Globe Button on Keyboard: What It Does & How to Use It
The globe key (�) on Apple keyboards switches between input sources or emoji pickers, letting you change keyboard languages or insert emojis without touching the mouse. It appears on Mac notebooks, Magic Keyboards, and iPad keyboards, and its behavior is customizable in system settings.
Background: Where the Globe Key Came From
Apple introduced the globe key in 2015 with the 12-inch MacBook to replace the traditional left Control key, making it easier to switch keyboard layouts on a compact device. It later spread to the Magic Keyboard for Mac and iPad, and now appears on most modern Apple keyboards. The key is marked with a small globe icon (�) and is typically located in the bottom-left corner, next to the Fn key. On iPad keyboards, it is often next to the Control key. Its primary purpose is to let you switch between multiple keyboard languages or input sources, but it also opens the emoji picker in many apps.
How the Globe Key Works
By default, pressing the globe key cycles through your enabled input sources in the order they appear in System Settings. If you have only one input source (like English), pressing it does nothing unless you enable the emoji picker option. You can also press and hold the globe key to see a popover listing all your input sources, then click one to switch. On iPad, the same behavior applies, and the key also shows the emoji picker when you tap it in text fields. The key is not a modifier like Shift or Command by default, but you can assign it to perform other actions (see below).
Customizing the Globe Key on Mac
You can change what the globe key does on a Mac running macOS Sonoma or later. Open System Settings > Keyboard, then click the “Keyboard Shortcuts…� button and select “Modifier Keys.� There, you can change the globe key to act as Control, Option, Command, or Escape. To change its primary function, go to System Settings > Keyboard and look for “Press � key to� – you can choose between “Change input source� and “Show Emoji & Symbols.� If you choose the latter, the emoji picker opens whenever you press the globe key, and you can still switch input sources by holding it. Note that the option only appears if you have more than one input source enabled.
Using the Globe Key on iPad and iPhone
On iPad with a Magic Keyboard or Smart Keyboard, the globe key works the same as on Mac: it switches input sources and shows the emoji picker. On the on-screen keyboard, the globe icon appears next to the spacebar (or the dictation key) and lets you switch between keyboards you’ve added in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. On iPhone, there is no physical globe key, but the on-screen globe icon does the same job. If you press and hold the globe key on the iPad physical keyboard, you can drag to select an input source from the popover, which is faster than tapping repeatedly.
Common Problems and Fixes
- Globe key does nothing: Make sure you have more than one input source enabled in System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources. If you only have one, the key has no default action unless you set it to show emoji.
- Emoji picker doesn’t open: Check that the “Press � key to� setting is set to “Show Emoji & Symbols.� In some apps, the key may be intercepted by the app’s shortcuts.
- Globe key acts as Control: If you changed the modifier key assignment, the globe key will behave like Control. Reset it in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys.
- On iPad, the globe key switches to a different language unexpectedly: This happens if you have multiple keyboards enabled and you press the key accidentally. You can disable unused keyboards in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.
Globe Key vs. Control Key: What’s the Difference?
On older Macs, the bottom-left key was Control, used for shortcuts like Control+C (copy) and Control+click (right-click). The globe key replaced it on many newer keyboards, but you can still get Control functionality by pressing the globe key if you set it as a modifier in System Settings. However, by default, the globe key is not a modifier—it’s a function key. If you’re used to Control shortcuts, you may want to swap the globe and Control keys. On the Magic Keyboard, the Control key is still present, so you don’t lose it. The globe key is purely for input switching and emoji, while Control is for shortcuts.
Alternatives to the Globe Key
If your keyboard doesn’t have a globe key (e.g., a Windows keyboard on a Mac), you can still switch input sources using these methods:
- Keyboard shortcut: On a Mac, press Control+Space to switch between input sources (or Command+Space if you’ve changed it). On iPad, you can use the on-screen globe icon.
- Menu bar: Click the input source icon in the menu bar (top-right) and select the language.
- Emoji picker: Press Control+Command+Space on a Mac to open the emoji picker without the globe key.
- Remap keys: Use third-party tools like Karabiner-Elements to assign the Caps Lock or another key to act as the globe key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t my globe key show emojis?
By default, the globe key is set to change input sources, not to show emoji. To make it open the emoji picker, go to System Settings > Keyboard and change the “Press � key to� option to “Show Emoji & Symbols.� If you have multiple input sources, you can still hold the globe key to switch them.
Can I use the globe key on a Windows keyboard?
Windows keyboards don’t have a globe key, but you can remap a key (like Caps Lock) using software such as PowerToys on Windows or Karabiner-Elements on Mac. On a Mac, you can also use the Control+Space shortcut instead.
What is the difference between the globe key and the Fn key?
The Fn key is a modifier that activates the function row (F1–F12) on Mac keyboards. The globe key is a separate key that switches input sources or opens emoji. They are not interchangeable, though both are located in the bottom-left area. On some keyboards, the globe key is combined with the Fn key (e.g., on the Magic Keyboard for iPad, the globe key is next to the Control key).
Does the globe key work in all apps?
Yes, the globe key works system-wide, but some apps may override it for their own shortcuts. For example, in some text editors, pressing the globe key might insert a special character. If that happens, you can change the app’s shortcuts or use the menu bar alternative.
How do I add a new input source to use with the globe key?
On a Mac, go to System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources, click the “+� button, and select the language you want. On iPad, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, then “Add New Keyboard.� Once added, the globe key will cycle through all enabled sources.
Can I make the globe key do something else, like open Spotlight?
Yes, you can remap the globe key using third-party tools like Karabiner-Elements on Mac. However, Apple’s built-in settings only allow you to change it to act as a modifier key (Control, Option, Command, Escape) or to change input source/emoji. For other actions, you need a remapping tool.
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