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If pressing the Fn or Globe key opens the emoji picker on your Mac, change that key’s assignment instead of searching through app shortcuts. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard, open the Press fn key to or Press Globe key to menu, and choose Do Nothing. You can also assign one of the other actions shown there, such as changing the input source or starting Dictation.
This setting controls the single Fn/Globe-key action. It is separate from Apple’s documented Control-Command-Space and Fn-E shortcuts for Character Viewer, so changing the key menu does not necessarily remove those keyboard combinations.
What you are changing
macOS has more than one way to open Character Viewer, the panel that contains emoji, symbols, accented letters and characters from other languages. The control most people need is the action assigned to the physical Fn or Globe key. Apple exposes that action in Keyboard settings. A separate set of keyboard combinations can also invoke Character Viewer, and Apple documents those combinations independently.
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| Trigger | Where it is controlled | What Apple’s documentation establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Press the Fn key or Globe key by itself | System Settings > Keyboard > Press fn key to / Press Globe key to | You can choose Do Nothing or another action from the menu. |
| Control-Command-Space | Character Viewer keyboard shortcut; general shortcut settings may show configurable shortcuts | Apple lists it as a Character Viewer shortcut, but the reviewed instructions do not confirm that this specific built-in shortcut appears as an editable item. |
| Fn-E | Character Viewer keyboard shortcut | Apple lists it as another way to show Character Viewer. |
Keeping these triggers separate helps diagnose the result you see. If the picker appears only when you tap Fn or Globe, change the key-action menu. If it appears after a three-key combination, changing that menu is not the same operation.
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Disable the Fn or Globe key from opening emoji
- Choose the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of the screen, then select System Settings.
- Select Keyboard in the sidebar.
- Find the menu labeled Press fn key to or Press Globe key to. Apple uses the label that matches the key and keyboard configuration detected by macOS.
- Open the menu and select Do Nothing.
- Close System Settings and press the Fn or Globe key once to confirm that Character Viewer no longer opens.
The change takes effect for that key action; it does not uninstall Character Viewer or remove every other route to it. If you later want the key to do something again, return to the same menu and select a different listed action.
Why the label may say Fn or Globe
Apple uses Fn for keyboards whose lower-left or modifier key is identified as Function and Globe for keyboards that use the globe symbol. The wording can also vary with the keyboard connected to the Mac and the macOS release. Look for the menu that begins with “Press” and names the key you are pressing; do not treat a missing exact phrase as evidence that the setting is unavailable.
Repurpose the key instead of disabling it
Do Nothing is the choice when accidental picker windows are the problem. The same menu can offer other assignments. Apple’s documented choices include:
- Change Input Source, for switching among configured keyboard layouts or input methods.
- Show Emoji & Symbols, which keeps the current behavior if you decide you still want one-key access.
- Start Dictation, for invoking macOS dictation from the key.
- Do Nothing, which leaves the key without an action assigned by this menu.
The exact list can differ by macOS version, keyboard and configuration. Select only an option that is actually present in your menu. If you choose another assignment and later dislike it, repeat the four navigation steps and select a different action.
Fn/Globe setting versus the Character Viewer shortcuts
Apple’s Mac keyboard shortcuts guide lists Control-Command-Space and Fn-E as ways to show Character Viewer. These are shortcut combinations, not the single-key action configured by the Press fn key to or Press Globe key to menu.
For example, choosing Do Nothing prevents a lone press of the Fn or Globe key from opening the picker. If you then hold Control and Command and press Space, Character Viewer may still appear because that is a different trigger. Likewise, the documented Fn-E combination is independent of the one-key assignment.
Apple also says that macOS allows users to change or disable keyboard shortcuts generally. Its Use macOS keyboard shortcuts guide explains the general customization process and notes, “You can change or disable keyboard shortcuts to make them easier to use.” However, the reviewed Apple instructions do not verify that the built-in Character Viewer entry for Control-Command-Space is exposed as an editable shortcut in every macOS release. Do not assume that the general shortcut page guarantees a removable entry for this particular command.
