How to Type Emojis on Mac (Every Method)
macOS makes it easy to insert emojis anywhere you can type. Here are all the ways to access emojis on your Mac.
Method 1: Control + Command + Space
Press Ctrl + Cmd + Space to open the Character Viewer (emoji picker) wherever your cursor is.
Type any emoji name in the search bar, click an emoji to insert it. This works in Mail, Messages, Notes, Safari, and most third-party apps.
Method 2: Fn Key (Function Key)
On newer MacBooks (2021 and later), pressing the Fn key or Globe key opens the emoji picker directly.
Look for the globe icon (🌐) on your keyboard. Press it once to open emojis, twice to switch input methods.
Method 3: Edit Menu > Emoji & Symbols
In any app, click Edit in the menu bar and select Emoji & Symbols at the bottom. This opens the full Character Viewer with all Unicode symbols and emojis.
The Character Viewer lets you browse by category, search, and add frequently used emojis to your Favorites panel.
Method 4: Text Replacement
Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Text Replacements. Add shortcuts like ':heart:' that auto-replace with ❤️ as you type.