How to Open Up Emojis on Mac

Are you someone who loves using emojis in everyday communication? Do you need to use them frequently in your line of work? If that’s the case and you own a MacBook, you might be wondering how to access emojis on your device. Emojis are not readily available on the keyboard of your MacBook or iMac, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them. In this blog post, we will guide you through different methods on how to open up emojis on Mac devices.

Video Tutorial:

What’s Needed

You don’t need much to open up emojis on Mac, and the methods we will cover only require basic tools such as your MacBook or iMac, and a browser. We will also cover a method that requires additional software, but it’s free and easy to obtain.

What Requires Your Focus?

With the methods we will cover, you don’t need any technical expertise to access emojis on Mac. All you need is a basic understanding of how to navigate your MacBook or iMac, and follow easy steps as shown in this blog post.

Different Methods to Open Up Emojis on Mac

Method 1: Using Standard Keyboard Shortcuts

This method makes use of a standard keyboard shortcut to open up the emoji palette.

1. Position your Text Cursor: Place your mouse or trackpad cursor where you’d like to insert the emoji.
2. Press Command + Control + Spacebar: This keyboard shortcut will open up the emoji palette.
3. Choose Your Emoji: A palette of all available emojis will be displayed, and you can scroll to find the emoji you would like to use.
4. Enter Your Emoji: Once you find the emoji you’d like to use, click on it, and it will be inserted wherever your cursor is positioned.

Pros:

– It’s straightforward to use.
– No need for additional software.
– Standard on all Mac devices.

Cons:

– You have to memorize the keyboard shortcut.

Method 2: Via the Emoji & Symbols Menu

This method makes use of the Emoji and Symbols menu found on every Mac device.

1. Position Your Text Cursor: Place your cursor where you’d like to insert the emoji.
2. Click Edit: This is found in the menu bar.
3. Click Emoji & Symbols: This will take you to the emoji and symbols window.
4. Pick Your Emoji: You can then scroll through the various options and select the emoji you would like to use.
5. Enter Your Emoji: Once you’ve clicked on the emoji you’d like to insert, it will appear wherever your cursor is positioned.

Pros:

– You can browse for specific emojis.
– No need for additional software.
– You can browse for alternative symbols and special characters.

Cons:

– The menu option can differ between some apps on Mac.

Method 3: With the Character Viewer

This method makes use of the Character Viewer window which is available on all Macs.

1. Position Your Text Cursor: Place your cursor where you’d like to insert the emoji.
2. Click Edit: This is found in the menu bar.
3. Click Emoji & Symbols: This will open up the Character Viewer window.
4. Click Organize: At the bottom of the window, click organize to open the Character Viewer window which lists emojis in categories.
5. Choose Your Emoji: You can browse through the categories to find the emoji you’d like to insert.
6. Insert Your Emoji: Once you find the emoji, click on it, and it will be inserted wherever your cursor is positioned.

Pros:

– It’s easy to find the emoji you’re looking for.
– Easily accessible on all Mac devices.
– You can access additional symbols and special characters.

Cons:

– Interface can be overwhelming.
– Requires more clicks to access emojis than the other methods.

Method 4: Use the Touch Bar (if available)

If your Mac device’s keyboard comes with a Touch Bar, you can make use of this feature to quickly access emojis.

1. Position Your Text Cursor: Place your cursor where you’d like to insert the emoji.
2. Tap the Emoji Option: You can access the Emoji option by swiping left on the Touch Bar.
3. Pick Your Emoji: You can then scroll through the various emojis to find the one you’d like to use.
4. Insert: Once you find the emoji, tap on it, and it will be inserted wherever your cursor is positioned.

Pros:

– Quick and easy to access emojis.
– Visual representation of all available emojis.

Cons:

– Not all Mac devices come with a Touch Bar.

Method 5: Use Third-Party Software

If you use emojis frequently and need access to advanced features such as the ability to save emojis as custom sets, third-party software such as "Rocket" can be downloaded and installed on your MacBook.

1. Download and Install Rocket: To download, go to the Rocket website and follow the download link for the Rocket app.
2. Activate Rocket: Press the keyboard shortcut “Command” + “Control” + ”Space“ to activate Rocket.
3. Choose Your Emoji: A search toolbar will appear, where you can type in keywords to search for your desired emojis. Or, you can navigate through their organized categories to find your desired emojis.
4. Insert Your Emoji: Once you find the emoji you’d like to use, click on it, and it will automatically be inserted wherever your cursor is.

Pros:

– You can browse for specific emojis using a search toolbar.
– You can save custom sets of emojis.
– Advanced settings are available.

Cons:

– Requires additional software download and installation.
– It’s not on all Mac devices.

Why Can’t I Open Up Emojis on Mac?

1. You’re trying to enter emojis in an app that doesn’t support emojis: Some text fields on certain apps may not support emojis. To see if an app does support emojis, follow the methods above.

2. Your keyboard language is set to an emoji-less dialect: Make sure that your MacBook’s keyboard language is set to an emoji-compatible dialect. To change this, go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Text. From here, you can add keyboard languages that include emojis.

3. Your Mac device is outdated: If your MacBook or iMac is running an outdated version of macOS, it may not support access to emojis. To ensure you can access emojis, make sure that your device is running on macOS 10.12.1 or later.

Implications and Recommendations

– Familiarize yourself with the various methods discussed above to enable quick access to emojis.
– Consider adding a second keyboard dialect that supports emojis to enhance access to emojis.
– Invest in third-party software such as Rocket if you need advanced features for frequently using emojis.

5 FAQs about Opening Up Emojis on Mac

Q1: Can I add my emojis on my MacBook?

A: Yes, you can add custom emojis using third-party software such as "Rocket."

Q2: Which is the most convenient method?

A: The most convenient method may differ from user to user, but the standard keyboard shortcut (Method 1) is straightforward and easy to memorize.

Q3: Can I access emojis without using the internet?

A: Yes, all the methods discussed above work offline without the need for an internet connection.

Q4: Can I use Touch Bar emojis on older MacBook devices?

A: No, the Touch Bar feature is only available on newer MacBook devices.

Q5: Can I access emojis on my MacBook’s dock?

A: No, emojis are not readily available on the dock of your MacBook.

Final Words

Accessing emojis on your Mac is a straightforward process that anyone can achieve using one of several methods. The methods discussed above are easy to use, and you can choose one that suits your needs and preferences. If you use emojis frequently and need additional features, consider downloading third-party software such as Rocket. We hope this blog post has been useful in guiding you on how to access emojis on your Mac device.