Keyboard issue

Question

Keyboard issue

Hello Internet,

I have a 2011 MacBook Pro and I've been trying to solve my keyboard problem for a week now. I've visited every keyboard-related post on this website, done all of their recommendations, and still, my keys don't work.

Backstory

This is the second time my keyboard failed on me. In the first incident, I ran a Diagnostics test. It revealed nothing, but oddly after booting the computer back up everything worked completely fine.

Some time goes by and it happened again. I didn't take note of what I've done before this issue recurred (downloading apps, extensions, etc), but the only major download that happened at that time was Java 8 (take that for what it's worth).

What I've tried

I tried running a Diagnostics test (both short and long), which revealed nothing and didn't fix the issue.
I tried resetting the RAM which also didn't help.
Safe booting the Mac had the same issue.
Resetting the keyboard, still nothing.

I know for a fact that this isn't an age issue (I bought it from a Grandma that still had it in the box). Also, cleaning the keys won't fix the problem because all of them work when logging into the Guest user (so this is something that's happening in my account)

Is there anything else that I could've possibly missed? Something else to try out?

Also, I am capable of doing a factory reset, redownloading High Sierra, and backing up from a drive, but it's still a plan Z for me.

If you'd made it this far, thank you! I'd love to hear your opinion on this issue.

Cheers

MacBook Pro

Posted on Jun 1, 2020 11:09 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Jun 1, 2020 11:47 AM in response to Less_vegetables

A Troubleshooting Procedure that may Fix Problems with macOS El Capitan or Later

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.

If possible, backup your files before proceeding.

Shutdown the computer and disconnect all third-party peripherals.
Wait 30 seconds before you restart the computer.
Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
Reset your Startup Disk and Sound preferences, if needed, after resetting the PRAM.
Test in safe mode to see if the problem persists, then restart normally. Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac and Playing Safe - what does Safe mode do?
Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
Repair permissions on the Home folder: Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder.
Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Install OS X then click on the Continue button.
Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:

1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.

2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.

3. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.

4. Set the Format type to APFS (for SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)

5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.

6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.

7. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

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Answer 2

Jun 8, 2020 12:13 AM in response to Kappy

Hello

I fix it. I got my keys back! But the funny thing is that neither of your suggestions fixed it... I did everything (except for steps 8, 9 and 11). What really fixed it (and I stumbled on this accidentally) was that in Keyboard settings in System Preferences there’s a “Change Keyboard Type...” button that fixed it all...

Thank you for your help! And I hope no one has to go through what I did 😂

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Answer 3

Jun 1, 2020 11:28 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Yes, they don’t work in all apps. Oh and yes, I’ve been using an external keyboard and the keys work.

Forgot to mention, 2 of the keys aren’t completely non-responsive. It’s almost like they’ve been remapped to a different command. Every time I press them something happens on the screen (Spotlight search closes, the flashing “you are typing here” cursor disappears (as if I clicked away from the field))

Thanks for the quick response!

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

116,060 points

Jun 1, 2020 11:33 AM in response to Less_vegetables

Less_vegetables wrote:

all of them work when logging into the Guest user (so this is something that's happening in my account)

I would serious consider moving everything to another account where the keys work.

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

116,060 points

Jun 8, 2020 7:51 AM in response to Less_vegetables

Less_vegetables wrote:

What really fixed it (and I stumbled on this accidentally) was that in Keyboard settings in System Preferences there’s a “Change Keyboard Type...” button that fixed it all...

Thanks, very interesting! It's really odd for that setting to affect anything more than the particular mapping of a couple keys at the left edge of the keyboard.

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