Keys that stick, that type the same letter twice, or that do not respond at all. It is one of the most annoying faults on a MacBook, and it can have three completely different causes.
1. Rule out the settings first
A couple of accessibility features can make the keyboard seem faulty even though nothing is wrong:
- Slow Keys means a key has to be held down for a moment before it registers.
- Mouse Keys means some keys move the pointer instead of typing.
Both are under System Settings, Accessibility. Turn them off and try again. Also check that no external keyboard or shortcut app is interfering.
2. Clean the keyboard
Crumbs and dust under a key are the most common cause of a sticking key. Apple itself recommends cleaning with canned compressed air:
- Hold the machine at roughly a 75 degree angle, so it stands almost upright.
- Spray across the keyboard in a side to side motion, from left to right.
- Rotate the machine onto one side and repeat, then onto the other side.
Keep the can upright and use short bursts. Do not use a vacuum cleaner, and do not prise the keys off. The clips underneath break easily.
3. Know your model? 2016 to 2019 are especially prone
The MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2019 (13 and 15 inch) has the so-called butterfly keyboard. It is very thin, and even small particles can block a key. Apple ran a free keyboard service programme, but it covered four years after sale and no longer applies to those models.
The 16 inch model from 2019 and every MacBook with an Apple chip have a different, more robust keyboard.
4. Has there been liquid on it?
Keys that stick or feel tacky after a spill are a sign that the liquid has got under the keys, and maybe further. Then it is not just the keyboard that needs looking at. Read our guide on liquid on a MacBook.
When the keyboard needs replacing
If neither the settings nor cleaning help, it is the keyboard. On most MacBooks the keyboard is fixed into the whole top case, the aluminium part your wrists rest on, and it is replaced as one piece. That is why the repair costs more than you might expect, and why the colour of your MacBook can affect the price.
You see the price for your model in our price calculator, with VAT, travel and the part included.