Caution

This document is an English translation of the “freee Accessibility Guidelines.” The normative version of this document is in Japanese, and the English version is informational. The English translation is incomplete, and any links with their link texts left in Japanese are untranslated. Please be aware that there may be inaccuracies in the translation or parts that are outdated.

Focus Movement by Tab Key Is Strange Only in Safari

Last Updated: March 25, 2025

Tags: Keyboard Operation

Question / Problem

When displaying a Web page in Safari, there are elements that should be focused but are skipped when moving focus with the Tab key or Shift+Tab key. Google Chrome and other browsers can move focus correctly, but is there any action required on the content side?

Answer / Conclusion

Since this is the behavior when using Safari with the default settings, no action is required. Using the option+Tab and Shift+option+Tab keys will behave the same as other browsers.

Explanation

When using Safari with the default settings, some elements, such as links and buttons, that should be able to move focus to with the Tab key or Shift+Tab key, don’t receive focus. Instead, using the option+Tab key and Shift+option+Tab key will allow you to move focus as in other browsers.

When checking the focus order, if there are no issues when checking with other browsers, usually there is no problem. If you need to check with Safari, use the option+Tab key and Shift+option+Tab key to check.

Note that by one of the following settings, the behavior of the Tab key and Shift+Tab key in Safari on macOS will be the same as in other browsers.

  • In Safari’s Preferences ‣ Advanced, check “Press Tab to highlight each item on a webpage.”

  • In macOS System Preferences ‣ Accessibility ‣ Keyboard, enable “Full Keyboard Access.”