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Enable the Tab Key to Skip between OK and Cancel Buttons

Posted by Scott | April 19, 2007 .

One of the most annoying things I’ve found in OS X is that the tab key doesnt tab between dialogue box options. Im sure you’ve noticed this as well especially if you are a previous Windows user. Whenever you are presented with a box asking you to hit OK or Cancel it would be logical to allow the tab key move between the two options so you dont have to stop what your doing to pick up the mouse.

After 3 years of using a Mac and hating the fact that I cant use the tab key, I finally stumbled across the way to fix it (litterally stumbled, I was checking out StumbleUpon). To correct this annoyance is as simple as opening up the system preferences and checking a box. Why this isnt on by default, I have no idea. Below is how to enable the tab key to skip between the OK and Cancel button.

keyboard-tab-form-fields.gif

  • Open system preferences
  • Go to Mouse and Keyboard Settings
  • Go to Keyboard Shortcuts
  • select the option at the bottom to allow “All Controls”.

Thats it, your done. Come on Apple this is a pretty obvious setting that should be set as the default.

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13 Comments so far
  1. awesome! December 18, 2007 4:07 am

    thanks for the tip. been a mac user for a year and found this so annoying.

    for a company that prides itself on simplicity and ergonomics who would guess that they would leave this off by default?

  2. Thank you ! January 7, 2008 3:49 pm

    Didn’t know that; thanks!

  3. ross January 26, 2008 4:38 am

    Hi,

    When I follow your tip all I manage to do is toggle an outer blue highlight - not the solid blue OK one. Pressing return on the outer highlight has no effect except being a big tease!

    Any thoughts?

    Kind regards,

    Ross

  4. Scott January 26, 2008 10:32 am

    Hey Ross,

    Use the space bar instead of return to select the button and it should work fine.

  5. Robert July 22, 2008 6:12 pm

    An easier way is simply to press Ctrl+Fn+F7. That’ll toggle between all controls and the standards textboxes, etc.

  6. Ryan July 23, 2008 10:41 pm

    I really needed this. Toggling with the tab key was something I missed from that other unmentionable OS.

  7. andy July 31, 2008 5:43 am

    aah! finally!

  8. Caleb August 13, 2008 5:22 pm

    are you not running leopard? Because it is standard for Lepopard. I did not know about that trick, and went to change it, and it was already that way.

  9. b August 13, 2008 7:30 pm

    SWEET JESUS!

    That makes me happy. No I can back to being lazy and not having to move my hand from keyboard to mouse…mwahahaha

  10. Anonymous September 28, 2008 3:43 pm

    THANK YOU KIND SIR!

  11. Quick Tip: Enable Tab To Select All Options | Mac Flaws December 31, 2008 11:24 pm

    […] been driving me nuts for years. I’ve finally stumbled upon a solution for the problem from Mac Utopia. Simply go to System Preferences>Mouse and Keyboard Settings>Keyboard Shortcuts>Select All […]

  12. Enable the Tab Key to Skip between OK and Cancel Buttons | Matt Castille March 27, 2009 6:42 pm

    […] [From Enable the Tab Key to Skip between OK and Cancel Buttons] […]

  13. Anonymous March 31, 2009 4:24 am

    Thanks a bunch!!!! Very useful information!