How can I switch dialog buttons using the keyboard?

Question

Whenever I'm trying to close a file that has been changed, I get the save file dialog

I remember that the Don't Save button used to have focus, so I could press it using Spacebar, while pressing Enter would click on Save. But now on Lion, I'm unable to find a way to press the Don't Save using keyboard only, since Tab doesn't change focus to anything, and space doesn't work either.

This is the same for all file save dialogs in the system.
Is there any way I can press the Don't Save button using keyboard only?

Answer 1

Go to...

1. System Preferences→Keyboard→Keyboard Shortcuts

2. and select All controls under Full Keyboard Access

   • Now you can use ⇥ (tab) to switch between the dialog boxes.
   • Note: Unlike in Windows, you need to hit space to trigger a highlighted box that is not the default one! (If this is not natural to you, here's something that helps many to remember tab and space rather than just enter. The space bar is the keyboard version of a one button mouse with the tab moving the mouse's pointer for you.)

Answer 2

On version 10.15.6, the previous answer didn't work as is.

If you want to switch with Tab or "don't save" directly with the Space key, you'll need to go to System Preferences → Keyboard and toggle this option:

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Update

With macOS Ventura, the exact place for this setting has been changed as follows: