How to change what the fn or Globe key does on a Mac
2 min read · 3 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open System Settings, click Keyboard, and choose from the Press fn key to menu: Change Input Source, Show Emoji & Symbols, Start Dictation or Do Nothing. On keyboards with a Globe key, the row is named after that key.
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26
- App
- System Settings
- Path
- System Settings › Keyboard › Press fn key to
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
One press on the fn key, or the Globe key on newer keyboards, can open the emoji picker, switch the keyboard language or start dictation. If the emoji window keeps appearing by accident, set the key to do nothing.
The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.
Step by step
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Click Keyboard in the sidebar
Keyboard is near the bottom of the sidebar. Scroll down to find it.
Click the Press fn key to menu
In the picture it is set to Do Nothing. Choose what you want.
Good to know
Apple describes the choices. Change Input Source switches between keyboard layouts for writing in other languages. Show Emoji & Symbols opens the Character Viewer. Start Dictation starts dictation when you press the key twice. Do Nothing: nothing happens.
In short: System Settings, Keyboard, Press fn key to.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.