Submitted feedback, VO arrow navigation got broken after a recent safari update

By Mert Ozer, 19 May, 2026

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Below is the feedback i submitted to apple:

Hello,
With one of the most recent Safari updates, arrow navigation with VoiceOver became broken. I attached a screen recording demonstrating the issue. I’m using an M4 Pro MacBook Pro running the latest version of macOS Sequoia and Safari 26.5. I still have not updated beyond Sequoia because I do not believe the newer versions are stable enough for VoiceOver users yet. However, since this bug appeared after a Safari update, it should likely be reproducible regardless of the macOS version.
The issue occurs when reviewing a chunk of text on a webpage. If I quickly switch to another app using Command+Tab and then switch back to Safari, arrow navigation on a web page usually stops working afterward. This happens around 3 out of 4 times. Most of the time, switching apps triggers the bug, but occasionally it also happens randomly without switching apps at all.
The only workaround is to move keyboard focus to a keyboard-focusable element using Tab or Shift+Tab, after which arrow navigation usually starts working again. However, this workaround causes me to lose my place in the text, forcing me to find it again manually.
Please note that this issue only happens when reading text with multiple paragraphs or other non-focusable content, meaning areas that cannot normally be focused with Tab or Shift+Tab. Also, the β€œAlways allow keyboard commands to navigate websites” option in VoiceOver Utilities under Web > Navigation is enabled.
Arrow navigation in Safari is extremely important because it allows me to review text without needing to use VoiceOver navigation commands, which require interacting with the content or using the rotor to navigate by character, word, and so on. This significantly impacts usability and efficiency, so this issue should be fixed as soon as possible.
Thank you, and please let me know if you need any additional information. Demonstration link below

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PzqvOqtswmHcKc3-p8dtuJesmOf_5GLQ/view?usp=sharing

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Comments

By BlindWiz on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - 16:51

Hi, have you tested the latest safari on mac os 26? sometimes operating systemns can have effects on software.

By Mert Ozer on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - 21:43

I will test in a moment, on a clean installation of mac OS on an external ssd