Dead batteries, a dead Bluetooth connection, or a missing mouse altogether — whatever the reason, you can keep working on your iMac without a mouse. macOS is surprisingly keyboard-friendly once you know where to look.
Work keyboard-first
- Lean on keyboard shortcuts. macOS is built for keyboard-driven work. If you’re missing a shortcut you rely on, create your own custom shortcut in System Settings, then Keyboard.
- Set up app-launch shortcuts. Create keyboard shortcuts to launch your most-used apps so you can open programs without ever clicking.
- Enable Mouse Keys for a cursor you drive with the keyboard. When you truly need a pointer, go to System Settings, then Accessibility, then Mouse & Trackpad, and turn on “Enable Mouse Keys”. Under Options, adjust the cursor speed to something comfortable. You can toggle the mode with Command+Option+F5, then move the pointer using the numeric keypad (or the designated keys on compact keyboards).
The official Apple guide to using your keyboard like a mouse covers Mouse Keys in detail, and MacRumors’ Mac tips guide has more keyboard tricks. Also check our guides on quickly opening the installed apps list and changing folder colors and adding emoji in macOS.
If it still doesn’t work
If Mouse Keys won’t enable, make sure your keyboard is connected and you’re running a supported macOS version. On keyboards without a numeric keypad, the pointer is driven by keys like 7, 8, 9 / U, I, O / J, K, L — check the Accessibility settings panel to see your exact layout. If your mouse is just disconnected rather than dead, try re-pairing it via the Bluetooth menu before falling back to the keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do everything with the keyboard alone?
Nearly everything. Between standard shortcuts, custom app-launch shortcuts, and Mouse Keys for the odd click, most people can work comfortably until a replacement mouse arrives.
How do I turn Mouse Keys off again?
Toggle it with Command+Option+F5, or go back to System Settings, then Accessibility, then Mouse & Trackpad, and switch “Enable Mouse Keys” off.
Conclusion
A dead mouse doesn’t have to mean a dead day. With custom shortcuts and Mouse Keys, your keyboard can keep your iMac fully usable — you might even prefer working this way.
