How to make keys repeat faster on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-make-keys-repeat-faster-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

4 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 4 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Keyboard

Real screenshots

4 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

4 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Keyboard in the sidebar

   Keyboard is near the bottom of the sidebar. Scroll down to find it.

   Done

3. 

   Drag Key repeat rate toward Fast

   It is the left slider at the top of the page. The scale goes from Off and Slow to Fast. In the picture it is set close to Fast.

   Done

4. 

   Drag Delay until repeat toward Short

   It is the right slider. The scale goes from Long to Short. In the picture it is about two-thirds of the way to Short.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Your Mac has System Preferences, not System Settings. Apple says that on macOS Monterey you choose Apple menu, System Preferences, click Keyboard, then the Keyboard tab. The sliders are called Key Repeat and Delay Until Repeat. Source: Change Keyboard preferences on Mac
• You cannot find Keyboard in the sidebar. Apple says you can type a word, such as repeat, in the search field at the top of System Settings and click the matching option. Source: Find options in System Settings on Mac

If this does not work

• Holding a letter shows accented letters instead. Apple says that holding some letter keys, such as a, lets you type characters like à, á or â. Apple also says that with Key repeat rate at Off, these characters do not appear. Source: Set how quickly a key repeats on Mac
• Nothing repeats when you hold a key. Apple says characters repeat when you press and hold a key in a text area. Click in a document or text box first, and check that Key repeat rate is not at Off. Source: Set how quickly a key repeats on Mac

About this guide

When you hold the Delete key or an arrow key, the Mac waits a moment and then repeats it. Two sliders set how long it waits and how quickly characters repeat.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.

Good to know

With Key repeat rate at Off, a held key does not repeat at all.

In short: System Settings, Keyboard, Key repeat rate and Delay until repeat.