There is focusInvalid option, which is true by default. But it works only when form submission happens. If I validate the form with valid method, then it doesn\'t w
true
With the invalidHandler you can set focus to the first element that fails:
invalidHandler
$("#form").validate({ onfocusout: false, invalidHandler: function(form, validator) { var errors = validator.numberOfInvalids(); if (errors) { validator.errorList[0].element.focus(); } } });