The Globe Key Nuisance
Modern Mac keyboards, especially those on newer MacBooks, feature a dedicated “Globe” key (usually placed on the bottom left, doubling as the Fn key). By default, macOS is configured to interpret a single press of this Globe key as a command to instantly bring up the Emoji & Symbols picker window. While convenient for heavy texters, this is a massive annoyance for touch typists, developers, or anyone who frequently uses the Fn key for shortcuts. A slight misfire of the pinky finger will suddenly spawn a massive emoji window in the middle of your code editor or important email, completely halting your typing flow.
Reassigning the Globe Key
To keep your typing uninterrupted and stop macOS from automatically showing the emoji picker when you press the Globe/Fn key, you must change the key’s designated function in the system settings.
Click the Apple logo in the extreme top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. In the left-hand navigation sidebar, scroll down and click on Keyboard. On the right-hand panel, look for the section titled “Keyboard navigation” or simply the setting explicitly named Press 🌐 key to. Next to this text, there is a dropdown menu (which will currently be set to “Show Emoji & Symbols”). Click this dropdown menu. To completely disable the intrusive popup, select Do Nothing. (Alternatively, you can choose “Change Input Source” if you type in multiple languages). The change is instant. Pressing the Globe key on its own will no longer spawn the emoji window.