I am trying to do a character map via alt / 7, but every time I hit the 7 I get thrown out of wherever I am and into a Firefox search page. Why is it doing this?

Are you using the number 7 at the top or the one on the NumPad? Alt-codes are always from the NumPad!

☺☻♥♦♣♠•◘○◙ ♂♀♪♫☼►◄↕‼¶ §▬↨↑↓→←∟↔▲▼

On the number pad. I know 10 key by touch. I almost never use the numbers at the top for anything. This is on my lap top, BTW. On my desk top, alt+ number at the top doesn’t even register (I just tried.)