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Arrow key is not working in Messages app in Big Sur when the app is on the second screen

This only happens when you have multiple screens in Mac OS Big Sur. When the Messages app is on the second screen, I can't use the arrow key to move the typing cursor inside the input text box. But the arrow key is working fine when you move the Messages app to the first screen.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 19, 2020 11:01 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 26, 2020 6:40 AM

To make this even more obscure: Not only does this only happen on the second screen. Also: If you turn off the system preference “Keyboard→Shortcuts→Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls” this is also “fixed” on the second screen, even though that preference should only affect the behaviour of the tab key and not the arrow keys.


Another thing: Shift-Arrow does not select the text in Messages anymore. And that is always broken, also on the first screen or with the setting above. Hopefully this is fixed in the next update.

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6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 26, 2020 6:40 AM in response to r.e.i

To make this even more obscure: Not only does this only happen on the second screen. Also: If you turn off the system preference “Keyboard→Shortcuts→Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls” this is also “fixed” on the second screen, even though that preference should only affect the behaviour of the tab key and not the arrow keys.


Another thing: Shift-Arrow does not select the text in Messages anymore. And that is always broken, also on the first screen or with the setting above. Hopefully this is fixed in the next update.

Arrow key is not working in Messages app in Big Sur when the app is on the second screen

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