Mojito: Free macOS App Brings System-Wide Emoji Search to All Applications

Mojito, a new free and open-source macOS application, launched this week offering users the ability to search for emojis, symbols, and GIFs system-wide by typing a colon followed by a search term. The app replicates functionality previously exclusive to certain applications like Slack, where typing ":heart:" instantly produces the corresponding emoji (❤️). Unlike those limited implementations, Mojito works across all macOS applications including TextEdit, iMessage, Terminal, and web browsers, while intelligently bypassing apps that already have native emoji support built-in.

The creator, who first conceived the idea 11 years ago but did not pursue it at the time, eventually decided to revive the project after reviewing past work. The application features several intelligent search capabilities, including fuzzy search to handle typos and near-matches gracefully, support for common emoji alternatives, and a learning system that ranks frequently-used emojis higher in search results over time. The app is localized into 18 languages, with both the user interface and emoji search supporting multiple languages—for example, French users can search either ":heart:" or ":cœur:" to find the same emoji.

Beyond its core functionality, Mojito includes approximately 30 hidden easter eggs ranging from simple animations to elaborate interactive experiences. Typing ":mojito:" triggers a special animation, with other easter eggs discoverable through exploration and experimentation. The application is offered as donationware on a free basis, with the source code available openly. Currently, Mojito is exclusive to macOS, with mobile support not yet planned.