How to make keys repeat faster on a Mac
2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open System Settings, click Keyboard, and drag the Key repeat rate slider toward Fast and the Delay until repeat slider toward Short. A held key, such as an arrow key or Delete, then starts repeating sooner and repeats more quickly.
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26
- App
- System Settings
- Path
- System Settings › Keyboard
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
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.
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.
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.
Drag Delay until repeat toward Short
It is the right slider. The scale goes from Long to Short.
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.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.