Keyboard typing weird letters and symbols

What do you get when you type asdfg? If it is åß∂ƒ© that indicates the Alt/option key is somehow always down.

I just spent hour trying to fix tihs on my iMac and could find the answer so I wanted to post it for someone else. Mine was typing in crazy symbols (åß∂ƒ©).

Also I could not Command + Tab (shoot me), and when I clicked on a window in another app it hid the windows I was working in.

I tried new keyboards. And the system preferences stuff - system preferences - language & text - input sources. then select US. This didn't fix it.

Then I tried to change the keyboard shortcuts in the same window - spotlight (on left), unclick the show spotlight search field and the other one bellow. Then hit the com + Spacebar. This didn't fix it.

Then i did it and double check that i did it right and still didn't fix it.

So I called apple support and they gave me the magical key to fix this.

Turn off your computer. Unplug for 30 sec, and everything attached. Then power it back on and hurry and hold Command + Option + P + R. I held Command + Option + P with one hand and then after I hit power I added the R.

The computer will make one chime. Keep holding it. I will then shut down and make one more chime and you can let go.

Taa daa!!

I have a 27" iMac 2.93Ghz i7 with 10.8.2 (FYI).

I had the same issue, but it's just with a regular MacBook laptop, not a macbook pro. I find that when I press the keys shift option on the left side of the keyboard that the issue is resolved temporarily. It seems that there are a couple different symbols keyboards, so you may have to press the keys a couple times to get back to your normal keyboard. If that doesn't works, I press shift comand on the other side of the keyboard and sometimes the issue goes away temporarily. This does not permantly resolve the issue for me. It seems to come back when I type more on the left side of my keyboard. Hope this helps!

I've had this same problem, but everything I've tried from reading through the answers to this post hasn't worked.

Here's what happened and what I've tried:

I've been having major issues with my late-2011 Macbook Pro, and have been trawling helpful geek forums like this one for a couple of weeks now with no joy. Many others have had the same symptoms, but none of the fixes have worked for me. I'm going to document in details everything I've tried in case someone is able to help me

So the first thing I noticed when the trouble started is that on booting up, a grey disk appeared which I had to select to start up. Never did this before.

Keyboard started acting crazy with lots of strange symbols rather than letters (i.e. "asdf" is åß∂ƒ). "Backspace" deletes the entire preceding word, mouse clicks on trackpad started working only sporadically. Command Tab stopped opening tabs in browser.

Two-finger swipe made browser to back rather that scrolling down browser page.

A Mac-savvy friend said it sounded like my Alt key was jammed down somehow.

Soooo I frankensteined my two late-2011 Macbook Pros together - I had one before whose logic board totally failed, and my new second-hand one has slightly lower specs and the keyboard is sticky, so I figured the Alt key jam was a definite possibility. I successfully built the logic board from my 'new' sticky Macbook into my former higher-spec machine.

BUT same issues as above are still happening with my new frankenstein Macbook!! 😟

Issues with the crazy symbols does not occur with and external keyboard, and occasionally it'll all work fine, before going back to crazy (no rhyme or reason that I can see...)

I wonder whether it is the Alt key that's the issue, but given this is now a completely different keyboard, it seems super unlikely.

Help help!! Thanks in advance 🙂

I've just read your advice (hyer originally) , my daughters macbook constantly is in capital letters and when I type it just does random symbols , couldn't login or anything , just tried this control , alt and r when I started up the mac and it worked !!!! Thank you so much !!!

So..... My wife called me last night with the same question, we tried everything under the sun, without trying to restart for obvious reasons. I.e. Not being able to log in. After trying everything we saw on The Google, we did a restart. The quickest fix for this is to do a restart and shift R. It fixes common issues that reside within the OS. If your mac is ever working poorly, try this first. Good luck.

Thanks Hyer for your advice it works.I turned off, unplugged and start it on pressing Ctrl+ Option+ R+P holding it together can erase the weird keys from my keyboard. I could login without the keyboard typed the wrong characters. I also noticed that you can restore your system by starting up by pressing Ctrl+ Option+ R and after the sound press p.

The solution was magical to me. Thanks

Hi,

Please check that your keyboard it set to type in your desired keyboard language and layout.

To do this go to System Preferences > Language & Text > Input Sources > And tick or untick the languages and keyboard layout you require.

Or you could click the little country flag beside the time in the top menu.

Regards,

Tim

Did anyone find the solution to this? i have been having same problem since last three days, in total my 5 machines have been behaving weird, whenever i try to type, it types only symbols & when i open photoshop 5.5, only tool it gets selected is color picker. I called up apple service center guys to check (since 4 of my machines still has APP) the only thing he kept saying is there is some problem with the fonts, he reinstalled OS but couldnt fix it. Does any one have a clue of fix to this problem?

i have started loosing trust in Apple products now.

Thanks

S

Hi guys, I had the same problem and I solved it applying a tuner and contact dry cleaner spray over the keyboard. It seemed that there was a malfunction because of dust or dirt on some keys.

I hope this helps you, it took me a lot of time to guess it and I haven't find this usefull tip anywere. PLese Apple guys take note!!

ludilo wrote:

in meantime will try to find usb or wireless kb.

Surely you can find a usb keyboard to borrow for a few minutes somewhere, it doesn't have to be an Apple keyboard.

If it works OK, it is really pointless to be searching for some magic software fix, you have a hardware problem you have to deal with whether you like what it costs or not.

It's not easy always to find usb kb or wireless, most of people with PC use ps/2 keyboards, and not all have wireless, i know that doesn't have to be an Apple kb, but like i said, it's not always to find 1 of that 2 keyboards, another reason that most of people us laptops, desktop machines era is past...

Nobody can be 100% sure what's problem, until test it, so software testing isn't pointeless, in meantime until we find hardware for testing, we always check all software options to try fix it, it's logic! I know that's, it's not so helpful, when keyboard costs too much, you sound like someone who works for Apple, cause most of answers by Apple support is like your, useless, and just talking like "you'll have to buy new one", it's the easiest way for support someone, but that's horrible support! Generally can say, Apple support is BIG ZERO! Always just want money, but when need to help, no help!

Opened back cover case, dissasembled some parts like fan, battery, etc. and cleaned keyboard flat cable, and then inserted in it's slot, and then keyboard worked excellent, after 1-2 days of using again same problem with strange characters, so it seems definetely i'll have to replace keyboard. Found some cheaper kb on ebay.com, so probably i'll order new kb from ebay.com, instead to pay Apple for abnormal prices, where tey request to order whole palmrest+kb, even new kb can be installed without new palmrest 🙂, that's Apple policy take as much as you can from customers 😉 and sellers and support in their shops is same!

Goldenb14 wrote:

This is happening to me too but it’s on my phone. I tried changing the keyboard and creating a shortcut for the word and still nothing. Every time I type in the word “I” I get this I idk what’s going on.

Your problem is totally different and has been reported by lots of people, some kind of bug. See

Can’t type the letter I️ , showing up weird. A little box or the letter A and a question mark inside of a box.

Ctrl+ Option+ R+P Solved it for me. Thank you