Random Keys Working Sporadically

I've faced with such situation too. From time to time keys R T Y U I O stop work, then randomly became workable. One evening they stuck for a hour or more. Reboot did not help such as any other action. Then i've noticed that keys became workable ONLY if my CPU load was hight. I've successfully reproduce it many times. I did not visit service yet but i'm expect that it's some hardware problem. MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012)

Still waiting for someone who can solve the issue.

My keys does not work: wertyuio.

When i open my macbook air they dont work. I have to hit them randomly for minutes to make it work intermitently. But when i have been working in the mac for 30 minutes they work normally.

I am in agreement with the above that Apple has a problem with the hardware in some user's computers. Many years ago when I was a PC user I had a problem with one key on a Dell computer. I called Dell tech support & spoke to Michael Dell. That was a delightful surprise. He told me to go to CompUSA & there would be a new keyboard waiting for me. I hated CompUSA but sure enough, he was right and the problem was solved.

But this issue with the 2016 iMac that I purchased from Apple is a different story. Multiple changes of the keyboard and even a non-Apple keyboard (am now using a Logitech solar powered keyboard that works fine) does not solve the problem with the "B" key. I find myself often having words typed by me missing the letter b. If this is some malware or virus that it is amazingly unique. If this is some physical defect I have with the mechanical functioning of my index finger that sometimes just does not press the B key hard enough I would be also amazed.

I do not think that AppleCare will provide me with any help. Note I had called them & the suggestion was to reset PRAM. That did not help & all the recommendations on this thread have not solved the problem. Techs at Apple have told me that I am an advanced user of the Mac, for whatever that is worth. My conclusion is that this problem will not go away until I end up with a new Mac computer. In my opinion, AppleCare has declined in its quality over the last two years. I no longer recommend to new Mac users to bother with AppleCare. They can get the same help or better through their Mac Users Groups or via Google.

Thank you wytzeschouten for this organized reply. It makes things much better understood now. One solution you suggestion was not very clear for me though. You wrote: "Bend your outer case in such a way that the middle of the keyboard (the keys and the aluminum around them) will budge just a little bit closer to the core of the machine." Can you please explain that? Do you mean to bend the outer edges upwards so that the middle part sort of 'caves in' more into the middle/downward? Or am I misunderstanding?

Tried a lot of solutions mentioned here, nothing worked. Then i puted under my macbook a coin (place between left cmd and left upper corner of touchpad) on a flat surface and immediately keys started working. After 2 hours of usage it works also without any coin...

Looks there is some positive bending on case.

If it stops, im planning to put a coin into back case with a tape, one penny is worth it than to pay full prize for keyboard replacement.

Tried a lot of solutions mentioned here, nothing worked. Then i puted under my macbook a coin (place between left cmd and left upper corner of touchpad) on a flat surface and immediately keys started working. After 2 hours of usage it works also without any coin...

Looks there is some positive bending on case.

If it stops, im planning to put a coin into back case with a tape, one penny is worth it than to pay full prize for keyboard replacement.

OMG! That suggestion ... to hit the CONTROL key FIVE TIMES --- WORKED !!!

Prior, my "t" key actted like i had goop in it. That is, it usually would not work, until I hit it HARD'

Now, all is OKAY! n Look at all those "t" characters above !!!! WHY???

I have a 2014 rMBP 15" machine. Yesterday afternoon the uiop, hjkl;, and bnm, keys became non responsive. I had just gotten back from vacation, so my first thought was that a liquid had found its way under the keys in that area. But a check with a loupe I saw no evidence for it. It really felt like it was a hardware problem and I was ready to set up an appointment at the local Dunce Bar. However, on a lark I decided to simply try booting into another user account. Voila'. All the keys worked. My first notion was to, on my main user account, move all of the Preference files (~/Library/Preferences/…) with a modification date around the time I first noticed the problem to the Desktop. There were about 30 of them. After doing this, I rebooted. The non-functional keys immediately became functional. The vast majority of the 30 Preference files I moved to the Desktop were immediately rebuilt by macOS. That left a half dozen or so Preference files from minor apps to ponder. I didn't bother. I deleted those, too. I had to re-enter serial numbers for a couple of apps as well.

