Can't change typing direction in Photos app

I was creating a new album in Photos and as I type the name of the new album it is being typed backwards.

I am running a Mac mini M4 with 18.5ios. I have only noticed this typing problem in the Photos app.


I have tried CTRL-OPT-CMD-and arrow keys and a few other combinations like CTRL-arrow key and CTRL-Shift-arrow key. No change.


In settings I have set the keyboard text input to US and US International PC. Keyboard navigation is ON and using all default settings.


Several community searches show a "Change Direction" that should pop up when I CTRL-click the text box but none ever does.


Can someone please help me with changing the direction in Photos app?

Thank you.

Mac mini, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 8, 2025 10:18 AM

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1 reply

Jun 9, 2025 10:05 AM in response to cabits

You have tried lots of keyboard shortcuts, but I've never heard of one that switches direction. I'd check Accessibly in System Settings, just in case, but I doubt that this is something anybody seriously needs. Does this happen only in the one album? That's really weird.


I have heard of this, before, but I don't remember a solution. I know that I would try to narrow things down by trying these steps:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 


  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it. This is a bit harder, because a new user can't access a different user's stuff. You would need to move your Library out of your own user's folder up to the general "Users" folder.


The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.


Let us know what happens…



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Can't change typing direction in Photos app

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