Related Article: Mac keyboard shortcuts

My key commands have stopped working, and are grayed out, in finder and all applications as well.

There must be some sort of setting that has been corrupted or changed somehow. Please advise. I am running a 13" MacBook Pro running Mac OS Monterey Version 12.6.9.


I installed Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office for MAC. Other than thiose two new things, nothing has changed.


I have looked on google searches for this problem, but only found a few and most start talking about software and changing the system preferences.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Sep 19, 2023 6:15 AM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 19, 2023 7:10 AM in response to Hutch2016

Hutch2016 wrote:

There must be some sort of setting that has been corrupted or changed somehow. Please advise. I am running a 13" MacBook Pro running Mac OS Monterey Version 12.6.9.

I installed Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office for MAC. Other than thiose two new things, nothing has changed.

I have looked on google searches for this problem, but only found a few and most start talking about software and changing the system preferences.



To trouble shoot further you can:


—A SafeBoot Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support will sort many anomalies


Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.


This test will tell you if third party interference; most* extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.



—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 






unplug all third party peripherals when testing


Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS



Sep 19, 2023 8:08 AM in response to Hutch2016

Hutch2016 wrote:

Hello Leroy, I performed a disk repair and booted up in safe mode. All seems normal and good. Still no luck on getting the Key commands working again. They continued to be flat out gray and unresponsive in any programs. Do you have any other suggestions?


Verify Full Keyboard Access did not get turned on

Navigate your Mac using Full Keyboard Access - Apple Support


you can use the keyboard viewer

Use the Keyboard Viewer on Mac - Apple Support



—plug in an external keyboard and compare your results




In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment


Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple


Outside the USA

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support




My key commands have stopped working, and are grayed out, in finder and all applications as well.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.