This approach was only possible because I knew pretty much the exact time things went awry. However, the idea that the problem may involve only one user account might help. The idea that there is a corrupt User account preference file may help a little more. There is a bunch of these User Preference files that seem to churn all the time and which can be deleted with impunity.

You should be able to restart just fine even if you remove ALL of your User Preference files--or at least all the ones with Modification Dates ON or after your original keyboard problem. To prove one of them is at fault for keyboard woes, just remove (all of) the files in ~/Library/Preferences/ to a safe place and then restart. If you find that your keyboard problem is solved, then you can use the ancient and honored technique perfected by those of us who used to deal with corrupt preferences under System 6,7, 9 etc: Put half of your preference files back and restart. No problem? Assign those files a label or comment so you can keep track of them. Then add back half of the files you have not added back yet. Repeat until you get the problem. At that point you should have a small number of files to consider. You can then continue your winnowing process to find the individual file. As I said, I didn't bother. The files either regenerate themselves or can easily be regenerated when you set the prefs for the app that generates the preference.

Hello MattyRay,

The following article provides some useful troubleshooting steps that can help resolve issues with your keyboard.

One or more keys on the keyboard do not respond

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1381

Cheers,

Allen

As a data point I have a late 2011 macbook pro and it started doing the same thing. The 'k' and 'l' keys so far but random when they cut out and random for how long they don't work.

I, too, have a 4 year old Macbook Pro, and I am having the same problem. I have updated all my software and have done everything on the article allen a posted for troubleshooting my keyboard. Still having problems! This all started with my "D" button. Now it's my "L" and "K" buttons. Even typing this, I can't hit those buttons once and have the letter just pop up. I have to hit it repeatedly to get it to work. It's almost like there's a massive delay between when you hit the button and when the letter actually appears on the screen. When I opened my "Keyboard Viewer," sometimes it was showing my button highlighting when I hit it, and sometimes not at all. This is extremely frustrating! I really don't want to take my computer in, but I'm worried that's what I'm going to have to do if there isn't any other way to fix this.

I've had a similar problem for a while, too. Granted, it's a 2009 Mac Book Pro 17" Unibody, but it's not sustained any damage (dropping or liquid).

What's really, really strange is that 20 minutes ago, several keys on my homerow (I use the Dvorak layout) weren't working: i, d, h, t, n. Then, without restarting, without really doing anything, the keys started working fine. The first paragraph of this message was typed without any problems until I got to the letter "I" in liquid.

Now, I'm typing those letters with the on-screen keyboard or Dictation.

I'm really baffled about when it stops working, when it starts working, how long it lasts.

I have reinstalled the operating system, Mavericks, on an external disk and booted from that. I have installed no extra programs, copied no data - it's a clean, clean system. But, still the problems are intermittent.

Unfortunately, I'm living in Geneva Switzerland right now, and the Apple Store here is not very good.

Just confirming that 20 minutes ago my keyboard was doing the same thing, even the same keys, which makes me suspicious. I have a Spring 2011 macbook pro. All is well now, but I will keep an eye on it.

@MattyRay, please post back if you find a fix.

I have the exact same issues for my Late MBP 2011. This was the first post that had the same keys in question not working (t, y, u, i, o).

I tried cleaning under the keys but that really didn't help. I also tried the things in their support article, but they didn't work either.

I'm still looking for a solution, but when it stops working, sometimes it helps to press down hard on the area where the t, y, u, i, o letters are. Maybe that is just psychological, though. I don't think I had any issues with a USB/bluetooth keyboard, so you can use that too. It is just odd that it *sometimes* works and *sometimes* doesn't. It makes one assume that something is loose or not reacting properly...

It happened to me sporadically for 2 days, and since it has been fine. I did try to wipe down my keybard and blow air around those keys. But I never found a solid answer as to what the cause and real solution were.

Hope you get lucky!