Some keys not working intermittently r t y u i o

I am having the EXACT same issue with keys R T Y U I O seeming to have some sort of strange lag to them ever since I downloaded the last Yosemite update, 10.10.3 using a late 2011 Macbook Pro 15 Inch. I contacted Apple and they suggested I restore the operating system, which did not correct the issue. It seems to be happening very sporadically without any particular rhyme or reason. Strangely I have found that holding all of those keys down at the same time will correct the issue temporarily. It does not seem to be hardware related, but seems to be associated with the software and auto correction or something like that. It's a lagging, rather than an issue with the keyboard itself. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for the detailed explanation. It could be the issue, although the sporadic nature makes me still believe that it is software related. It just seems to have some sort of lag to it. I can actually hold the key downs, and in about 2 seconds it will work. it seems be acting randomly as a sticky key. Needless to say, it has been one of the most annoying issues I have had from Apple. Just in typing this reply, I've come close to throwing this laptop across the room.

Hi,

My problem definitely seems to be HW related. Since I replied here I have never managed to get those keys to work again.

I since have been using a bluetooth keyboard without any problems, and have also used another (usb wireless) also without problems.

I still notice that the area where those keys are located is particularly hot.

I will be sending it to be repaired as soon as I have an alternative, because this is my working machine.

"the sporadic nature makes me still believe that it is software related. "

Possibly, there have been issues but mostly involving the trackpad being jittery. That has gone away for people moving back to Mavericks and waiting to hear about Mountain Lion.

You might want to make a separate post since your issue is different.

Yes, my problem started exactly after I downloaded and installed Yosemite. Some days the keys will work fine and others it's almost impossible to type. Very frustrating. I guess I'll have to send mine for repair too.

Did anyone find a fix to this? I started having this issue lately too.

Luckily it's working fine now or else I wouldn't be able to type this. My keys from E all the way to O (ERTYUIO) stop working every now and then. And it seems like they're working less and less.

Here's what's weird. When my keys don't work, I have to press my E key really hard and then one of the other keys. So say I want to type the letter Y, I'd have to press E first really hard and then press Y, I'd then have to go back and erase the E. It's really frustrating to say the least.

Anyways, if anyone turned it in for repair and got any answers on where the problem is, please let me know. Thanks!

I had the same problem but with Keys d,f,g,h,j,k,l .... after some reviews on apple forum and youtube videos the solution that worked for me was :

1) clean your keyboard

2) remove the left-key in the series, in my case it is key "d".

3) clean the parts underneath and install again.

I did the same wit key "f" just in case.

I attach a youtube video that helped me on that that task.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh88cn_rtLo

In any case, even if that solution might work, I am still wondering if there is any other HW issue.

I had this exact problem on a Macbook Air, mid 2011.

I also had a damaged battery -- after replacing it with a new battery from iFixit, and also cleaning the accumulated debris and dust inside the laptop, the keyboard works great again.

I don't know if it was the damaged battery, it looked OK but maybe was curved or something, or it was the dust, or just dismounting it and mounting it again moved something on the inside.

If you're up for it, you could replace just the keyboard. That job is a pain in the keyster. Everything has to come out of the computer to access the keyboard. 40 or so tiny screws hold the keyboard in place:

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Air+13-Inch+Mid+2011+Upper+Case+Replacement /9427

Here's a guide to the whole process:

http://www.insidemylaptop.com/replacing-macbook-air-keyboard-after-liquid-damage /

In the MacBook Pro this replacement is easier because there are only screws, no rivets. So easier but still a pain.

The keyboards are cheap on eBay around $39:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=macbook+air+keyboard+replacement+2011&_osac at=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=m…

You could also just replace the entire top case but at quite a difference in cost:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=macbook+air+keyboard+replacement+2011&_osac at=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xmacbook+air+top+case+rep lacement+2011+new.TRS1&_nkw=macbook+air+top+case+replacement+2011+new&_sacat=0

A new one looks to be in the $170 range.

Make sure you have the right year and that it's new. I always try to order from someone in the states, usually California. There are a ton available from China but that can take a fair amount of time to get to you.

Thanks spudnuty, this might be a solution, I had already seen the iFixit guides, but this one looks particularly complicated. I think I might take the laptop to the shop and ask them to do it, might be much more expensive but easier on my side. Thanks!

I am seeing this problem as well on my MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012). It's almost impossible now to reset the PRAM since the R key is acting up. Now pressing UIO as a chord when keyboard acts up. This is bad. Hard to believe that it's hardware. Suffering.

Any new thoughts on a software fix. All the items on this thread haven't worked, except mashing the UIO simultaneously which I started doing today...

~James

I was having a similar problem where my F2/increase brightness, 2, w, s, x, tilde, and tab keys were intermittent. Over the course of a couple weeks it went from happening occasionally to at least half the time I was typing, and sometimes they wouldn't work for hours at a time. I tried all the resets, etc, but nothing helped. I was ready to accept that it was a hardware issue, and at best I would need a new keyboard. Then by chance I noticed a weird thing with Keyboard Viewer that if I held down the function key, the F2 key, and any combination of the w, s, and x keys, and then pressed any of the other F keys that the corresponding keys under that F key would appear as pressed (e.g. if I held down function, F2, s, and x, and then pressed F5, Keyboard Viewer would show that I was pressing g and b even though I wasn't). That got me back to thinking it was a software issue. I tried booting it into safe mode (holding down 'shift' while booting) and it seemed to work fine, then I booted normally and everything has been working perfectly for 24 hours. Hopefully, this helps someone else.

Don't bother guys, just replace a keyboard. I bought a used keyboard on ebay and replaced it with the help of my friend who is a car electric specialist. I am tech savvy person but this one requires a bit experience and good hands since circuit boards have several very tricky and miniature latches/connectors you have to be careful with. You have to disassabmle everything except for the display 🙂

On my mid-2010 MBPro 15", problem keys were e,s,d,r. I ordered a new keyboard, but don't need it at present. The problem sometimes went away but came back. Didn't seem software-related. Blew out keys using canned air - no noticeable change. Finally removed those key caps (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh88cn_rtLo for a really good presentation), and found a little dust and bits under keys. Pressing lightly on the rubber-covered center indicated that the actual contact was fine. Carefully blew out those keys and reinstalled the keycaps. Problem has disappeared.

Apparently, a very thin piece under the keys can keep them from going down far enough to produce the contact. The skin from a shelled peanut was enough to create a problem!

I have the same problem on my late 2011 15" model. I also observe that the area around the affected row of keys RTYUIO is particular hotter than lower rows. I have shown it to apple service center and they propose replacing the keyboard (i.e. half the body of the computer).