My escape key doesn't work

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Level 1

4 points

My escape key doesn't work

I have a Macbook Air with normal keys, no touch bar, and the escape key is there but it won't work. It doesn't work to escape full screen, to pause games, to do shortcuts like ⌥+⌘+esc for force quitting. There is one application and one application only where it functions normally and it is a completely random program that is irrelevant to anything Apple, so I'm not sure why it only works there. By the way, it doesn't matter whether or not this application is open. This has been happening for about a week, maybe less, maybe two, I kind of lose track of time. If anyone can help me with this I will be very grateful.

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 23, 2019 12:33 PM

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Answer 1

fR1dj Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 24, 2019 4:07 PM in response to fyip

Ok I didn't test it beforehand so I can't provide a 100% accurate scientific evaluation but I put it in the trash, tried ⌥+⌘+esc and it worked. Then I ⌘+Z undid it and tried ⌥+⌘+esc again and it worked! I was very surprised by this so I went onto Youtube and, voila, the esc key was able to escape fullscreen mode. Thanks!

TL;DR for entire thread:

Drag whatever application (or launcher if it uses one) to the trash, and then undo.

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Answer 2

fyip

Level 6

18,384 points

Dec 24, 2019 11:05 AM in response to fR1dj

Sounds like that app launcher took control of the ⎋ key , put it in the trash temporally to see.

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Answer 3

fyip

Level 6

18,384 points

Dec 24, 2019 6:46 AM in response to fR1dj

Could it be dust/dirt...How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro - Apple Support

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Answer 4

fyip

Level 6

18,384 points

Dec 23, 2019 1:33 PM in response to fR1dj

Did you change any of the Modifier Keys in Preferences...Keyboard ?

If so see if Clicking Restore Defaults helps.

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Answer 5

fR1dj Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 24, 2019 5:49 AM in response to fyip

Nope, all 5 are as they should be. Other shortcuts work, by the way, just not the escape key.

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Answer 6

fyip

Level 6

18,384 points

Dec 24, 2019 9:50 PM in response to fR1dj

Your Welcome, very glad to hear it worked 😄

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Answer 7

fR1dj Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 24, 2019 7:43 AM in response to fyip

No because the key does work in that one specific application, just literally nowhere else (actually, I did find another app it works in, and both of these apps are launched from the same launcher application. The escape key does, in fact, also work within this launcher application).

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My escape key doesn't work

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