How Do You Use Motor Accessibility Features on a Mac?

On a Mac, motor accessibility features live in System Preferences, Accessibility, Motor: Voice Control, Full Keyboard Access (Keyboard) and Pointer Control, each enabled with a checkbox in its own…

Elifnaz Erdal

June 3, 20224 min read

In brief

AI summary

As of June 2022, macOS motor accessibility features are found in System Preferences under Accessibility, in the Motor section: Voice Control, Keyboard (Full Keyboard Access) and Pointer Control.
macOS Voice Control lets Mac users dictate text, control and navigate the Mac, and use commands such as Open Mail, Quit Photos, Scroll Up or Close Window.
macOS Pointer Control settings include double-click speed, spring-loading delay, trackpad and mouse options, Mouse Keys, alternate pointer actions and a head pointer that uses the camera.

Contents5 sections

Apple does its best to make sure everyone can use its devices. You have options to create the best possible experience for people with vision, hearing, motor and general accessibility needs. Here, we will look at the basics of the main motor accessibility features in macOS, how to enable them and how to use them.

Mac accessibility features settings shown on a MacBook screen

How Do You Use Accessibility Features on a Mac in 2022?

Voice Control

With Voice Control, you can dictate text entry and editing commands as well as control and navigate your Mac.

To turn on Voice Control, select the Apple icon in the menu bar and open System Preferences.
Select Accessibility and, in the Motor section on the left, select Voice Control.
Select Enable Voice Control and enter your macOS password if asked.

Optionally, you can adjust the Language, Microphone and Overlay settings, and you can also show hints when commands are recognized and play a sound.

You will see a small Voice Control window appear that you can move anywhere on your desktop. As you speak your commands, you will see the microphone ripple to indicate how loud your voice is.

You can use commands such as Open Mail, Quit Photos, Scroll Up or Close Window.

To view the full list of commands and create your own, select Commands in the Accessibility window where you enabled the feature.
To turn off Voice Control, follow the same steps above to deselect Enable Voice Control in System Preferences > Accessibility.

Full Keyboard Access

Using Full Keyboard Access, you can control your Mac and navigate the desktop and apps using the Tab and arrow keys. This means you can push your mouse away and ignore the trackpad.

To turn on Full Keyboard Access, select the Apple icon in the menu bar and open System Preferences.
Select Accessibility and, in the Motor section on the left, select Keyboard.
Use the Navigation tab to select Enable Full Keyboard Access. Note the list of modifier key presses listed directly under the setting.

Optionally, you can adjust the appearance, color and contrast using the Options button.

Then, you can use the additional tabs in the Keyboard System Preferences for Hardware and Viewer to adjust the settings for each of these items when using Full Keyboard Access.
To view the full list of keystrokes you can use, select Options and the Commands tab in the Accessibility window where you enabled the feature.
To turn off Full Keyboard Access, follow the steps above to deselect Enable Full Keyboard Access in System Preferences > Accessibility.

Pointer Control

As an alternative to, or in addition to, Full Keyboard Access, you can change the Pointer Control settings to make using your mouse and trackpad easier.

Select the Apple icon in the menu bar and open System Preferences.
Select Accessibility and, in the Motor section on the left, select Pointer Control.
On the Mouse & Trackpad tab, adjust these settings:

Double-click speed: The response time of the mouse or trackpad when you double-click.

Spring-loading delay: The timing for dropping items into folders, including how long to hover an item over a folder before it opens.

Ignore built-in trackpad: Disable the trackpad when you have a mouse or wireless trackpad connected to your Mac.

Trackpad Options: Scrolling with or without inertia, adjust the scrolling speed, and enable dragging with or without drag lock.

Mouse Options: Adjust the scrolling speed and scrolling with or without inertia.

On the Alternate Control Methods tab, adjust these settings:

Enable Mouse Keys: Control the pointer using your keyboard or numeric keypad.

Enable alternate pointer actions: Use a switch or facial expressions instead of mouse buttons or pointer actions.

Enable head pointer: Control the pointer using head movements through macOS camera access.

If you enable one or more of these features, you can select Options on the right and customize the controls.

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How Do You Use Accessibility Features on a Mac in 2022?

With Voice Control, you can dictate text entry and editing commands as well as control and navigate your Mac. Optionally, you can adjust the Language, Microphone and Overlay settings, and you can also show hints when commands are recognized and play a sound. You can use commands such as Open Mail, Quit Photos, Scroll Up or Close Window.

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