diff --git a/src/material/stepper/step-header.ts b/src/material/stepper/step-header.ts
index 83006d75899..afaf68f0ee5 100644
--- a/src/material/stepper/step-header.ts
+++ b/src/material/stepper/step-header.ts
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ export class MatStepHeader extends CdkStepHeader implements OnDestroy {
     this._focusMonitor.stopMonitoring(this._elementRef);
   }
 
+  /** Focuses the step header. */
+  focus() {
+    this._focusMonitor.focusVia(this._elementRef, 'program');
+  }
+
   /** Returns string label of given step if it is a text label. */
   _stringLabel(): string | null {
     return this.label instanceof MatStepLabel ? null : this.label;
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/stepper.d.ts b/tools/public_api_guard/material/stepper.d.ts
index a96b7f9186a..03db5719024 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/stepper.d.ts
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/stepper.d.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export declare class MatStepHeader extends CdkStepHeader implements OnDestroy {
     _getIconContext(): MatStepperIconContext;
     _stringLabel(): string | null;
     _templateLabel(): MatStepLabel | null;
+    focus(): void;
     ngOnDestroy(): void;
 }