diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
index 6753cd87cf5b4d..adca17deb603b1 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-arrow-nav.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 	placeCaretAtHorizontalEdge,
 	placeCaretAtVerticalEdge,
 	isRTL,
+	isFormElement,
 } from '@wordpress/dom';
 import { UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT } from '@wordpress/keycodes';
 import { useDispatch, useSelect } from '@wordpress/data';
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import { useRefEffect } from '@wordpress/compose';
 /**
  * Internal dependencies
  */
-import { getBlockClientId, isInSameBlock } from '../../utils/dom';
+import { getBlockClientId } from '../../utils/dom';
 import { store as blockEditorStore } from '../../store';
 
 /**
@@ -114,14 +115,18 @@ export function getClosestTabbable(
 	}
 
 	function isTabCandidate( node ) {
-		// Skip if there's only one child that is content editable (and thus a
-		// better candidate).
+		// If it's a block and there are nested focusable nodes, skip because
+		// there are better candidates.
 		if (
-			node.children.length === 1 &&
-			isInSameBlock( node, node.firstElementChild ) &&
-			node.firstElementChild.getAttribute( 'contenteditable' ) === 'true'
+			getBlockClientId( node ) &&
+			focus.focusable
+				.find( node )
+				// Exclude form elements for now because primary+a cannot be
+				// used to select the parent element.
+				.filter( ( element ) => ! isFormElement( element ) ).length !==
+				0
 		) {
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
 		// Not a candidate if the node is not tabbable.
diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-select-all.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-select-all.js
index c56549acf54ad5..1ef4cbbd33bc1e 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-select-all.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/writing-flow/use-select-all.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { useRefEffect } from '@wordpress/compose';
  * Internal dependencies
  */
 import { store as blockEditorStore } from '../../store';
+import { isInsideRootBlock, getBlockClientId } from '../../utils/dom';
 
 export default function useSelectAll() {
 	const { getBlockOrder, getSelectedBlockClientIds, getBlockRootClientId } =
@@ -34,7 +35,27 @@ export default function useSelectAll() {
 
 			event.preventDefault();
 
+			const { ownerDocument } = event.target;
 			const [ firstSelectedClientId ] = selectedClientIds;
+			const activeClientId = getBlockClientId(
+				ownerDocument.activeElement
+			);
+
+			// Handle the case when an appender is selected.
+			if (
+				activeClientId &&
+				activeClientId !== firstSelectedClientId &&
+				! isInsideRootBlock(
+					ownerDocument.getElementById(
+						'block-' + firstSelectedClientId
+					),
+					ownerDocument.activeElement
+				)
+			) {
+				selectBlock( activeClientId );
+				return;
+			}
+
 			const rootClientId = getBlockRootClientId( firstSelectedClientId );
 			const blockClientIds = getBlockOrder( rootClientId );
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/columns.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/columns.spec.js
index 56552d63032df5..3ad5ff48885b85 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/columns.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/columns.spec.js
@@ -379,7 +379,11 @@ test.describe( 'Columns', () => {
 		} );
 	} );
 
-	test( 'should arrow up into empty columns', async ( { editor, page } ) => {
+	test( 'should arrow up into empty columns', async ( {
+		editor,
+		page,
+		pageUtils,
+	} ) => {
 		await editor.insertBlock( {
 			name: 'core/columns',
 			innerBlocks: [ { name: 'core/column' }, { name: 'core/column' } ],
@@ -389,7 +393,7 @@ test.describe( 'Columns', () => {
 		} );
 
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Delete' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getBlocks ).toMatchObject( [
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/list.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/list.spec.js
index e068d360311d7c..262714194f5160 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/list.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/list.spec.js
@@ -233,9 +233,8 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		editor,
 		page,
 	} ) => {
-		await editor.canvas
-			.locator( 'role=button[name="Add default block"i]' )
-			.click();
+		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/paragraph' } );
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 		await page.keyboard.type( '* ' );
 		await expect(
 			editor.canvas.locator( '[data-type="core/list"]' )
@@ -408,7 +407,9 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Indent' );
 		await page.keyboard.type( 'two' );
-		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 4 } );
+		// Select all escalates: text → block → siblings → parent, repeat
+		// until the top-level list block is selected.
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 5 } );
 		await editor.transformBlockTo( 'core/paragraph' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getEditedPostContent ).toBe(
@@ -593,7 +594,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 
 		// Move the caret in front of "1" in the first list item.
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowRight' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowRight' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Backspace' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getBlocks ).toMatchObject( [
@@ -866,11 +866,7 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		);
 	} );
 
