How to switch between ok and cancel button in mac osx
By bgomes
One thing that always bug me allot in macosx was that you cant switch between options in a windows using the tab key, for example when the user wants turn off the macbook and press the power button, a menu Restart / Sleep / Cancel / Shut Down appears and we are obliged to reluctantly press the desired option with the mouse .. But this "bug" have a simple solution, after 2 years using the Mac i finally found the solution to this problem, the solution is very easy indeed. To resolve this simply go to System Preferences -> Mouse and Keyboard Settings -> Keyboard Shortcuts and select the option "All Controls" at the bottom.
Easy right? I wonder is why this option is not active by default... Go figure ...
Turn off menu
Comments
very useful tips my friend, look forward to read more from you.
greetings
Thanks a lot ! Found this by chance, but it bugged me a lot too !
Just as an additional helper, even easier for the Shut Down menu:
Enter to shut down
Esc to cancel
S to sleep
R to restart
Wow, that always annoyed me & now I can tab back and forth thanks to your post! Thanks so much man!
Hi, it also works in your browser - with this options enabled you can move between all type of fields in forms - not only inputs and submits :)
Very cool! I've been looking for a solution to this.
Unfortunately, not all apps respect it. I just tried it in Toast and tabbed to 'Don't Save', but pressing enter selected 'Save' anyway...
So now it switches between the options (puts a blue ring around the outside)but when you hit "Return" on the one you select it still tries to shut down because "Shut Down" is still solid blue. What am I missing?
RED PRESS "SPACE"
@Red:
ENTER = click default button (the one that is solid blue)
SPACE = click selected button (the one with the blue highlight around it)
So use TAB to move to the button you want + hit SPACE.
Oh my god... Now Im so angry with myself cause I never googled this before!! :D I just assumed it wasn't possible. Thanks a lot! :)
Another way is to just press the starting letter: for example, cancel, press c. to 'dont save', press d. easy :D
and if you want to go up and down?? i could only get the left and right arrows to work :(
gautam beri 2 years ago
Hey thanks man i was wondering that too but thanks a bunch for the advice. Saved me hassle and time.