Select All tools > Prepare a form.
Last updated on
Sep 23, 2025
Learn how to set form field navigation for PDF forms in Adobe Acrobat.
Interactive PDF forms require a specific navigation order to guide users through the document efficiently. Acrobat allows you to customize how users tab through form fields, improving usability and accessibility. By setting a logical tab order, you ensure that users can complete forms accurately and with ease.
In the fields panel, select Sort By > Tab order.
To view the tabbing order for the fields, select the Options in the fields pane, and then select Show tab numbers.
Select OK in the confirmation dialog box.
To set the tabbing order, select any one of the following options:
- Order tabs by structure: Follows the document structure order set in the tagging.
- Order tabs by row: Moves from left to right, then down to the next row.
- Order tabs by column: Moves from top to bottom, then to the next column.
- Order tabs manually: Allows you to drag and drop fields within the Fields panel.
- Order tabs unspecified: Uses the default page properties order.
- Show tab numbers: Displays the numerical order of the form fields.
If you select Order tabs manually, drag and drop fields in the Fields panel to set your desired order.
Note
You cannot move a field to a different page or move a radio button to another group.