-	test( 'should outdent with children', async ( {
-		editor,
-		page,
-		pageUtils,
-	} ) => {
+	test( 'should outdent with children', async ( { editor, page } ) => {
 		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/list' } );
 		await page.keyboard.type( 'a' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
@@ -896,7 +892,7 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 <!-- /wp:list -->`
 		);
 
-		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 3 } );
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
 		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Outdent' );
 
 		await expect.poll( editor.getEditedPostContent ).toBe(
@@ -1083,7 +1079,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 	test( 'should place the caret in the right place with nested list', async ( {
 		editor,
 		page,
-		pageUtils,
 	} ) => {
 		await editor.canvas
 			.locator( 'role=button[name="Add default block"i]' )
@@ -1091,7 +1086,7 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		await page.keyboard.type( '* 1' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 		await page.keyboard.type( ' a' );
-		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 2 } );
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 		// The caret should land in the second item.
 		await page.keyboard.type( '2' );
@@ -1517,10 +1512,7 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		test( 'Backspace', async ( { editor, page } ) => {
 			await editor.insertBlock( start );
 
-			// Navigate to the start of the third item.
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
+			// Navigate to the start of item "2".
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
@@ -1536,9 +1528,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 		test( 'Delete (forward)', async ( { editor, page } ) => {
 			await editor.insertBlock( start );
 
-			// Navigate to the end of the second item.
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowRight' );
@@ -1582,7 +1571,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 			],
 		} );
 
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Backspace' );
@@ -1641,7 +1629,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 			],
 		} );
 
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Backspace' );
 
@@ -1685,7 +1672,6 @@ test.describe( 'List (@firefox)', () => {
 			],
 		} );
 
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowDown' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'Backspace' );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/navigation.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/navigation.spec.js
index aebe714712d4e1..59687387b3aaa5 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/navigation.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/navigation.spec.js
@@ -426,8 +426,9 @@ test.describe( 'Navigation block', () => {
 				await navigation.useLinkShortcut();
 
 				await navigation.addSubmenuPage( 'Dog' );
-				await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp' );
-				await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowRight' );
+				// Navigate to the Dog link content using ArrowLeft (ArrowUp skips
+				// blocks with nested focusables).
+				await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowLeft', { times: 2 } );
 			} );
 
 			await test.step( 'can use the shortcut to open the preview with the keyboard and escape keypress sends focus back to the navigation link block in the submenu', async () => {
@@ -512,8 +513,9 @@ test.describe( 'Navigation block', () => {
 			 */
 			// Exit the toolbar
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'Escape' );
-			// Move to the submenu item
-			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 2 } );
+			// Move to the submenu item (only one ArrowUp needed - skips the
+			// submenu wrapper directly to Cat's content)
+			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'Home' );
 
 			// Check we're on our submenu link
@@ -575,9 +577,9 @@ test.describe( 'Navigation block', () => {
 			await navigation.addCustomURL( 'https://wordpress.org' );
 			await navigation.expectToHaveTextSelected( 'wordpress.org' );
 
-			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 2 } );
+			// One ArrowUp to get to Dog (skips wrapper)
+			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
 			await navigation.checkLabelFocus( 'Dog' );
-			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 1 } );
 			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'access+z' );
 			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowDown' );
 			await navigation.checkLabelFocus( 'example.com' );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/quote.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/quote.spec.js
index 497fc86ed94fe5..156572f479bd8e 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/quote.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/blocks/quote.spec.js
@@ -196,9 +196,10 @@ test.describe( 'Quote', () => {
 		test( 'and renders only one paragraph for the cite, if the quote is void', async ( {
 			editor,
 			page,
+			pageUtils,
 		} ) => {
 			await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/quote' } );
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a' );
 			await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Add citation' );
 			await page.keyboard.type( 'cite' );
 			await editor.clickBlockOptionsMenuItem( 'Ungroup' );
@@ -215,11 +216,11 @@ test.describe( 'Quote', () => {
 
