What the Tab key does
Tab inserts a tab character or moves the cursor to the next tab stop in documents, and jumps to the next field or button in forms and dialogs. Shift+Tab goes backwards. Alt+Tab (Windows) and Command+Tab (Mac) switch between open apps.
On a Mac
Same position and behaviour. Command+Tab switches apps, and Tab moves between form fields (enable "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" in System Settings → Keyboard to reach every control).
On a laptop
No difference on laptops.
Shortcuts that use the Tab key
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tab / Shift+Tab | Next / previous field |
| Alt+Tab | Switch windows (Windows) |
| Command+Tab | Switch apps (Mac) |
| Ctrl+Tab | Next browser tab |
| Tab in Excel | Move one cell right |
If the Tab key is missing or not working
If Tab inserts spaces instead of a tab, the editor is set to soft tabs. If it jumps around a web page, that is normal keyboard navigation. Test the key below if nothing happens at all.
Test it here: click the tester, press the key, and it should light up green. A red key is stuck; a key that never lights up is dead or intercepted by the system. The full keyboard tester has the press log and more detail.
Click the tester, then press any key. Browser shortcuts are blocked while it has focus.
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- key
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- code
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- keyCode
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none
Max at once: 0 (rollover)
None detected. A key held for more than 2 seconds is flagged.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tab key symbol? +
⇥ (U+21E5), a right arrow to a bar. Some keyboards use ↹ (U+21B9) showing both directions.
How do I go backwards with Tab? +
Hold Shift and press Tab.
Why does Tab not indent in Google Docs or a browser? +
In a browser, Tab moves focus between elements unless a text editor captures it. Google Docs does indent with Tab inside the document body.
What does Alt+Tab do? +
Switches between open windows on Windows. Hold Alt and keep pressing Tab to cycle.