diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/document_fields.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/document_fields.tsx
index d81b1e3dc9e5b..54dd434458486 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/document_fields.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/document_fields.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ interface Props {
   onCancelAddingNewFields?: () => void;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
   semanticTextInfo?: SemanticTextInfo;
+  pendingFieldsRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 export const DocumentFields = React.memo(
   ({
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export const DocumentFields = React.memo(
     onCancelAddingNewFields,
     isAddingFields,
     semanticTextInfo,
+    pendingFieldsRef,
   }: Props) => {
     const { fields, documentFields } = useMappingsState();
     const dispatch = useDispatch();
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ export const DocumentFields = React.memo(
           onCancelAddingNewFields={onCancelAddingNewFields}
           isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
           semanticTextInfo={semanticTextInfo}
+          pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
         />
       );
 
@@ -81,8 +84,9 @@ export const DocumentFields = React.memo(
     useEffect(() => {
       if (!isEditing) {
         removeContentFromGlobalFlyout('mappingsEditField');
+        if (pendingFieldsRef?.current) pendingFieldsRef.current.focus();
       }
-    }, [isEditing, removeContentFromGlobalFlyout]);
+    }, [isEditing, removeContentFromGlobalFlyout, pendingFieldsRef]);
 
     useEffect(() => {
       return () => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/field_parameters/type_parameter.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/field_parameters/type_parameter.tsx
index ec467f113c46d..528019416ad69 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/field_parameters/type_parameter.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/field_parameters/type_parameter.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ interface Props {
   isMultiField?: boolean | null;
   showDocLink?: boolean;
   isSemanticTextEnabled?: boolean;
+  fieldTypeInputRef?: React.MutableRefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>;
 }
 
 export const TypeParameter = ({
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ export const TypeParameter = ({
   isRootLevelField,
   showDocLink = false,
   isSemanticTextEnabled = true,
+  fieldTypeInputRef,
 }: Props) => {
   const fieldTypeOptions = useMemo(() => {
     let options = isMultiField
@@ -97,6 +99,9 @@ export const TypeParameter = ({
               onChange={typeField.setValue}
               isClearable={false}
               data-test-subj="fieldType"
+              inputRef={(input) => {
+                if (fieldTypeInputRef) fieldTypeInputRef.current = input;
+              }}
             />
           </EuiFormRow>
         );
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/create_field/create_field.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/create_field/create_field.tsx
index 1daa437356546..0289f07534d35 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/create_field/create_field.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/create_field/create_field.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { TrainedModelStat } from '@kbn/ml-plugin/common/types/trained_models';
 import { MlPluginStart } from '@kbn/ml-plugin/public';
 import classNames from 'classnames';
-import React, { useEffect } from 'react';
+import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 import { EUI_SIZE, TYPE_DEFINITION } from '../../../../constants';
 import { fieldSerializer } from '../../../../lib';
 import { isSemanticTextField } from '../../../../lib/utils';
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ interface Props {
   onCancelAddingNewFields?: () => void;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
   semanticTextInfo?: SemanticTextInfo;
+  createFieldFormRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 
 export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
@@ -74,9 +75,11 @@ export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
   onCancelAddingNewFields,
   isAddingFields,
   semanticTextInfo,
+  createFieldFormRef,
 }: Props) {
   const { isSemanticTextEnabled, ml, setErrorsInTrainedModelDeployment } = semanticTextInfo ?? {};
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
+  const fieldTypeInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
   const { form } = useForm<Field>({
     serializer: fieldSerializer,
@@ -111,6 +114,10 @@ export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
 
   const isSemanticText = form.getFormData().type === 'semantic_text';
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (createFieldFormRef?.current) createFieldFormRef?.current.focus();
+  }, [createFieldFormRef]);
+
   const submitForm = async (
     e?: React.FormEvent,
     exitAfter: boolean = false,
@@ -134,6 +141,10 @@ export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
       }
       form.reset();
     }
+
+    if (fieldTypeInputRef.current) {
+      fieldTypeInputRef.current.focus();
+    }
   };
 
   const onClickOutside = () => {
@@ -157,6 +168,7 @@ export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
           isMultiField={isMultiField}
           showDocLink
           isSemanticTextEnabled={isSemanticTextEnabled}
+          fieldTypeInputRef={fieldTypeInputRef}
         />
       </EuiFlexItem>
 
@@ -266,6 +278,8 @@ export const CreateField = React.memo(function CreateFieldComponent({
                   : paddingLeft
               }px`,
             }}
+            ref={createFieldFormRef}
+            tabIndex={0}
           >
             <div className="mappingsEditor__createFieldContent">
               {renderFormFields()}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list.tsx
index 241fa132a28bf..9b2e8e0219908 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ interface Props {
   state: State;
   setPreviousState?: (state: State) => void;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
+  pendingFieldsRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 
 export const FieldsList = React.memo(function FieldsListComponent({
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ export const FieldsList = React.memo(function FieldsListComponent({
   state,
   setPreviousState,
   isAddingFields,
+  pendingFieldsRef,
 }: Props) {
   if (fields === undefined) {
     return null;
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ export const FieldsList = React.memo(function FieldsListComponent({
           state={state}
           setPreviousState={setPreviousState}
           isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
+          pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
         />
       ))}
     </ul>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item.tsx
index 33c51a3cb644b..505ca26ce7ca4 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ interface Props {
   treeDepth: number;
   state: State;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
+  createFieldFormRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
+  pendingFieldsRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 
 function FieldListItemComponent(
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ function FieldListItemComponent(
     state,
     isAddingFields,
     setPreviousState,
+    pendingFieldsRef,
   }: Props,
   ref: React.Ref<HTMLLIElement>
 ) {
@@ -141,7 +144,6 @@ function FieldListItemComponent(
 
