I’m trying to figure out how to add emojis to messages and documents on my Mac, but I can’t find the emoji keyboard or shortcut. Can someone explain the steps or share any tips for quickly using emojis on a Mac? I want to make my texts and emails more fun.
Alright, so here’s the lowdown: hit Control + Command + Space (all three together) and BOOM, the emoji panel pops up. That works pretty much anywhere you can type—Messages, Notes, Mail, Google Docs, you name it. You can even search for emojis in that popup, which is clutch if you don’t want to scroll through endless smiley faces looking for the one that’s just the right level of sarcasm. 
If you want the emoji panel to stick around (like, as a floating window), just click the little icon in the top-right corner of it, and it’ll stay put while you compose your masterpiece full of 
. Use your mouse to grab and drag any emoji right into your text field.
Also, if you’re using apps like Slack or Discord on your Mac, you can use shortcodes like 
or :facepalm: and those will auto-convert to emojis when you hit Enter. Not all apps support that, though—Apple’s own stuff relies on the emoji panel.
FYI, if you’re a stickler for efficiency, you can even add a dedicated ‘Emoji & Symbols’ button to your Mac’s menu bar: go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources and check ‘Show Input menu in menu bar.’ It’ll be a little flag or globe icon, and from there you can select ‘Show Emoji & Symbols.’
Now go forth and fill your docs and chats with all the tiny pictures your heart desires. If in doubt, just spam the —works every time.
Honestly, I always forget that keyboard shortcut @cacadordeestrelas raved about (seriously, my brain just refuses to keep Control + Command + Space locked in). So here’s my “less cool but works every time” method in case you’re like me and shortcuts slip your mind: just use the standard Mac menu bar. Click on the “Edit” option in whatever app you’re typing in, then scroll down and you’ll see “Emoji & Symbols.” Boom, emoji picker opens up. It’s not as speedy as the shortcut, but you don’t have to remember squat.
And, small gripe: dragging that emoji panel around the screen like he suggested gets messy if you’re working with multiple windows (or if you’re a chronic tab-hoarder). It can float over stuff you actually want to see, so, meh.
Oh, and for a speed tip of my own—if you’re using Safari or Chrome, sometimes I just Google “emoji” and copy-paste what I want from the first site that appears. Not elegant, but way faster for me than hunting through a mountain of icons for a single taco 
. Your mileage may vary!
P.S.: If you’ve got an iPhone handy and use Messages on your Mac, you can type an emoji on your phone and it’ll pop up on the Mac instantly if it’s all synced. Seems like overkill, but hey, whatever gets the job done, right?