# What is the command to reverse tab between fields?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 10, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266 "2007-10-10T21:13:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/1 "2007-10-10T21:13:58Z")

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I use the tab button quite a bit to navigate websites/forms etc. I often get trigger happy and press tab to quickly only to have to click my mouse back to the previous box/field.  
Is there any command to go backwards through the fields?

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### Author: ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/2 "2007-10-10T21:15:23Z")

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\<Shift\>+Tab (i.e., hold down the SHIFT key, and press Tab – “Capital Tab,” so to speak)

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### Author: ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/3 "2007-10-10T21:15:33Z")

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It may vary depending on the particular program you use, but Shift+Tab often works  
Edit: I may be late, but at least I’m special!

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### Author: ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/4 "2007-10-10T22:18:40Z")

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Shift + Tab.

An hour late makes me extra special.

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### Author: ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/5 "2007-10-10T23:09:47Z")

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Shift-Tab worked for me once. For about 20 minutes.

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### Author: ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/6 "2007-10-10T23:13:54Z")

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Well I heard that pressing shift and then tab doesn’t work. You have to hold it down, like “capital” tab. Not the drink Tab, mind you. The button tab.

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### Author: ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-command-to-reverse-tab-between-fields/422266/7 "2007-10-10T23:25:14Z")

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Most of the time Alt-Tab brings me back here.