macOS · Accessibility
Navigate your Mac using adaptive switches
Switch Control lets you operate your entire Mac using one or more adaptive switches, a game controller, or the keyboard instead of a mouse and trackpad, by scanning through onscreen items and selecting with a button press.
How to open Switch Control
- Open System Settings → Accessibility → Switch Control
- Turn on Switch Control and add a switch under the Switches section
- Adjust Timing to set scanning speed and auto-select delay
- Choose a scanning style, such as Auto Scanning or Manual Scanning
- Practice selecting items on the Desktop before use in other apps
What you should know
- Supports external USB or Bluetooth switches, or keys on the keyboard as virtual switches
- Auto scanning, manual scanning, and single-switch step scanning modes
- Customizable scanning speed, switch actions, and onscreen keyboard behavior
- Point Mode allows fine cursor movement using a switch-driven crosshair
- Works with the Accessibility Keyboard panel editor for custom control panels
Switch Control scanning can feel slow at first; most users need to tune scanning speed and switch assignments before it becomes usable day to day.
Why it matters
For people with limited mobility who cannot reliably use a mouse, trackpad, or standard keyboard, Switch Control is often the only practical way to independently operate a Mac. It turns the entire interface into a set of scannable, selectable regions, so a single physical action, such as pressing a button or a sip-and-puff switch, can stand in for clicking, typing, and dragging. Because it is deeply integrated into macOS rather than a third-party add-on, it works consistently across system apps and most third-party software without extra setup per app.
Best practices
- Start with a slower scanning speed and increase it gradually as you build familiarity
- Use the Switches pane to test a new adaptive switch before assigning it to an action
- Combine Switch Control with Dwell or Pointer Control features for a hybrid input setup
- Save custom scanning panels so they carry over between sessions
Common problems and fixes
- Scanning highlight skips over needed controls
- Open Switch Control settings and enable Group Highlighting or adjust the navigation style to item-by-item instead of group scanning.
- A connected switch is not recognized
- Re-pair the Bluetooth switch in Bluetooth settings, then add it again under Accessibility > Switch Control > Switches.
- Scanning is too fast to react to
- Lower the Auto Scanning time interval in Switch Control > Timing settings.
Tips and tricks
- Turn on the switch stabilization option if you have tremors that cause accidental double presses.
- Use recipes to chain multiple switch actions into a single custom gesture.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my keyboard as a switch without extra hardware?
Yes, any key can be assigned as a virtual switch, so you can try Switch Control before buying adaptive hardware.
Does Switch Control work outside of Apple apps?
Yes, it scans and controls most standard macOS interface elements regardless of which app built them.
Can I use more than one switch?
Yes, multiple switches can be assigned to different actions such as Select, Move to Next Item, or Activate Menu.
Related settings
- Accessibility SettingsAccessibility settings on Mac include VoiceOver screen reading, Zoom for magnification, Voice Control, and many vision, hearing, and mobility features to make macOS easier to use.
- Voice ControlVoice Control lets you operate your entire Mac — clicking, typing, opening apps, and navigating menus — using only spoken commands, with all speech processing done on-device for privacy. It's built for people who can't use a traditional mouse and keyboard, but works for anyone who wants hands-free control.
- Pointer ControlPointer Control provides accessibility-focused cursor options, including size and color customization, Dwell Control for click-free selection, and Head Pointer for hands-free cursor movement using the camera.
More Accessibility guides for macOS
- Language & RegionLanguage & Region settings control which language macOS and your apps display in, plus regional formatting for dates, times, numbers, currency, and the calendar system used system-wide. You can also set different preferred languages per individual app.
- VoiceOverVoiceOver is macOS's built-in screen reader, describing aloud what's on screen — windows, buttons, text, and images — so you can use the entire Mac without seeing the display. It works through keyboard commands and gestures rather than a mouse.
- ZoomZoom is macOS's built-in screen magnifier, letting you enlarge everything on the display using keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, or the mouse scroll wheel, without needing a separate magnifying app. It works independently of display resolution settings.
- CaptionsCaptions settings control how closed captions and subtitles appear across macOS, including text style, background, and size, and let you require captions whenever available in supported media.
- Sound RecognitionSound Recognition uses on-device listening to detect sounds such as a doorbell, smoke alarm, or crying baby, and shows a notification on screen so people who are deaf or hard of hearing do not miss them.
- Display AccommodationsDisplay Accommodations groups visual comfort settings such as Reduce Motion, Increase Contrast, Differentiate Without Color, and color filters, letting you tune how the interface renders for visual comfort or color vision differences.