Random Keys Working Sporadically

The behavior strongly suggests a hardware problem, as in pressing multiple keys you temporarily "fix" the marginal connection that is probably at the root of the abnormal behavior.

While this pressing multiple keys appears to help now as time goes on I think you'll find it less effective and require you press more keys or press harder.

My R-T-Y-U-I-O keys were not working either. I did hold them all down at the same time and they began working again. I have just done this so I can't say if the fix will last. Any conclusions yet on Hardware or Software issue? At the top of this post it says "Branched to a New Discussion" but when I tried to access the New Discussion I was Denied. (I have MBP 15" Late 2011.)

Well, in my post of Feb. 21, I reported a new top case and a "bracket" solved my 13" MCB (built mid-2012) not working keys behavior. For my machine then it was a hardware problem.

All I can advise you do is try the software solutions, check the settings, and if this proves to be a permanent solution for you that is just great.

For me it proved to not be a permanent solution and I went ahead with the Apple tech's suggestion to replace the upper case. (The fact a bracket was also needed was not known at the time.)

Same issue with my 2011 air, which i love and will never replace if i can. 2,W,S will stop working every so often. Was able to fix it by half pulling off some of the keys and working them around a bit. They worked after. Everytime they stop working I just pull them up a little then they start working again. This is the only solution I've found after trying all other solutions.

For me it is the number keys 3-9. After reading your post, I held them down for "awhile" and suddenly they started working! Yay! thanks!

My y u i o keys were not working. This has been happening on my MacBook Pro laptop (13 inch, late 2011) for about 6 months now. I have discussed this on the Apple Help Chat Line. While recognizing that it is a random problem, which to me seems to rule out a hardware problem, their only solution is to take it in to an Apple Store for repairs. I had previously done their suggested fix of re-installing OS X El Capitan Version 10.11.5. That fix worked for almost 24 hours. Another fix I have been using is to have multiple Input Sources for the keyboard - I use Australian, British, Canadian English and US, and alternate among them. This is a temporary fix. I have managed to type this paragraph by holding down the y, u, i, o keys at the same time when they randomly stop working, as they have frequently done as I type this. Thank you for this suggestion which seems to be working very well, and I plan to use until Apple fixes the problem permanently.

My keyboard on my MacBook Pro (13 inch, late 2011) are committing errors sporadically when I click the "h" or the "y" keys. The "h" will input as "hf" and the "y" as "yr" and I can't figure out what to do. Help?

As I was reading this thread because my A Q 1 and backspace often (normally when I turn on my macbook air 13-inch, medio 2013 or open it up after a couple of hours) don't work I came onto something but this can be wrong havent tested this because as I am writing this I stumbled upon this.

My q a 1 (backspace) don't work it seems to happen only when my macbook in on something where the air can't escape from below because I always set it down on my lap and if I get my left leg away from the ven thats on the left side of my macbook the keys start working fine after a few second delay .

I Hope that this thread is still being seen by people and i hope it wil work for the users having issues. it seems for me its not a hardware or software problem but a design problem (for me then )

Note : it seems that its an overheating problem. ( I am not very technical but this is what i guess is wrong with the macbook('s)

Trolling the internet gave me a freakish solution: press all the non functioning keys at once !!!

My digits 1..9 stopped working twice now. The second time it happened I saw this unbelievable solution, but it worked for me?

I have a late 2013 Retina 15" with OS-X El Capitan. Rod

I have the exact same issue on the same model of MacBook Pro. This doesn’t appear to be hardware related, as the keys will start working again. The workaround is to press all keys that are not working together, they will start working again (for a while).

So has Apple said anything about this? Not keen on buying another Apple product as they all slowly die within a 5 year period, no matter what product and how well you take care of the product. 😢

Hi Matty,

What you're suggesting may be a software problem rather than a hardware problem. I would suggest to make a backup of your important files, then just to erase your computer. To do this do the following steps:

1. Restart your Mac, and while restarting hold down CMD+R.

2. In OS X Utilities, click on Disk Utility.

3. Select the HD your OS is on.

4. Click Erase, and make sure it is formatted as Mac OS Extended Journalled.

5. Go back by closing Disk Utility by closing it.

6. Click Install Mac OS X.

7. Follow the steps on-screen.

Good luck!

Marco.

This may or may not help you or others on this thread --

I have been having this problem with my a, 1, and delete key on my 3 year old macbook air for several months now. They only work sometimes, and it's absolutely maddening. I took it to a very high rated repair shop, and they couldn't replicate the problem. Took it home, and it's still happening!

I finally discovered that if I do not rest the heel of my wrists on my laptop while I type, the keys work just fine. I actually figured it out because I was trying to film the keys not working (to prove my sanity to the repair shop!), but every time I lifted my hands off the laptop to reach for my phone to film, they would start working again. So now I rest my forearms on the edge of the table and float my fingers above the keyboard, and I haven't had any problems. Not a great or convenient solution by any means, but for me it's better than buying a new laptop when this one works just fine in every other regard.

My t, y, u, i, and o keys were working sporadically (mid-2011 13" MBP). After pressing down and holding (hard-ish) on the areas in between the keys they now work consistently.

Seems to be some sort of loose connection below the keys.