My built-in keyboard and trackpad not working

BEFORE REPLACING TOP-CASE CHECK TRACKPAD FLEX CABLE!!!

I had the same problem; first intermittently, then permanently. Apple service didn't find anything using diagnostics when I'd brought it in with intermittent problems. A later visit and a solution was found:

It turned out it was the TRACKPAD FLEX CABLE. A very inexpensive repair compared with replacing the entire top-case! Shame on Apple for fusing the top case, keyboard, trackpad, and batteries into one unrepairable component!

Apparently the trackpad and keyboard cables run together in a cable that bends around the close end of the trackpad under the little cutout for opening the lid. The tech speculated that my cable was pinched or bent too much from my pulling the laptop out of my bag with one hand! Thankfully this is a replaceable part!

Of course, I recommend to anyone else with the problem to exhaust at-home solutions for possible software faults first: resets, reinstalling OS, etc.

Good luck!

I have fix this problem on my macbook pro retina early 2015. I have changed the trackpad cable and the touchpad and keyboard work again.

I have bought the cable from Amazon (about $10):

Cavo Cohk Trackpad Touchpad per Macbook Pro Retina Mbr 33 cm A1502 2015 anno P/N 821 - 00184-a

You can take a look to (from step 17 to 20):

MacBook Pro 13" Retina Display Early 2015 Trackpad Replacement - iFixit

Hi all, I have had this problem on my Macbook pro '15 for a couple of years and been using an external keyboard and mouse. No software resets etc helped me - whatever is mentioned on this thread.

I decided to replace the cable - before going to Apple and spending hundreds...

Did this myself and it started to work right away ( I waited a week to post this 🙂). The cable was $12 on amazon with the $3 tools to open up the laptop and the whole surgery took 20 min using a youTube video someone posted in this thread. Pretty happy camper at the moment, hope this will last. best.

I have lost faith long before that Apple would even address this issue. A bug fix is even far. I have tried and failed to find out why this thing works on other OS but not on Mac OS. Just by even touching the ribbon bar after removing the back panel, trackpad/keyboard works fine for days till we get the issue again. Once I have changed the ribbon there has not been any problem. This fix will seem to be not logically correct but it is working for most of us. So if possible try to get the ribbon replaced and get on with our life.

I have had this problem for over a year now. All the ribbon solutions that is discussed in this forum, I dont think they make sense. This is a software problem.

My solution ; Connect a wired mouse and work with it for 5 to 10 minutes and then the trackpad and keyboard are back to normal for the rest of the session. If it happens again then connect the mouse again! Until Apple acknowledges this problems and sends a bug fix software over the air.

i had the same failure. Once the Apple Care change the top case in warranty. But after 6 months i had again the same failure. The wanted me to change again the top case but paying 520€.

I changed the trackpad cable by my own and solved the issue (Model: Early 2015 Appel Part Nr. for this model trackpad cable is: 821-00184-A). The total cost i had was 15€

Hi, it can be a software issue - or a cable issue - but as by the end of June 2018 Apple Inc. has acknowledged that there can be situations where some "glue" inside the computer causes this issue. A certified Apple repair shop identified the issue and replaced the keyboard and screen on my 2015 MacBookPro, and now everything is working. Nice that Apple has covered this repair.

I replaced the ribbon cable. It works well so far for me.

Yeah, I bought new ribbon cable, and replace it. Works well now. 62$ for all new ribbon cable and repair cost

Thank you

I replaced the ribbon cable. It works well so far for me.

Same here on A1502 Apple MacBook Pro 13 Retina 2015,

Keyboard and touchpad would become unresponsive, replaced the cable and they both work again. But after a week of no issues the same thing happens again! Unresponsive keyboard and touchpad!

So I guess I can try under another OS and see if they work under Linux, if they do then can confirm this is a software issue with Apple OS.

I will try and update here if I can.

I had this problem on my MacBook 13" Pro Retina Early 2015 running High Sierra. Trackpad and keyboard completely non-responsive, even in Windows BootCamp. Used an external keyboard and mouse then enabled System Preferences - Users & Groups - Login Options - Automatic Login for my userID. Not ideal from a security point of view but problem solved. Hopefully, Apple will fix this soon.

I had the same problem today. Went to the Apple Store, spent an hour with the Genius. He suggested that I spent about $424 to replace both the trackpad and keyboard. I asked what he thinks the problem is the cause. He didn't give me an intelligent answers. I took it home researched some more about the relation between the trackpad and the keyboard in this model. As in if the trackpad has issue then the keyboard will. Many other sites suggesting replacing the Touchpad Trackpad Ribbon Flex Cable Replacement for MacBook Pro 13 Retina A1502 Early 2015 821-00184-A.

I just pressed hard down along the rectangle of the trackpad and magically it work. Gave it a tried or else by the ribbon.

I had the same experience a month after warranty ended and I agree entirely. Shame on Apple!

I was about to bite the bullet and replace the top case but thankfully I had a particularly curious tech who probably researched the problem a bit more in depth and tried the flex cable, which worked. But I got lucky. For now.

Through this discussion, we saw that this problem could come from many sources.

- either it is a software problem, (some don't experience trackpad and issues when running an other OS)

- or it is a hardware problem (some have changed the ribbon and most of them have succeeded in repairing the laptop.

But it is insane to see that most of people having accepted the repair from apple with almost half the price of the MacBook Pro have experienced the exact same problem a few month after.

The most shocking is the fact that for most of us, the issue occurs about 1 or 2 month after the warranty limit date.

I have legitimate reasons to ask questions to myself about the way Apple's product's are designed.

I just came out of an Apple Store, all their diagnosis tools were unable to detect the problem, for the diagnosis, the computer just worked well. The staff was able to observe the problem but the diagnosis couldn't.

So I am in a situation where the existence of the problem is denied even if it can be observed.

About the repair; as the diagnosis was unable to spot any issue, the staff couldn't identify the source of the problem, so, they guess that the problem comes from the top case, they recommend a top case changing (which costs almost half the price of the computer)

The fact is : they even don't know if that is really the problem, they just guess it and a lot of people are accepting the repair...... and experience the same problem a few months after.

I am completely desperate I don't know what to do. It is like if I was going to the doctor complaining about a disease and the doctor was denying the existence of the disease. And in order to cure that He is giving to me a medicine that has nothing to do with my disease.

The worst part of it is the fact that a few month after my warranty expiration. I went to the customer service to have some issues fixed (screen, USB, battery..........and the trackpad/keyboard that was starting to show some weaknesses)

After an examination and diagnosis, they found nothing wrong except the screen and they accepted to change it but my trackpad/keyboard was already working wrong and showing the same problem. They found nothing and gave me back my Macbook Pro in the same condition without anything changed or even done, except for the screen.

Today my laptop is out of warranty and there is nothing I can do. Their customer service was inefficient from the beginning and I want to fix a problem I asked them to fix when I was in the warranty date

There is no word to say how disappointed I am with Apple

We pay the price for a luxury laptop supposed to live longer and we end by all of us having a computer that breaks 2 months after the warranty date. We are so despaired that we have to try very risky manipulations to fix the hardware by ourselves..... that's a shame. What is the interest in buying Apple ? What are they waiting for to call back all these products.... they perfectly know that they are facing a serious issue.