Amongst Apple’s Accessibility options in macOS, Mouse Keys stands out as the most maligned by those that didn’t imply to show it on. It’s simple to activate whereas idly enjoying with the keyboard or when a toddler or cat is swatting at it with out intent. When enabled, Mouse Keys allows a part of the keyboard’s use or a quantity pad on an prolonged keyboard to permit pointer motion.
With macOS Ventura, Apple moved the setting essential to forestall Mouse Keys from ever unintentionally activating. Right here’s the best way to alter it.
- Time to finish: 3 minutes
- Instruments required: macOS Ventura
Accessibility System Settings

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Go to > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Management.
Pointer Management > Mouse Keys

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Click on the i (data) button to the proper of Mouse Keys. (Clicking Mouse Choices simply above brings up a velocity management setting for an precise mouse.)
Toggle Mouse Keys

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Disable “Press the Choice key 5 instances to toggle Mouse Keys” if enabled. Then click on OK.
With that settings turned off, no unintended Choice key presses will make your keyboard behave unexpectedly.
One last piece of recommendation: In testing out the above steps, it labored as documented. Nevertheless, not lengthy after, I idly pressed the Choice key 5 instances. I went again to the setting above and located it enabled, despite the fact that I’d turned it off. Turning it off once more this time appeared to dam Mouse Keys from acknowledged the 5 presses of the Choice key.
This Mac 911 article is in response to a query submitted by Macworld reader Jennifer.
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