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How to check which trigger is opening the picker
If you are unsure what to change, identify the action that precedes the window:
- Close Character Viewer.
- Press only the Fn or Globe key. If the picker opens, the key-action menu is the relevant control.
- If nothing happens, press Control-Command-Space once. If the picker opens now, you are testing the separate documented shortcut.
- Close the viewer again and test Fn-E if your keyboard provides an Fn key.
- Change the Fn/Globe menu only if the first test reproduced the problem. This avoids changing a setting that is unrelated to the shortcut you actually use.
Testing one trigger at a time matters because the viewer itself can remain available through menus even after one keyboard action has been disabled.
Keep access to emoji and symbols after disabling the key
Open it from the Edit menu
Apple documents Edit > Emoji & Symbols as a menu route to Character Viewer. In an app that provides the Edit menu, choose that command whenever you need an emoji, symbol, accented letter or character from another writing system. This route does not depend on the Fn/Globe assignment.
Add the Input menu to the menu bar
You can also place an Input menu in the menu bar:
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select Keyboard in the sidebar.
- In the Text Input area, select Edit.
- Enable Show Input menu in menu bar.
- Use the Input menu’s Character Viewer command when you need the picker.
The wording and placement of Text Input controls can vary by macOS release, but Apple’s documented path is through Keyboard settings, then Text Input and Edit. This method is useful when you want to stop accidental one-key openings while retaining a visible, deliberate way to insert characters.
Apple describes Character Viewer as a browser for emoji, symbols, accented letters and characters from other languages. Disabling one shortcut therefore changes how you reach the viewer, not the kinds of characters it contains.
Troubleshooting when the picker still appears
The Fn/Globe menu is not visible
Confirm that you selected Keyboard in System Settings rather than a similarly named accessibility or input panel. Then look for a row beginning with Press. Apple may show “Press fn key to” or “Press Globe key to” depending on the detected key. If no such row is available, the connected keyboard or current macOS configuration may not expose that assignment; use the documented Edit menu or Input menu route for Character Viewer and avoid changing unrelated settings.
You selected Do Nothing, but a single press still opens the viewer
Reopen the same menu and verify that Do Nothing is still selected. Then make sure you are pressing the key by itself rather than combining it with another key. A shortcut such as Control-Command-Space can look like a Fn-key problem if the sequence is being entered quickly. Test the key in a simple text field after closing Character Viewer, and test the documented combinations separately.
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The viewer opens only in one application
Some applications expose their own Edit menus and text-entry commands. Check whether the behavior is tied to one app by trying the key in another text field. If only one application opens a character panel, use that application’s own menu or shortcut preferences; the global Fn/Globe action setting is intended for the key assignment supplied by macOS.
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The menu offers different choices than the examples
Do not force the labels from another Mac onto yours. Apple notes that available choices depend on the key and keyboard configuration, and labels can differ across macOS releases. Choose Do Nothing if it is available, or select the closest desired action from the choices actually displayed. Record the previous choice if you may need to restore it.
You disabled the key and now cannot find emoji
Use Edit > Emoji & Symbols in an application that provides the Edit menu, or enable Show Input menu in menu bar through System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit. These are Apple-documented alternatives and do not require the Fn/Globe key to be assigned to Character Viewer.
Choosing the right change for common situations
Accidental openings while using the keyboard
Select Do Nothing in the Fn/Globe menu. This targets the single key most likely to be pressed unintentionally and leaves Character Viewer available from Edit or the Input menu.
You want the key for dictation
Open the same menu and choose Start Dictation if that option is offered. This replaces the one-key Character Viewer action rather than adding a second action to the same press.
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Choose Change Input Source when it appears in the menu. This assigns the key to input-source switching; Character Viewer remains reachable through its menu command and documented shortcuts.