 		test( 'and renders a void paragraph if both the cite and quote are void', async ( {
 			editor,
-			page,
+			pageUtils,
 		} ) => {
 			await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/quote' } );
 			// Select the quote
-			await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a' );
 			await editor.clickBlockOptionsMenuItem( 'Ungroup' );
 			expect( await editor.getEditedPostContent() ).toBe( '' );
 		} );
@@ -334,7 +335,7 @@ test.describe( 'Quote', () => {
 	} ) => {
 		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/quote' } );
 		await page.keyboard.type( '1' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 2 } );
 		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Add citation' );
 		await page.keyboard.type( '2' );
 		expect( await editor.getEditedPostContent() ).toBe(
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ test.describe( 'Quote', () => {
 	} ) => {
 		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/quote' } );
 		await page.keyboard.type( '1' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 2 } );
 		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton( 'Add citation' );
 		await page.keyboard.type( '2' );
 		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'Shift+ArrowUp' );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
index 4c52595c4b4097..7bcbdb976bc3a8 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/block-variations.spec.js
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ test.describe( 'Block variations', () => {
 		await page.getByRole( 'option', { name: 'Large Quote' } ).click();
 
 		// Select the quote block.
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a' );
 
 		await expect(
 			page
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/inner-blocks-allowed-blocks.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/inner-blocks-allowed-blocks.spec.js
index 0736e800f3f681..dc3e9f824eed9c 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/inner-blocks-allowed-blocks.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/plugins/inner-blocks-allowed-blocks.spec.js
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ test.describe( 'Allowed Blocks Setting on InnerBlocks', () => {
 	test( 'correctly applies dynamic allowed blocks restrictions', async ( {
 		editor,
 		page,
+		pageUtils,
 	} ) => {
 		await editor.canvas
 			.locator( 'role=button[name="Add default block"i]' )
@@ -139,8 +140,8 @@ test.describe( 'Allowed Blocks Setting on InnerBlocks', () => {
 
 		// Insert list block.
 		await blockListBox.getByRole( 'option', { name: 'List' } ).click();
-		// Select the list wrapper and then parent block.
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		// Use primary+a to select up to list, then click parent selector.
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a' );
 		await editor.clickBlockToolbarButton(
 			'Select parent block: Allowed Blocks Dynamic'
 		);
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/block-switcher.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/block-switcher.spec.js
index 490ca7483d17fe..fee3c5f0a3352a 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/block-switcher.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/block-switcher.spec.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ test.describe( 'Block Switcher', () => {
 			.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Add default block' } )
 			.click();
 		await page.keyboard.type( '- List content' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 2 } );
 		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'alt+F10' );
 
 		const blockSwitcher = page
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ test.describe( 'Block Switcher', () => {
 			.getByRole( 'button', { name: 'Add default block' } )
 			.click();
 		await page.keyboard.type( '- List content' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 2 } );
 		await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'alt+F10' );
 
 		const blockSwitcher = page
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/splitting-merging.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/splitting-merging.spec.js
index b0080faf4761e0..9e99b602cbcfbe 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/splitting-merging.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/splitting-merging.spec.js
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ test.describe( 'splitting and merging blocks (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 			await page.keyboard.type( 'item 1' );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'Enter' );
 			await page.keyboard.type( 'item 2' );
-			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 3 } );
+			await pageUtils.pressKeys( 'ArrowUp', { times: 2 } );
 			await page.keyboard.press( 'Delete' );
 
 			expect( await editor.getBlocks() ).toMatchObject( snap1 );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
index 237dd294508b0f..12f2e488c3be18 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/toolbar-roving-tabindex.spec.js
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ test.describe( 'Toolbar roving tabindex', () => {
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.wrapCurrentBlockWithGroup( 'List' );
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testGroupKeyboardNavigation(
 			'Block: List',
-			'List'
+			'List',
+			{ hasInnerBlocks: true }
 		);
 
