Emoji & symbols dialog stops popping up after a couple days usage: have to reboot

Question

Emoji & symbols dialog stops popping up after a couple days usage: have to reboot

I have an issue that has been plaguing me since macOS ventura (now on sequoia), across two pieces of hardware: about every two days, the emoji & symbols dialog stops popping up when I press ctrl-cmd-space. Once the problem starts, the only way to fix it that I've found is to: reboot the mac. Ugh.

Things I've tried:

Reboot mac (works)
Use fn-e instead (doesn't work)
Force Quit "Emoji & Symbols" from the Activity Monitor: the process does quit. The next time I press ctrl-cmd-space or fn-e a new process appears, BUT nothing pops up on screen. (doesn't work)

I've been a heavy user of this feature since it was called character palette in 10.2, then character viewer, now emoji and symbols, so I'm very sad. I would put :cat-tears: here: BUT I CANNOT INSERT EMOJI LOL.

Is this flaky for anyone else? I don't see a lot of discussion on the internet, surely the world would be rioting if you couldn't insert emoji after a couple days of using a Mac?!? It must be just me, but why? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

One slim possibility of what makes me different: I've been upgrading my user account since OS/X Jaguar (10.2), so maybe at some point a setting got set during 10 OS upgrade migrations that's non-default and is unexpected for the modern Emoji & Symbols dev, and causing it to hang? But mostly, I use pretty much default settings intentionally.

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Mar 11, 2025 11:25 PM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

136,127 points

Mar 12, 2025 3:25 AM in response to failingalbatross

failingalbatross wrote:

I'm 95% sure this is a bug, not something I'm misunderstanding. I'm hoping somebody has a workaround for the bug.

No misunderstanding. Pressing the down arrow should bring up the full window. it does on my Macs.

Try booting into Safe Mode then restart normally. Sometimes that will fix anomalies.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Mar 12, 2025 3:53 AM in response to failingalbatross

I have one more clue about the underlying bug!

I enabled `Show input menu in the menu bar`, and here's what it shows:

Notice it thinks the "Emoji & Symbols" window is open? There isn't one (that's visible), but if the OS thinks one is open, it might refuse to open another. This would explain why its "stuck". Clicking "Hide" has no effect, but its one more clue as to what the underlying issue might be.

Hypothesis: something (perhaps an application I use that has a bad interaction with emoji & symbols, like vscode?) causes the system "Emoji & Symbols" window to crash, in such a way that it appears to macOS like its still open. As a result, macOS refuses to start another, in any application, and thus emoji & symbols becomes "stuck" OS-wide.

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Answer 3

Owl-53

Level 10

103,147 points

Mar 12, 2025 12:53 PM in response to failingalbatross

As mentioned, , can not duplicate this issue on 3 machines

Moving a User account sicne Jaguar to current times

Possible something there

Download the Application Etrecheck ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer

The application is free or paid for added features.

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information.

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon <<<<

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Answer 4

Owl-53

Level 10

103,147 points

Mar 12, 2025 4:28 AM in response to failingalbatross

failingalbatross wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to suggest some ideas. I agree its quite likely something particular about my system, whether its something installed or a weird setting.

On three different M-Class computers

Each with Sequoia 15.3.2 the current version

Pressing the Global Key (fn ) key and or the Fn + e works as per previous screen shot

Agree this issue of yours appears to Localized to your computer

As to " whether it's something installed or a weird setting. "

Anything look familiar ??

There are 3 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are baffling.

Why some users insist on installing and using the below software.

In no special order

Commercial VPNs

They may not be what one believes they are doing for the computer and what they actually are doing behind the scenes

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

Third Party Security Software

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX Foundation and Permission Limitation.

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

Security. Built right in

Mac app security enhancements

The Built in Security is all that is required to protect the computer.

Protecting against malware in macOS

And a favourite of mine ( Tongue in cheek )

Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster.

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale.

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.

This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.

It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.

The Operating System is hosed

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Answer 5

Apr 10, 2025 3:08 PM in response to failingalbatross

FWIW, it's *not* something unique to you - I've experienced similar types of behavior.

I haven't yet been able to diagnose the root cause, but checking Activity Monitor in a "failure state" will almost always show "Emoji & Symbols" (CharacterPalette) with runaway CPU usage during this time.

Force-kill does solve the issue for me until the next time the triggering event occurs.

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Answer 6

Owl-53

Level 10

103,147 points

Mar 12, 2025 2:05 AM in response to failingalbatross

failingalbatross wrote:

The "new" fn-e after typing an emoji name does bring up the "little popup", but the "down arrow to bring up full dialog" doesn't work:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/8e71b52d-dee1-45ff-b611-e53a4802b0c6

1 - Using the same fn +e keyboard function

2 - First image without typing " sad cat " in the search bar

3 - It brings up all the previously used Emoji & symbols

4 - Second image is with typing "sad cat " in the search bar

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Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

136,127 points

Mar 12, 2025 3:22 AM in response to failingalbatross

failingalbatross wrote:

The "new" fn-e after typing an emoji name does bring up the "little popup", but the "down arrow to bring up full dialog" doesn't work:

FWIW, pressing Fn+E a second time will bring up the full emoji window.

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Answer 8

Mar 12, 2025 3:35 AM in response to dialabrain

I've booted into safe mode a few times over the past few years when dealing with docker issues, and I still have the issue, so I don't think this is a fix. I'm not going to try it now, because a reboot WILL fix it (temporarily), and then I'll have to wait a couple days before I can repro again. I've determined to myself to not live with this any longer and find a fix lol.

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

136,127 points

Mar 12, 2025 3:38 AM in response to failingalbatross

Well, good luck. Since I have three Macs running Sequoia 15.3.2 (since yesterday), and never had the problem in any version of Sequoia, I don't think it's a "bug". I think it's something you have installed.

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Answer 10

Mar 12, 2025 11:12 AM in response to Owl-53

I don't use a VPN, or any security software, or cleaners/optimizers.

I don't have very many "Open at Login" programs, only: ChatGPT, Dato, Signal, Google Drive and Docker.

I don't use very many applications either, mostly: VSCode (I'm a programmer), Slack, Chrome, ChatGPT, TextMate, Discord, Steam, Zoom, Pixelmator Pro, and some macOS builtin apps like Terminal, Messages, Music, Notes, etc.

I don't use a lot of plugins, and don't change settings from defaults very much. The main way I'm an unusual user is that I've been upgrading this same user account since macOS Jaguar 10.2. As a programmer, I can imagine this could result in having relatively unusual state in my settings?

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Answer 11

Mar 11, 2025 11:47 PM in response to failingalbatross

The "new" fn-e after typing an emoji name does bring up the "little popup", but the "down arrow to bring up full dialog" doesn't work:

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Answer 12

Mar 12, 2025 3:19 AM in response to Owl-53

Hi, I know about this popup (the "emoji and symbols" popup): this is exactly what is NOT working. The popup normally comes up, but after a couple days, it refuses to come up anymore.

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Answer 13

Mar 12, 2025 3:20 AM in response to failingalbatross

I'm 95% sure this is a bug, not something I'm misunderstanding. I'm hoping somebody has a workaround for the bug.

Reply

Answer 14

Mar 12, 2025 3:28 AM in response to dialabrain

> FWIW, pressing Fn+E a second time will bring up the full emoji window.

Doesn't work in this case

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Answer 15

Mar 12, 2025 3:45 AM in response to dialabrain

Thanks for taking the time to suggest some ideas. I agree its quite likely something particular about my system, whether its something installed or a weird setting.

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