Tab between buttons in Dialog Boxes

Posted on October 14th, 2008 in Basic OS Functionality by admin

On a PC you can use the keyboard to select buttons in dialog boxes in 2 ways: using the shortcut key (Alt + the underlined letter) or by the tab key to go to the next control. On the Mac you are stuck using the mouse: or are you?

Here’s a tip from Mac Tips and Tricks: Go to System Preferences (under the Apple icon in the Menu Bar) and then select Keyboard & Mouse. Select the Keyboard Shortcuts tab and look at the very bottom of the window. The control is called Full Keyboard Access. The default tab that is selected is Text boxes and lists only. Change that to All controls and you are set. From now on hitting the tab key will move between all the controls, including the buttons.