The expanded viewer feels crowded
Customize the panel by reducing the categories shown or changing character size. Add high-use emoji to favorites and clear frequently used characters when the recent list has become noisy.
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The emoji is inserted in the wrong place
Character Viewer inserts at the active insertion point. Close or ignore the current panel, click in the correct text field, position the cursor precisely, and reopen the viewer before selecting the character.
A reliable workflow for everyday use
- Click exactly where the emoji should appear.
- Press Control-Command-Space or Fn/Globe-E.
- Search with a plain-language description when you know the target.
- Click and hold the base emoji if you need a skin-tone or other available variant.
- Select the result; double-click in the expanded viewer if a single click only highlights it.
- Add characters you use repeatedly to favorites and adjust categories or size to keep the expanded viewer efficient.
For occasional use, this sequence avoids unnecessary setup. For frequent use, configuring the Input menu and maintaining favorites gives you a dependable desktop workflow even when keyboard shortcuts are unavailable.
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