# Browser keyboard navigation in macOS

DevFeed: [Browser keyboard navigation in macOS](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/browser-keyboard-navigation-in-macos-9401.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://a11yproject.com/posts/macos-browser-keyboard-navigation/>)

Author: Scott Vinkle

Published: 2017-12-29T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [The A11Y Project](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-a11y-project.md>)

Topics: [macOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/macos.md>), [browsers](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/browsers.md>), [Chrome](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/chrome.md>), [Firefox](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/firefox.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [Terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/terminal.md>)

Tags: [apple](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apple.md>), [browser](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/browser.md>), [browsers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/browsers.md>), [chrome](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chrome.md>), [config](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/config.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [firefox](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/firefox.md>), [macos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/macos.md>), [terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terminal.md>), [web](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/web.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how to enable full keyboard navigation for interactive elements in macOS browsers. It covers the macOS "All Controls" setting, browser-specific options in Safari and Chrome, and configuration considerations for Firefox.

## Source excerpt

In order to allow for full keyboard navigation of all focusable interactive elements in macOS Safari and Firefox, you'll need to make sure the following keyboard settings are adjusted. By default, Apple computers have an operating system (OS) level setting that limits the Tab key to "Text boxes and lists only". This can be confusing, if not frustrating, for those unaware of this setting and expect keyboard focus to be similar to navigating on a Windows machine. "All Controls" in macOS Enable "All Controls" in macOS Settings In the macOS settings, the "All Controls" setting must be enabled for all focusable interactive elements (for instance, links) to be keyboard accessible via the Tab key alone. Enable this feature by going to: System Preferences Keyboard Shortcuts (tab) macOS Catalina: Select "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" (check box). macOS pre-Catalina: Select "All controls" (radio button). Alternatively, in any macOS version, press Control + F7 (if you're on a laptop you may also need to press the fn key). After updating this setting you will need to quit and restart your browsers to have the update take effect. Enable All Controls via Terminal Run the following command in Terminal to enable keyboard control at the macOS level. This command can be helpful if your organization uses a config script for new employee machines! defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleKeyboardUIMode -int 3 Browser settings to enable full keyboard navigation Highlight each item in Safari Additionally for Safari, you can enable the "highlighting of each item" setting in order to use the Tab key to navigate page controls. Enable this feature by going to Safari's: Preferences Advanced (tab) Check "Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage" (checkbox) With these changed settings in place you should now be able to use the Tab key to navigate around web pages as expected. Highlight each item in Chrome Just like in Safari, a similar setting is available in Chrome. Ve