Mouse Keys on a Mac: control the pointer with the keyboard

Mouse Keys moves the pointer with the keyboard when a trackpad or mouse fails. How to turn it on, which keys move and click, and why it can stop the trackpad.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

What is Mouse Keys?

An Accessibility setting that turns keys into a pointer control. The keys of a number pad, or a block of letter keys on a laptop, move the pointer in eight directions, and one key clicks.

How do I turn on Mouse Keys?

  • Open System Settings, Accessibility, Pointer Control, and turn on Mouse Keys.
  • Or press ⌥ five times, if Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys is turned on in its options.
  • Or press ⌥ ⌘ F5 to open the Accessibility shortcuts panel and choose it there.

Which keys move the pointer?

On a number pad, 8 moves up, 2 down, 4 left, 6 right, the corner keys move diagonally, and 5 clicks. On a laptop without one, 7, 8, 9, U, O, J, K and L move it, and I clicks. Typing those keys is blocked while it is on.

Why did my trackpad stop working?

With Mouse Keys on, the option Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on switches the trackpad off. Turn Mouse Keys off, by pressing ⌥ five times or in Pointer Control, and the trackpad works again.

Pressing shortcuts one key at a time: Sticky Keys. Doing without the pointer altogether: keyboard only window management.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Mouse Keys, the Option five times toggle and Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on were read from System Settings, Accessibility.

Questions

How do I turn off Mouse Keys on a Mac?

Press Option five times, or turn it off in System Settings, Accessibility, Pointer Control.

Why is my Mac trackpad not working?

One cause is Mouse Keys with Ignore built-in trackpad turned on. Turn Mouse Keys off.

Can I move the cursor with the keyboard on a Mac?

Yes, with Mouse Keys in Accessibility, Pointer Control.

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