How to Get Emoji Keyboard on Mac

Key Takeaways

Access the emoji keyboard with Control + Command + Space.
Browse or search for emojis easily and insert them into text.
Add the emoji viewer to your menu bar for quick access.
Emojis work in most apps, making them versatile and fun to use.

With this guide, you’re now ready to enhance your messages and documents with emojis on your Mac!

Emojis add fun and expression to your messages, emails, and documents. On a Mac, you can easily access the emoji keyboard to insert your favorite emojis. Here’s a step-by-step guide to enable and use the emoji keyboard on your Mac.

Step 1: Open the Emoji Keyboard

The emoji keyboard, also known as the Character Viewer, is built into macOS and can be accessed quickly.

Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Place your cursor where you want to insert an emoji (e.g., in a message, document, or email).
Press Control (⌃) + Command (⌘) + Space.
- A small emoji window will pop up.

Step 2: Search and Select Emojis

Once the emoji window appears, you can browse and select your desired emoji.

Use the categories on the left side to navigate (e.g., Smileys, Animals, Food).
Scroll through the emojis or type in the search bar to find a specific emoji.
- Example: Type “heart” to see heart-related emojis.
Click on the emoji to insert it into your text.

Step 3: Expand the Emoji Viewer (Optional)

For more options, you can expand the emoji keyboard to access additional symbols, characters, and customization features.

Open the emoji window using the shortcut (Control + Command + Space).
Click the Expand icon (a small square in the top-right corner of the emoji window).
This will open the full Character Viewer, showing a wider range of emojis, symbols, and special characters.

Step 4: Add Emoji Keyboard to Menu Bar (Optional)

To make accessing emojis even easier, you can add the emoji keyboard to your Mac’s menu bar.

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
Go to Keyboard.
Enable Show input menu in menu bar.
- A small icon (usually a flag or keyboard icon) will appear in the top-right menu bar.
Click the input menu icon and select Show Emoji & Symbols to open the Character Viewer.

Step 5: Use Emojis in Popular Apps

Emojis can be used in most apps on Mac, including:

Messages: Spice up your texts by adding emojis.
Mail: Insert emojis in your emails for a personal touch.
Social Media: Use emojis in posts and comments on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Customizing Emoji Appearance

In some apps like Notes or Pages, emojis adapt to the text size. You can make them larger or smaller by adjusting the font size.

FAQs

1. Why can’t I access the emoji keyboard?

Ensure your macOS is updated to a recent version. If the shortcut doesn’t work, try enabling the emoji keyboard through the input menu as explained in Step 4.

2. Can I add frequently used emojis to a favorites list?

The emoji keyboard automatically shows your most frequently used emojis at the top for quick access.

3. Can I use emojis in professional documents?

Yes, but ensure it aligns with the document’s tone and audience. Emojis are generally more suitable for informal communication.

4. How do I use emojis in Terminal?

You can copy an emoji from the emoji keyboard and paste it into Terminal. However, Terminal may not support all emojis depending on the context.

5. Can I customize or create emojis on Mac?

macOS doesn’t allow custom emoji creation, but apps like Slack or WhatsApp allow custom emojis. You can also use Memoji for personalized avatars.