Globe key

Pressed on its own, the Globe key does one of four things. Apple lists them in Keyboard settings, and you choose one. The label on the setting depends on your Mac model: it reads either "Press 🌐 key to" or "Press fn key to".

Held down with another key, it acts as a modifier. Apple’s list of Mac keyboard shortcuts names it "Fn (Function) or Globe" and puts it first among the modifier keys.

• Change Input Source: switches between keyboard layouts for writing in other languages.
• Show Emoji & Symbols: opens the Character Viewer for entering emoji, symbols, and more.
• Start Dictation: starts dictation when you press the key twice. You may be asked to enable Dictation first.
• Do Nothing: nothing happens when you press the key alone.

The setting is at the top level of Keyboard settings, not inside the Dictation section.

1. 01 Choose Apple menu → System Settings.
2. 02 Click Keyboard in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
3. 03 Find the pop-up menu labeled "Press 🌐 key to" or "Press fn key to".
4. 04 Choose Change Input Source, Show Emoji & Symbols, Start Dictation, or Do Nothing.
5. 05 Press the key once, or twice if you chose Start Dictation, to confirm it does what you expect.

With the Start Dictation option, you press the Globe key twice to begin dictating. Apple notes that the option and the Dictation shortcut are linked. If you choose Press Fn (Function) Key Twice as the Dictation shortcut, the Keyboard setting changes to Start Dictation (Press Fn Twice) automatically.

Apple also lists Fn-D as a shortcut to start or stop dictation, and says you may be able to set a different one in Keyboard settings.

1. 01 Choose Apple menu → System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar.
2. 02 Go to Dictation and turn it on. Click Enable if you are asked.
3. 03 Set "Press 🌐 key to" or "Press fn key to" to Start Dictation.
4. 04 Click in a text field and press the Globe key twice.
5. 05 Speak when the cursor is highlighted and pulsing, or when you hear the tone.
6. 06 Press Escape or the Dictation shortcut again when you are done.

If the Character Viewer opens every time you touch the key, the setting is on Show Emoji & Symbols. Apple describes this as an option so that you only need to press the Fn key or the Globe key to get emoji suggestions or open the Character Viewer.

To stop it, change the setting to Do Nothing or to one of the other options. You do not lose the emoji picker. Fn-E and Control-Command-Space still open it, and so does Edit → Emoji & Symbols in most apps.

Apple’s keyboard shortcut list includes a set of shortcuts that use the Globe key as a modifier. Hold the key, press the letter, then release both. On a keyboard with no globe symbol, the Fn key does the same job.

• Fn-E: show the Character Viewer, where you choose emoji and other symbols.
• Fn-D: start or stop dictation.
• Fn-C: show or hide Control Center. Fn-N: show or hide Notification Center.
• Fn-A: show or hide the Dock. Fn-H: show the desktop.
• Fn-Q: create a Quick Note.
• Fn-Delete: forward delete. Fn with the arrow keys: Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End.

When the key seems dead, the cause is often a setting and not the hardware. Work through these checks in order.

• Open Keyboard settings and check that the "Press 🌐 key to" or "Press fn key to" option is not set to Do Nothing.
• If it is set to Start Dictation, remember that the key must be pressed twice, and that Dictation must be turned on.
• If Voice Control is on, standard Dictation is not available, so the key will not start it.
• If the top row does not respond as F1, F2 and so on, hold the Globe key while you press the function key.
• On a keyboard not made by Apple there may be no Fn key. Apple suggests trying the Control key with a function key, and checking with the keyboard manufacturer.