How to move between buttons with the Tab key on a Mac (macOS 26)

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 9 November 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-move-between-buttons-with-the-tab-key-on-a-mac/ · Checked 9 November 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open System Settings
Click Keyboard in the sidebar
Switch on Keyboard navigation
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open System Settings, click Keyboard, and switch on Keyboard navigation. You can then press the Tab key to move the focus forward between controls on the screen, and Shift and Tab to move backward.

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: System Settings
Real screenshots: 3 of 3 steps
Checked: 9 November 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

Tap the picture to see it full size
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Click Keyboard in the sidebar
Keyboard is near the bottom of the sidebar. Scroll down to find it.
Done
Tap the picture to see it full size
Switch on Keyboard navigation
In the picture it is off. The note under it reads: use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls. Press the Tab key to move focus forward and Shift Tab to move focus backward.
Done

About this guide

Keyboard navigation lets you press keys to move the focus between controls on the screen, so that dialogs can be used without the mouse. The switch is off in the picture.

The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.