To turn on Edit Mode in Blender, select your object and press the Tab key.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
-
Selection is Key: Before you can enter Edit Mode, you need to select the object you want to edit. You can do this by left-clicking on the object in the 3D Viewport.
-
The Tab Key Shortcut: The most common way to switch to Edit Mode is by pressing the
Tabkey on your keyboard. This toggles between Object Mode (where you manipulate the entire object) and Edit Mode (where you manipulate the object's individual components, like vertices, edges, and faces). -
Using the Mode Selector: Alternatively, you can use the Mode selector dropdown menu, which is located in the top-left corner of the Blender window (usually to the left of the "File" menu). Click the dropdown and select "Edit Mode" from the list.
-
Armatures (Special Case): If the selected object is an Armature (a skeleton used for animating characters), pressing Tab will toggle between Object Mode and Pose Mode instead of Edit Mode. In Pose Mode, you manipulate the bones of the Armature. To edit the structure of the Armature itself (adding, deleting, or repositioning bones), you can also use the mode selector and pick "Edit Mode."
-
Object Type Matters: Not all object types in Blender support Edit Mode. For example, you can enter Edit Mode for meshes, curves, surfaces, and text objects. However, you cannot enter Edit Mode for objects like cameras, lights, or empties.
In summary, select your object and press Tab (or use the Mode Selector) to switch to Edit Mode. Ensure the object type supports Edit Mode.
