---
title: "How to enable keyboard navigation to Carousel Slider in WordPress?"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/keyboard-navigation-to-carousel-slider-in-wordpress/
date: 2023-02-17
modified: 2026-09-21
lang: en
author: "Aditya Sharma"
description: "Not everybody uses a mouse. People navigating by keyboard, and anyone using a screen reader, need a way through a carousel that does not involve pointing at a small arrow...."
image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/keyboard-navigation-to-carousel-slider-in-wordpress-1024x519.jpg
word_count: 527
---

# How to enable keyboard navigation to Carousel Slider in WordPress?

Not everybody uses a mouse. People navigating by keyboard, and anyone using a screen reader, need a way through a carousel that does not involve pointing at a small arrow.

Switching keyboard navigation on lets the arrow keys move the slides.

[LIVE BLOCK LINK](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/blocks/wordpress-advanced-carousel-sliders/)

## Before You Start

- **Edition:** **Pro** — the Carousel Anything block needs Nexter Blocks Pro.- **Block to enable:** Carousel Anything, switched on under **Nexter > Blocks** in your WordPress dashboard.- A **Carousel Anything** block with several slides — see the [Carousel Anything guide](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-carousel-anything-in-wordpress/).- **Test with several slides.** A carousel with one slide has nothing to move to, so most settings will look broken when they are simply idle.

## Steps

- Select your **Carousel Anything** block.

![The keyboard navigation setting](https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/carousel-anything-keyboard-navigation-new-one1.png)

- Switch **keyboard navigation** on.

- Publish, then use the left and right arrow keys on the real page.

- Tab through the page as well, to check the carousel controls can be reached.

## How It Behaves

The setting is written into the carousel configuration as a mode rather than a simple toggle.

- **Measured on a published page:** switching it on rendered `keyboard: "global"`; with it off, `keyboard: false`.- **Global means the whole document.** Measured, the value is `global` rather than a focus-scoped mode, so the arrow keys drive the carousel without the visitor having to focus it first.- **That is convenient and has a catch** — see the limitations below, particularly if there is more than one carousel on the page.- **It is off by default**, measured on an untouched carousel.- **Every setting ends up in one place.** The block writes its whole configuration into a `data-splide` attribute on the carousel, which is what the slider script reads. If a setting is not doing what you expect, that attribute is where to look.- **Measured with Nexter Blocks Pro deactivated:** the carousel renders nothing at all — no wrapper, no configuration and no slides. This is a Pro-only block.

## Limitations

- **Pro only** — measured with Nexter Blocks Pro deactivated, nothing renders.- **Two carousels on one page will both respond.** Because the mode is global, a single arrow key press can move both. Use it on one carousel per page.- **It can interfere with other arrow-key behaviour** on the page, such as a map or a custom control.- **It is not a substitute for reachable controls.** Visible arrows or dots that can be tabbed to help more people than the arrow keys alone — see the [arrows and dots guide](https://nexterwp.com/docs/showhide-arrows-dots-in-wordpress-carousel/).- **There is nothing on screen announcing it**, so a visitor has to guess the arrow keys will work.

## Troubleshooting

### The arrow keys do nothing

Check the setting is on and Nexter Blocks Pro is active. Measured, it renders `keyboard: "global"`.

### Both my carousels move at once

That is the global mode doing exactly what it says. Switch keyboard navigation off on all but one carousel.

### The arrow keys scroll the page instead

Another element has focus and is consuming the key press. Click on an empty part of the page first.

### It interferes with another plugin

A global key handler will collide with anything else listening for arrow keys. Switch it off and rely on visible arrows instead.

## Related Docs

- [Show or hide arrows and dots](https://nexterwp.com/docs/showhide-arrows-dots-in-wordpress-carousel/)- [Change carousel slides on mousewheel](https://nexterwp.com/docs/change-carousel-slides-on-mousewheel-in-wordpress/)- [Add Carousel Anything in WordPress](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-carousel-anything-in-wordpress/)- [Advanced tab settings](https://nexterwp.com/docs/use-advanced-tab-in-nexter-blocks/)