Random Keys Working Sporadically

This problem started happening for me today. Only the top row, from e to o. Completely random, no liquids. The MBP service guide wasn't helpful - listed the usual stuff like try known good OS, updates, replace top case, etc etc.

Anyway your comment about the swelling battery interested me, so I tried unplugging the power adapter, then they started working again. Then after a few minutes they stopped. So I plugged it back in and they started working again. Keys haven't broken since - YET. I have no idea what being plugged in has to do with the keys, but it's worked for me so far! Try it!

So what did you do guys about this? Yesterday started to happen to me as well, mbp late 2011, letters from r...o randomly not working. i noticed if i get them to work and play only with them and then i press 'e' they start not to work again. also if i keep a nonworking key longer it appears after a while. for now i followed the advice to remove the power and seems to work, but there's a long time ahead...

This problem is incredible.

Exact same problem here (Late 2011 MBP), has been happening for around a month and getting continually worse. I am now unable to use keys E through O, although before it got worse I was sometimes able to repeatedly hit the key and/or hold it down to get them to work again for a few minutes. No random spills or anything has changed since this has started. I can only find replacements on places like Ebay, and the comments sound like the replacements aren't the best. Not to mention how long it takes to disassemble and replace the keyboard alone. Short of going to my nearest Apple store 1.5 hours away and paying for a repair (likely charging me for a 250$ top case and lord only knows how much for labor), I am lost. I can't believe so many similar systems just recently started having this issue. Has anyone figured anything out, or can we get something other than a referral to the support article? I am very unhappy about this.

I figured out the problem. I booted up into a known-good OS on a flash drive and plugged in an external keyboard. No problems. Then tried to type on the top row of the Macbook's keyboard - didn't work. Issue detected: the top case. -Fail horn- Even though I hadn't spilled anything in it, sometimes those top cases go bad for whatever reason.

So if you're having this problem: plug in an external keyboard, boot into a clean copy of OS, and try it again. If you can type on the external keyboard but not your computer's, it's the top case.

What has the OS to do with this? You yourself say that it doesn't

I'm probably the only one without an external keyboard so i'm left in frustration, i'll go to a service and let you know what they say.

If you start typing like crazy 'tiryutioryuortiuyoitreuyoitruyoitreuyit' when is not working is starting to work again for a moment or more, it's really random, but the key 'e' is many times like a trigger to the problem, i made a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCtyUGWCTSQ

Definitely a heat-related problem. Now that it's turning to autumn my keyboard works better in the cooler weather. When it does give grief, I put an Apple wireless keyboard right over the faulty keyboard and keep typing. It cost €69, which was a lot cheaper than the alternative of trying to get the macbook repaired. Frustrating, but a work-around.

Hi Iculture,

thanks for the reply, I already checked, it is not a heat related problem, I was until now in vacation with a clima of 2 degree... same problem. I also tried with a fan and ice.

Anyway, pressing around the keys makes a difference so it is a defect in the manufacturing. Thus I really don't care how much is an USB external key, mac are expensive, I expect a decent quality and them to last.

Best,

Walter

I have an early 2011 MBP, now with 10.9.4. I had the battery dead after arriving back from holiday (was told this could happen when your battery runs empty > was surprised to hear this, hard to believe), had the screen replaced due to discolouration on the edges, had the motherboard replaced after suddenly the screen was completely garbled and never showed a normal picture again, have the problem with the screen sometimes not waking up after sleep, had the problems with the q...p-row keyboard row ... and never does Apple admit there is a problem, you find many similar complaints ... i used to be an Apple fan (not fanboy), but this (and other) recent experiences (A brand, A price, C service) have turned me into someone saying to friends not to buy Apple... Over time almost all components got replaced, all paid by me/my employer :-(. If i would have known...

Same issue here, late 2011 MBP running 10.8.5. This also happens right after startup when trying to log in with my user, therefore I don't expect it to be a third party issue - unless it's caused by some background service that's loaded before logging in. On my machine this issue appears randomly but also usually disappears again within one or two minutes. Letters are typically those in the top row, and mostly vowels I think (U, O, I). This appears like one of those issues that can be really hard to reproduce and fix for a company, but with Apple charging the hardware prices they do, I would expect an official solution here, even if it's nothing else than hitting option 5 times in a row. Because this bug, while it appears, renders your machine completely useless.

Same issue here with my 2010 MBP. Never dropped it or spilled any liquid on it. At first, it was just the 'S' key. Then, it spread to the 'F' key. I removed the keys and cleaned them - had a bit of dust but nothing major. Didn't fix the problem. Now, it has spread to the 'C' and 'V' keys. Have resorted to using an external wireless keyboard plunked on top of the MBP keyboard (works). Phoned a local Apple repair shop, and they claim that my keyboard will need to be replaced. May consider going through with it to save money on a new one. Sigh.

Just wanted to add my voice to this topic. Macbook Pro 2012. Keys E, R, T, Y, U, I and O stop working intermittently. Always happens in unison. No droppage. No spillage. Typing this via keyboard viewer. Started yesterday, so no conclusive results yet.

I'm a mug. Owned Apple products since 2008 and the hardware always fails. Constant problems.

This problem went away for me. In part I think because the weather got cooler, and I think heat may have played a role, but more importantly because I prised off the offending keys and vacuumed out all the crud that was under them (also had to use a tweezers to pull out hairs that had snuck in there). Prior to that I had a different solution – to carry around a separate Mac bluetooth keyboard I happened to have bought for a different purpose; worked fine, bit of a hassle, but much cheaper than repair alternatives.

Same deal here. 2012 MBP. O, u, i, t, y keys stop responding or respond intermittently.

Had issues with this earlier in the year, and then it stopped. Paired a bluetooth keyboard to fix the problem. Man, this is annoying, as I depend on this machine for work.

I really don't want to purchase another yet. And I imagine it will be prohibitively expensive to fix.

I took my laptop (Purchased in January 2013, a it turned out) to the genius bar and they said the fix was to replace the topcase, which includes the keyboard and battery. I had Apple do this ($438 with labor) and all is fine.

Same issue ere as escribe. It's te mie row eys tat are not:

as;'

🙂

Comes and goes. Only thing I can add is that holding down the key (prolonged, not heavily) lets it eventually press. And then it will continue to respond for a while. It's like something confusing the kb scan.

THANK YOU for the fantastic close up shots posted here of the mbp kb guts! And as you can see by my typing here, the "issue has gone away..." for the time being..

Best - hth

-Bronius