     const { addMultiFieldButtonLabel, addPropertyButtonLabel, editButtonLabel, deleteButtonLabel } =
       i18nTexts;
-
     return (
       <EuiFlexGroup gutterSize="s" className="mappingsEditor__fieldsListItem__actions">
         {canHaveMultiFields && (
@@ -321,6 +323,7 @@ function FieldListItemComponent(
           state={state}
           isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
           setPreviousState={setPreviousState}
+          pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
         />
       )}
 
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item_container.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item_container.tsx
index a5e85eb1aad17..bcadd859f179e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item_container.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields/fields_list_item_container.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ interface Props {
   state: State;
   setPreviousState?: (state: State) => void;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
+  pendingFieldsRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 
 export const FieldsListItemContainer = ({
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ export const FieldsListItemContainer = ({
   state,
   setPreviousState,
   isAddingFields,
+  pendingFieldsRef,
 }: Props) => {
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
   const listElement = useRef<HTMLLIElement | null>(null);
@@ -110,6 +112,7 @@ export const FieldsListItemContainer = ({
       toggleExpand={toggleExpand}
       state={state}
       isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
+      pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
     />
   );
 };
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields_tree_editor.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields_tree_editor.tsx
index e7ae3c995a2f3..9274f10ab603e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields_tree_editor.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/components/mappings_editor/components/document_fields/fields_tree_editor.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 import { EuiButtonEmpty, EuiSpacer } from '@elastic/eui';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
-import React, { useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
+import React, { useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
 
 import { useDispatch, useMappingsState } from '../../mappings_state_context';
 import { CreateField, FieldsList, SemanticTextInfo } from './fields';
@@ -16,19 +16,21 @@ interface Props {
   onCancelAddingNewFields?: () => void;
   isAddingFields?: boolean;
   semanticTextInfo?: SemanticTextInfo;
+  pendingFieldsRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
 }
 
 export const DocumentFieldsTreeEditor = ({
   onCancelAddingNewFields,
   isAddingFields,
   semanticTextInfo,
+  pendingFieldsRef,
 }: Props) => {
   const dispatch = useDispatch();
   const {
     fields: { byId, rootLevelFields },
     documentFields: { status, fieldToAddFieldTo },
   } = useMappingsState();
-
+  const createFieldFormRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const getField = useCallback((fieldId: string) => byId[fieldId], [byId]);
   const fields = useMemo(() => rootLevelFields.map(getField), [rootLevelFields, getField]);
 
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ export const DocumentFieldsTreeEditor = ({
         onCancelAddingNewFields={onCancelAddingNewFields}
         isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
         semanticTextInfo={semanticTextInfo}
+        createFieldFormRef={createFieldFormRef}
       />
     );
   };
@@ -77,7 +80,12 @@ export const DocumentFieldsTreeEditor = ({
 
   return (
     <>
-      <FieldsList fields={fields} state={useMappingsState()} isAddingFields={isAddingFields} />
+      <FieldsList
+        fields={fields}
+        state={useMappingsState()}
+        isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
+        pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
+      />
       {renderCreateField()}
       {renderAddFieldButton()}
     </>
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/sections/home/index_list/details_page/details_page_mappings_content.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/sections/home/index_list/details_page/details_page_mappings_content.tsx
index a43cdf0e8367d..524230eee18a7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/sections/home/index_list/details_page/details_page_mappings_content.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_management/public/application/sections/home/index_list/details_page/details_page_mappings_content.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import {
 import { css } from '@emotion/react';
 import { i18n } from '@kbn/i18n';
 import { FormattedMessage } from '@kbn/i18n-react';
-import React, { FunctionComponent, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { FunctionComponent, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { ILicense } from '@kbn/licensing-plugin/public';
 import { useUnsavedChangesPrompt } from '@kbn/unsaved-changes-prompt';
 import {
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export const DetailsPageMappingsContent: FunctionComponent<{
     overlays,
     history,
   } = useAppContext();
+  const pendingFieldsRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
   const [isPlatinumLicense, setIsPlatinumLicense] = useState<boolean>(false);
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -543,7 +544,7 @@ export const DetailsPageMappingsContent: FunctionComponent<{
           </EuiFlexItem>
           {errorSavingMappings}
           {isAddingFields && (
-            <EuiFlexItem grow={false}>
+            <EuiFlexItem grow={false} ref={pendingFieldsRef} tabIndex={0}>
               <EuiPanel hasBorder paddingSize="s">
                 <EuiAccordion
                   id={pendingFieldListId}
@@ -581,11 +582,13 @@ export const DetailsPageMappingsContent: FunctionComponent<{
                         onCancelAddingNewFields={onCancelAddingNewFields}
                         isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
                         semanticTextInfo={semanticTextInfo}
+                        pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
                       />
                     ) : (
                       <DocumentFields
                         isAddingFields={isAddingFields}
                         semanticTextInfo={semanticTextInfo}
+                        pendingFieldsRef={pendingFieldsRef}
                       />
                     )}
                   </EuiPanel>