Keyboard typing weird letters and symbols

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!

I have this problem also. I plugged in a USB keyboard, but it doesn't work properly either, which tells me it's a software issue, right? The real problem is that my computer is locked. I can't type in the proper password, because the keyboard won't type the right letters. HELP!

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 🙂

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.

Tried this suggestion, but same problem! Common Apple support, give us some suggestion what to try to solve it! To reinstall OS, or whatever!? Even i can't reinstall OS, cause can't enter apple id, when it asks for apple id!

ludilo wrote:

Common Apple support

These are user/user help forums, so you are not going to get any advice from Apple here.

Have you tried a separate usb or wireless keyboard? If it works, you need to have your internal keyboard repaired or replaced, there isn't any software fix.

I know that Tom, but at all Apple Support need to post artice about this specific case, and to publish it and make it accesible to all of us, not all of us live in USA to be able call Apple support, cause in my case, Apple support in my country is horrible, immediately when i contacted them they asked only for money, didn't try to suggest me some alternative solution, than replacing keyboard, even it's too expensive!

No suggestion, like hyer get from Apple support for combination keys for some reset, etc. , so i speak about this type of support, for publising some "tricks, magic keys combinations" etc. that other people can find them on Apple support page, if google didn't find this page, i'll never find about that trick with keys.

I don't have usb or wireless KB, it's bad if i have to buy usb or wireless kb for testing this problem, i'll try to find some at my friends maybe...

I'll test it, and post here results, i doubt it's damaged Keyboard, cause it's just replaced, and it's new, its something like alt button is constantly down, and when i type letters it write some strange characters, when i selected virtual kb on screen, these strange characters are marked with orange color, something like to show us, that these symbols are in use... Hope someone will suggest something different to try, in meantime will try to find usb or wireless kb.

ludilo wrote:

you sound like someone who works for Apple, cause most of answers by Apple support is like your, useless,

No, I don't work for Apple, and in general I have the same low opinion of the expertise of Apple support that you do. But I've seen your problem posted in these forums many, many times and just want you to have what in my experience is the best advice about how to quickly isolate it and the most likely required fix, so you can get back to work with your machine.

It's good that we are on same side 🙂 ... Unfortunately that's really true, cause it's not my 1st time to experience problem with their support, where main answer is "we'll have to replace it", rarely try some other things, instead prompt replacing 🙂....

Yeah, you are right, i googled, and found on other forums same situations like mine, will try your suggestion about testing external KB, to see is KB fault or not, if external KB works, i'll try reinstalling OS to see will that fix my problem...

However, thank you for your advices and good will!

ludilo wrote:

if external KB works, i'll try reinstalling OS to see will that fix my problem...

No harm in doing that, but if external KB works, it normally indicates a hardware problem with the internal keyboard that reinstalling OS cannot fix.

Replying to prv/hyper to make sure people see their solution is noticeable

I noticed that swiping from the side on my touchpad seems to enable this mode.

Seems like a bug where a certain type of input traps the system in command or option mode. It might be worth paying attention to your touchpad, or checking if the buttons are working properly - not stuck depressed or something.

Last night I started to have a problem of symbols appearing and other odd things happening when I typed on my keyboard. I first changed the USB keyboard, to no avail. Then I went to my wife's MAC BOOK PRO, same problem. I tried all of the suggestions I could find on forums like this.. Then my wife came in and she typed on both computers with no problems. My wife who is not all that computer savvy said it was my hands. I was skeptical but pursued it further. I found out that it only happened when I typed characters with my left hand.

She was right. Come to find out I had had surgery on my left hand earlier in the day and the bulky bandage was hitting the option and control keys inadvertently. She had had the same problem in the past when when she let her hands relax and rest on the keyboard.

Needless to say I sighed a great sigh of relief and gave my intuitive wife a humble thanks. Sometimes intuitiveness trumps technical savvy.

my keyboard does it and before a 20 hrs travel with the battery on and works perfect11111111111 (until some time like this), may be i'm using charger from another model. Gretings to the mac world1111111

Did anyone find something that works? My new MacbookAir (7 months old) has been typing in symbols for a few weeks. I tried updating to Yosemite, reinstalling, pressing Cmd+Opt+PR and Cmd+Opt+P... I got it to go back to normal once, but I closed the computer (not shut it down) and when I opened it back up it returned to symbols. When I look at the system preferences, it says it's in English. I am currently traveling in Mexico and Central America with no plans on returning to the US any time soon (not to mention the inconsistent internet connection)- I really need this computer to work! I appreciate all of your suggestions..

Now it happens as well to my Macbook Air: I type "asdf" and I get instead åß∂ƒ. Pressing alt-+cmd+P+R does not work. I am not able to fix this, the language of the keyboard is correct. I noticed also that three-finger gestures do not work anymore.