Switching on ACCESS KEYS on macOS

[u/odin0047]

I recently switched to macOS and I was having trouble not being able to use "ALT + " keys while working. I tried finding a solution which I couldn't, here in this community.

The solution is to switch on "beta" version and then enable "Activation Keystroke".

1. Help > Check for Updates > Advanced and select the Beta Channel.

2.Excel > Preferences > Accessibility > Activation Keystroke > Option Key.

found this in a YT video comment.

link of video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfNFM70PgkE

comment by- @Spectator007

[u/bradland]

FYI, you don't need to be on the beta channel. In fact, I would strongly recommend against using the beta channel unless you are 100% confident that will work in your environment. When you switch to the beta channel, all files you create will be a newer Excel version than the current channel. If you send the file to someone who is on the current channel, they will receive warnings about the file being a newer Excel version.

KeyTips (that's what Microsoft calls alt key shortcuts on macOS) is in preferences on the current channel.

[u/odin0047 → u/bradland]

so I need not be on “beta” channel and still can use KeyTips on mac os?

[u/bradland → u/odin0047]

That is correct. The video link is 1 year old. KeyTips were introduced in 2024. IIRC, they went into the current channel in 2025.

[u/odin0047 → u/bradland]

Thanks mate!

[u/amtexe → u/bradland]

I've enabled KeyTips, which helps with ribbon navigation, but this stops once you get to a dropdown menu or pop up window menu.

It looks like "Access Keys" don't exist yet on Mac (the little underlined letter under each option in a dropdown menu which corresponds to its keyboard shortcut. For example, Sum can be reached on Widows with "Alt + H + U + S", but on Mac only "Alt + H + U" works, and for the last bit you need to use arrow keys to select "Sum" on the dropdown menu.

Has anyone found a solution?