My built-in keyboard and trackpad not working

Wow! Thanks for the update!

Based on your experience, I now believe that the power cable / ribbon that connects the battery to the motherboard / trackpad is the culprit. In my case, detaching and re-attaching the cable every time it freezes might have reconnected the loose wires for good. I didn't have a freeze attack for almost 1 month now.

OrthodocX, kindly update us once you installed the replacement cable you ordered. Thanks in advance.

I have the same problem here (MacBook Pro 13, Retina, early 2015). This is the second time happened to me. The first time I reboot the machine and it was fine. This time I reboot and shutdown my MBP for more than 20 times, and it doesn't work. Then

I googled it and found this thread and followed all steps, tried all the ways. None of them works for my keyboard and touchpad (Strangely the backlit for the keyboard is always on ). Really bad and annoying. I was literally panicked in the office for the entire afternoon, as I have REALLY important documents in the laptop. I use this laptop a lot for giving lectures and presentations in front of a large number of audience. Imagine this breaks down when I am about to give the talks. Strangely, when I was speaking on the phone with tech support from apple, the keyboard and touchpad came back alive for no reasons. I don't know what cause this problem. But I can tell this is very serious. Either a bug in OS or bad design in hardware. Now I am very worried this will happen again. Ironically, I recommend MBP to all my friends a few weeks ago, now my friends heard this thing happened to me. They are just mocking me about my MBP. I think I would possibly never recommend MBP to anyone again. BTW, this is my very first apple laptop because I used to trust apple and their stability. Now, it seems to completely change my opinion on them.

In my previous posts, I am kinda leaning towards defective cable that link the battery and trackpad. However, latest development seems contradicting it. To cut the story short, I am now suspecting it to be either a Malware (virus, trojan, etc) or a 3rd Party software conflict. I backed-up my files using Time Machine, deleted the files and restore osx. Once fully restored, I avoided re-installing 3rd party softwares. Restored my data-only files from Time Machine. It is currently working for 3 days.

It happened again this morning when I start up my MBP, and I shut it down reboot then the issue is gone. I suspect this could be a hardware problem. Apple should seriously investigate this issue and resolve it soon.

I erased my HD and reinstalled OS (I didn't install any 3rd party software yet, and planning not to install any 3rd party software). Now I just to see if this issue will happen. I will report here if this happen again.

The keyboard and touchpad freeze again. This time It is a clean system, except I installed a few software skype, flash, texshop, etc. I think this is more likely to be a hardware problem. Please, apple fix this!!!

I posted this before (see below). This seems to be a hardware problem. I changed the trackpad cable a while ago now and never had the problem again.

I finally found the problem for the unresponsive trackpad/keyboard. The trackpad cable is broken. You can get the cable for about $15 (821-00184-A Touchpad Trackpad Cable for Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13" A1502 2015). To change the cable you need to follow steps 7, then 17-20 in (https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Retina+Display+Early+2015+Track pad+Replacement/45138). This is very simple. I am not sure why the cable brakes, but the cable is bent (seems a little to long) and combined with the heat from the battery it may lose connection over time. I am sure this was causing the problem on my MBP (retina, early 2015). Really happy to finally have it working again.

Thank you for the update! I ordered the same cable as you posted and due for delivery anytime this week or next. I will confirm if it solve the problem after I install it. I am also pointing the finger to that cable you posted here. Apple actually change the design of this cable in the new MBP if you notice. I hope you guys in the US will sue Apple for all this trouble.

Best of luck buddy. Hope this rectifies your issue too.

By the way, where did you find out that Apple has changed the design of the cable? Can you link me to a source please? May help in preventing future breakdowns if i get to study the changes made.

Hi

pk321 has already posted a great tutuorial from ifixit. If you didn't see the post, I'll repost it below:

To change the cable you need to follow steps 7, then 17-20 in (

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Retina+Display+Early+2015+Track pad+Replacement/45138).

All you need are a pentalobe screwdriver (you have to buy this separately as it's not part of most standard screwdriver sets) and a flat plastic spudger tool. It's very simple.

Best of luck for your repair.

OrthodocX, checkout this video. Pause at around 0:33 play time. Visually, the cable structure looks "swastika" form. no longer straight.

My cable is not delivered yet as of this writing. Feeling anxious.

you need a "pentalobe" screwdriver to open the back of your macbook. Once inside, you will need a more common Torx screwdriver to to open the protected cover of the cable terminal.

Note: in opening the back cover of your macbook, arrange the screws in order to make sure to put it back exactly which hole you took it out. They are slightly different size. The pentalobe screwdriver will be able to loosen them all up however.

Thanks Ruel.

I can understand your anxiousness as i was feeling the same while waiting for mine - all the while praying that this was the correct answer, and indeed it was! I am sure this will be the case with your laptop too.

I am planning to order another cable just as backup - don't want to wait for a month next time it breaks down, which it most likely, given that it's a cheap 3rd party accessory and even the original one broke in just over a year.

Seeing all you guys report this same issue here - every single case fixed by the same cable replacement, makes me wonder how rampant this issue is in the 2015 MacBook Pro.

I hope your cable arrives soon and fixes your problem permanently!! Keep us posted. Ciao.

guys please who have changed the trackpad cable and fix the problem, can you tell me which steps i should follow on ifixit guide because this is the first time i'm gonna open my macbook pro and i really got confused. if there is a video showing it, it will be much better. THANK YOU.

The steps have already been linked in multiple posts above. Please go through the discussion again in detail. As for the video, there's a rapid tear down review video on ifixit website that you can watch but I felt the tear down description and images were much more helpful that the video review. All the information needed is there in the posts above.