 		// ensures table block toolbar uses roving tabindex
@@ -88,7 +89,9 @@ test.describe( 'Toolbar roving tabindex', () => {
 		);
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.wrapCurrentBlockWithGroup( 'Table' );
 		await ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils.testGroupKeyboardNavigation(
-			'Block: Table',
+			// ArrowRight from Group enters the table cell directly,
+			// not the Table block wrapper.
+			'Body cell text',
 			'Table'
 		);
 
@@ -181,9 +184,19 @@ class ToolbarRovingTabindexUtils {
 		await this.page.click( `role=menuitem[name="Group"]` );
 	}
 
-	async testGroupKeyboardNavigation( currentBlockLabel, currentBlockTitle ) {
+	async testGroupKeyboardNavigation(
+		currentBlockLabel,
+		currentBlockTitle,
+		{ hasInnerBlocks = false } = {}
+	) {
 		await this.expectLabelToHaveFocus( 'Block: Group' );
 		await this.page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowRight' );
+		if ( hasInnerBlocks ) {
+			// ArrowRight enters a nested inner block (e.g. list-item
+			// inside list). Use primary+a to escalate selection back
+			// to the expected parent block.
+			await this.pageUtils.pressKeys( 'primary+a', { times: 2 } );
+		}
 		await this.expectLabelToHaveFocus( currentBlockLabel );
 		await this.pageUtils.pressKeys( 'shift+Tab' );
 		await this.expectLabelToHaveFocus( 'Select parent block: Group' );
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/writing-flow.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/writing-flow.spec.js
index ccf6d708944731..180ca053e000cf 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/writing-flow.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/writing-flow.spec.js
@@ -42,25 +42,10 @@ test.describe( 'Writing Flow (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 		await expect( activeElementLocator ).toBeFocused();
 		await expect( activeElementLocator ).toHaveText( '2nd col' );
 
-		// Arrow up in inner blocks should navigate through (1) column wrapper,
-		// (2) text fields.
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
-		await expect
-			.poll( writingFlowUtils.getActiveBlockName )
-			.toBe( 'core/column' );
-		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
-		const activeElementBlockType = await editor.canvas
-			.locator( ':root' )
-			.evaluate( () =>
-				document.activeElement.getAttribute( 'data-type' )
-			);
-		expect( activeElementBlockType ).toBe( 'core/columns' );
-		await expect
-			.poll( writingFlowUtils.getActiveBlockName )
-			.toBe( 'core/columns' );
-
-		// Arrow up from focused (columns) block wrapper exits nested context
-		// to prior text input.
+		// Arrow up skips non-empty blocks and column/columns wrappers,
+		// navigating directly to the prior text input. Since columns
+		// are side by side, "1st col" and "2nd col" are on the same
+		// visual line, so ArrowUp goes to "First paragraph".
 		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
 		await expect
 			.poll( writingFlowUtils.getActiveBlockName )
@@ -106,6 +91,35 @@ test.describe( 'Writing Flow (@firefox, @webkit)', () => {
 		] );
 	} );
 
+	test( 'should not select list wrapper when pressing arrow up from list', async ( {
+		editor,
+		page,
+		writingFlowUtils,
+	} ) => {
+		// Insert a paragraph block first.
+		await editor.insertBlock( {
+			name: 'core/paragraph',
+			attributes: { content: 'First paragraph' },
+		} );
+
+		// Insert a list block.
+		await editor.insertBlock( { name: 'core/list' } );
+		await page.keyboard.type( 'List item' );
+
+		// The caret is now inside the list item.
+		// Press ArrowUp - should skip the list wrapper and go to the paragraph.
+		await page.keyboard.press( 'ArrowUp' );
+
+		// Verify we're in the paragraph, NOT the list wrapper.
+		await expect
+			.poll( writingFlowUtils.getActiveBlockName )
+			.toBe( 'core/paragraph' );
+
+		// Verify the focused element has the paragraph content.
+		const activeElementLocator = editor.canvas.locator( ':focus' );
+		await expect( activeElementLocator ).toHaveText( 'First paragraph' );
+	} );
+
 	test( 'should navigate around inline boundaries', async ( {
 		editor,
 		page,