When I'm in a Finder window and enter terms in the spotlight search box (top right of window) and then press the TAB key the search location bar appears just below and the focus moves to the first location (usually "This Mac") shown (as it should). But then the focus seems locked in place and no keyboard key or combination I've found will get it to move (most of the time, that is; at times it's possible to select one of the shown locations with the keyboard and sometimes I've found it possible to tab to the Save button or Add Option [+] button and on to the options themselves but most times it just gets stuck [like now!] and I need to use the mouse). I've been annoyed by this for years now and am running out of new key combinations to try! Is there a way to continue with specifying the search info using the keyboard?
MacOS – Keyboard navigation of Mac OS X Finder window’s search options toolbar
keyboardmacos
Related Question
- MacOS – Safari address bar complete URL with keyboard shortcut
- Mac – Is it possible to highlight the current “active selection” area in the Mac App Store window when using keyboard navigation
- MacOS – Why does hiding the Finder toolbar cause so many side effects
- MacOS – Keyboard shortcut for “Revert Changes” in closing dialog
- MacOS – Creating a search engine within Numbers on a Mac
- Keyboard Shortcut to focus on these windows
Best Answer
The Spotlight search box is the one in the top-right of the menu bar (commandspace). The Find search box is the one I think you're talking about, within a Finder window.
To get focus back to the search field, hit controltab or commandf.
Another option is found in System Prefs > Keyboard > Shortcuts. There's a radio button near the bottom labeled "Full Keyboard Access". "All Controls" will let you tab through the other search fields without modifier keys.
That said, in my testing, there're some flaws. Some of the fields aren't selectable, and if you try to select one of those and then hit commandf, you can no longer tab through the other fields anymore—you have to open a new Finder window and start over.