Certain Keys Stopped Working on Magic Keyboard

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Level 1

4 points

Certain Keys Stopped Working on Magic Keyboard

Hi All,

Wondering if there's a solution for the following:

Magic Keyboard (no numeric pad) - Number 1 and Escape key make the pop alert sound when I press them or they don't work at all.

I tried to restart my computer - password had the number 1 in it - luckily I had another keyboard to log back in. My other keyboard (I use on a PC) works fine.

I've looked into accessibility - Mouse Keys etc etc and nothing seemed to fix it.

Hoping somebody can help. Greatly appreciated of course.

Cheers.

Mac mini, macOS 11.4

Posted on Jun 28, 2021 11:39 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,118 points

Jun 29, 2021 2:19 AM in response to GoodSchnit

GoodSchnit wrote:

Another thing which might help - when I press the Tilda key I get the following symbol. §

Go to system preferences > keyboard > input sources and tell us what you have on your list there.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,118 points

Jun 29, 2021 6:51 PM in response to GoodSchnit

There are two main "types" of hardware keyboards: US/ANSI and European/ISO. On a US keyboard, the key next to 1 should normally produce tilde. On a European keyboard (which has an extra key next to Z and a vertical return key), the key next to 1 normally produces §.

Sometimes a Mac will mistake the keyboard type and l think a keyboard is ISO when it is really ANSI. In such a case these notes may help

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/specify-a-keyboard-type-mchlp2886/11.0/mac/11.0

https://m10lmac.blogspot.com/2009/12/fixing-keyboard-type-problems.html

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,118 points

Jun 29, 2021 9:11 AM in response to GoodSchnit

Again:

Go to system preferences > keyboard > input sources and tell us what you have on your list there.

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Answer 4

GoodSchnit Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 29, 2021 12:08 AM in response to GoodSchnit

Another note - I went to change the 'keyboard type' in System Preferences. When I go to identify the keyboard, it asks to press the key right of the Shift Key.... once doing so, it says 'the keyboard can't be identified'.

Crazy stuff.

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