You rarely need the picker but still want a reliable fallback
Choose Do Nothing, then enable the menu-bar Input menu. The result separates routine typing from occasional character insertion: the key no longer invokes a panel unexpectedly, while the menu provides an intentional entry point.
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You specifically need to remove Control-Command-Space
First determine whether your macOS version lists that command in its keyboard-shortcut settings. Apple documents the general ability to change or disable shortcuts, but the reviewed documentation does not confirm a universal editable entry for Character Viewer’s built-in combination. If the command is not listed, use the Fn/Globe menu change for the one-key behavior and rely on the documented menu alternatives rather than assuming the combination can be removed.
Version and keyboard considerations
Apple’s current guides use the labels quoted above, but the visible wording and available actions can vary with macOS release, keyboard layout and key configuration. A Mac notebook keyboard may identify the key as Globe, while another keyboard may identify it as Fn. The setting is still found in System Settings > Keyboard; use the matching “Press” menu shown on your Mac.
Because no macOS release or keyboard model is specified here, treat the exact menu labels as release-dependent. Do not infer that a choice is missing permanently from a different label, and do not rely on a shortcut-customization screen to contain an entry Apple has not confirmed for your release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
What is the Mac shortcut for opening the emoji picker?
Apple documents Control-Command-Space and Fn-E for showing Character Viewer. A separate press of the Fn or Globe key can also be assigned to show Emoji & Symbols through the Keyboard settings menu.
Can I disable only the Globe key and keep other emoji shortcuts?
Yes. Set Press Globe key to to Do Nothing. That changes the Globe-key action; it does not, according to Apple’s separate shortcut documentation, establish that Control-Command-Space or Fn-E has been removed.
Will Do Nothing disable emoji everywhere?
No. It disables the action assigned to the Fn or Globe key. Character Viewer remains available from Edit > Emoji & Symbols, the menu-bar Input menu when enabled, and Apple’s documented keyboard combinations.
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The label reflects the key and keyboard configuration macOS detects. Apple documents both forms. Use the menu that names the key on your keyboard.
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Can I change Control-Command-Space in Keyboard settings?
Apple documents general shortcut customization, but the reviewed instructions do not confirm that the built-in Character Viewer shortcut is listed for editing on every release. Check your shortcut settings for an explicit entry; if none is present, do not assume the command can be removed there.
How do I open the picker after disabling the key?
Choose Edit > Emoji & Symbols in a supporting app, or enable Show Input menu in menu bar under System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit and open Character Viewer from that menu.
Does this setting affect accented letters and other symbols?
The setting changes only how Character Viewer is invoked by the Fn or Globe key. Character Viewer itself continues to provide emoji, symbols, accented letters and characters from other languages when opened through another route.
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Labels and available actions may differ by macOS release, keyboard and configuration. Select the option that is actually shown, use Do Nothing when available, and use the Edit menu or Input menu as a fallback for opening Character Viewer.
Apple documentation
- Keyboard settings on Mac — the Fn/Globe key-action menu and its available assignments.
- Mac keyboard shortcuts — Apple’s listed Character Viewer shortcuts, including Control-Command-Space and Fn-E.
- Use macOS keyboard shortcuts — general guidance for changing or disabling configurable shortcuts.
- Use emoji and symbols on Mac — Character Viewer capabilities and menu-bar access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mac shortcut for opening the emoji picker?
Apple documents Control-Command-Space and Fn-E for Character Viewer. The Fn or Globe key can also be assigned to Show Emoji & Symbols in System Settings > Keyboard.
Can I disable only the Globe key and keep other emoji shortcuts?
Yes. Set Press Globe key to Do Nothing. This changes the Globe-key action without establishing that the separate Control-Command-Space or Fn-E shortcuts are removed.
How do I open Character Viewer after disabling the key?
Use Edit > Emoji & Symbols, or enable Show Input menu in menu bar under System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit.
Why does my Mac show “Press fn key to” instead of “Press Globe key to”?
The label reflects the key and keyboard configuration macOS detects. Use the matching Press menu shown on your Mac.
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