bug(DatePicker): keyboard navgiation breaks when a screen reader is used

[mr-itsg]

Is this a regression?

• Yes, this behavior used to work in the previous version

The previous version in which this bug was not present was

No response

Description

When you open the date picker you can easily use the arrow keys to navigate between the days of the month.
But if you use a screen reader (tested with nvda and the integrated one from windows) the arrow keys won't work properly anymore.

The reason is because the screen reader switches to browse mode instead of focus mode and catches the keyboard events. If you switch manually to the focus mode (in nvda its the nvda key + space) it works again.

Reproduction

Just try it in one of the examples at the official site https://material.angular.dev/components/datepicker/examples

• without screen reader: keyboard navigation works
• with screen reader: keyboard navigation won't work - you have to switch manually to focus mode

Expected Behavior

I expect the keyboard navigation to work regardless if a screen reader is active or not. It should also not be needed to manually switch to focus mode

Actual Behavior

• without screen reader: keyboard navigation works
• with screen reader: keyboard navigation won't work - you have to switch manually to focus mode

Environment

• Angular: 22
• CDK/Material: 22
• Browser(s): Chrome, Firefox
• Operating System: Windows 11