Behavior of Tab button in spreadsheets

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Level 1

49 points

Behavior of Tab button in spreadsheets

Since installing MacOS 26 Tahoe on my 24 inch M1 iMac, I have experienced issue using the Tab button to move between cells in spreadsheets such as Numbers, Quicken and Calibre. Opening an existing spreadsheet and clicking on a cell, activates the content of the cell. Pressing the tab button creates a dark line around the cell, but does not move to the next cell, as in Sequoia. Pressing the Tab button again creates a line around the whole spreadsheet, then consecutively the menus at the top of the spreadsheet. See the attachments below. Is this anticipated behavior in Tahoe?

[Edited by Moderator]

iMac 24″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 10:40 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Camelot

Level 9

58,257 points

Sep 23, 2025 10:49 AM in response to mikebrown

Check System Settings -> Accessibility -> Motor -> Keyboard -> Full Keyboard Access

This is a system-wide setting that makes it easier for users to navigate the OS via the keyboard, rather than mouse actions.

For the most part it works well, and unobtrusively, except in apps (such as Numbers, Excel, Quicken, etc.) that make their own extensive use of the relevant keys such as tab.

Either turn Full Keyboard Access off, or remap the keys to something that doesn't interfere with your workflow.

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Answer 2

mikebrown Author

Level 1

49 points

Sep 23, 2025 11:03 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks, Camelot. That fixed the issue. Had a real problem trying changes to settings. EG, trying to type a space between words when revising a file name prevented the change. My biggest problem was moving between cells in Calibre and titling events in Photos.

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