I wonder if anyone can help me. The "i" key on the keyboard of my 12 inch Macbook is sticking. It does not have the same "click" or tactile feedback that the other keys have. I try to keep the keyboard clean and free of crumbs, dust, etc, however something just doesn't seem right. Is there a safe way to remedy the problem myself?
Thanks!
Chris
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
Hi Chris. If it is just one key, the very first thing I would try is taking a small pry tool or small flat screwdriver and prying the key off. They just snap on/off, just don't be so forceful as to break something. I would suggest taking some high percentage IPA-Isopropyl Alcohol, such as 99% along with a cotton swab, and clean all underneath the key as best you can. Once done, snap the key back on and test it out. I can't tell you the number of times this fixes these keys. Of course if the key is actually worn out, it will need replacing, but makes sense to try a 30 second high rate of success solution first.
Sincerely,
Brenden
Hi Chris. If it is just one key, the very first thing I would try is taking a small pry tool or small flat screwdriver and prying the key off. They just snap on/off, just don't be so forceful as to break something. I would suggest taking some high percentage IPA-Isopropyl Alcohol, such as 99% along with a cotton swab, and clean all underneath the key as best you can. Once done, snap the key back on and test it out. I can't tell you the number of times this fixes these keys. Of course if the key is actually worn out, it will need replacing, but makes sense to try a 30 second high rate of success solution first.
Sincerely,
Brenden
Had the same issue. Official article helped perfectly, the trick was to use compressed air, especially for stuck keys:
How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro - Apple Support
These keyboards on the MacBook 2015 and 2016 have very low clearance than standard keyboards like on a Air or earlier Pro models . If a spec of dust gets into the keys they will notice . A can of compressed air from your local computer parts store or even walmart has them helps. Spray the keyboard lightly around the key and see if that helps . I do this on my 2016 MacBook along with past computers for years . If dust under the key is not your culprit then defiantly take it to your Apple Store and have them take a look .
Try to get it fixed under warranty. If it's not under warranty you likely need to carefully remove the key and clean around it. You could try using a tooth pick to clean around the edgers first before removing the key. After removing the key try rubbing alcohol on a qtip. Be careful, this keyboard and the mechanisms under the keys are very fragile. It is poorly designed and prone to this problem.
"Genius" design, the $700 keyboard.
<Links Edited by Host>
I had the same issue (with L key). I used my compressor to blow air on the keyboard et voilĂ . Keyboard like new. Hope it will work for you if it is some dust under the keyboard and not a sticky liquid...
Blasts of compressed air continue to work for me, but it's really irritating that this continues to happen. It's often not the same keys, so I think it's more an inherent design flaw rather than a specific bad key or two.
Depending on your success in searching to find the replacement key-caps and tiny parts that reside
beneath them in the 12-inch MacBook (2015+) and if you can get the exact ones you'd need, that is
a likely avenue to explore to attempt to resolve this issue. And also use compressed or canned air
to clear dust. Some brands of keyboard/screen protectors that stay in place in use, help keep keys
from getting stuff underneath.
You'd likely need to do more than this if the keys need major cleaning underneath..
How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook or MacBook Pro - Apple Support
Due to several Mac browsers between several different Mac OS X, relevant bookmarks to locate the
key-cap replacement sites and how-to take them out/put them back, are harder to find...
So here's an search result that yields some; others may include repair companies who offer parts
and have a page online with images. Each key may have up to three parts you could replace.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=how+to+replace+keys+in+macbook+12-inch&t=ffsb&ia=videos
In any event...
Good luck & happy trails! 🙂
Quit making excuses for this very poorly designed product. Comparing the old style keyboard to the new, it is painfully, objectively obvious that the new keyboard is far less durable. I have never seen a stuck on the old style keyboards, ever. With these new keyboards not only does it seem like many many people have this problem, but like it's a known issue that nothing is being done about. Sure they'll fix it if you're under warranty, but a laptop keyboard is expected to last more than one year. And even if they fix it, you are left without a computer for a long period of time, a computer being a tool many of us need to do our daily jobs. It's totally execusable.
Stuck Keys MacBook Pro: 894,000 restuls
9-5 Mac: https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/23/12-inch-macbook-stuck-keys/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5fvbz4/new_macbook_pro_is_it_just_me_do_ the_keys_get/ https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6ldoly/macbook_pro_2017_15_key_stuck/ https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5ndz5j/2016_macbook_pro_key_stuck/ https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6ed53b/am_i_in_trouble/ https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6qi5nd/keyboard_keys_getting_stuck/https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/6ldoly/macbook_pro_2017_15_key_stuck/https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/5fvbz4/new_macbook_pro_is_it_just_me_do_ the_keys_get/
"I'm on a 12" MacBook and indeed, the keys do get stuck more easily. They also unstick themselves, but the butterfly thing certainly seems more susceptible to getting stuck."
"My new MacBook Pro 13" with touchbar has had the spacebar get stuck and need repair twice already"
"I have been having a similar issue with my b key, but it is weirdly intermittent."
"DUDE MY B KEY JUST GOT STUCK"
"Wow I'm glad I found another 'b' key thread!Wow I'm glad I found another 'b' key thread! Will make an appt right away and let you know how it goes. Will make an appt right away and let you know how it goes."
And this thread has 102 replies with 338,000 views.
It's apparently so common, you can even find groups of people complaining about the same specific key.
This seems just like the "stain damage" problem on the previous generation that they denied forever and kept replacing with the same faulty parts.
Wow. This is crazy. I've been having the same issue with multiple MacBook Pros and was looking into the MacBook as a possibility. Not now. It seems the butterfly keyboard in general is completely flawed.
Just chiming in to say that the problem exists on 13" 2017 MBPs too.
- Bought a new MBP. Three keys only worked 50% of the time and the left speaker randomly emitted static.
- Returned for a new replacement.
- The 's' key on the new replacement only works 50% of the time. When it doesn't work, I can mash it a few time to get it unstuck. That isn't a particularly good solution since I type for a living.
Just typing this message, I've had to go back and add 's' several times when the key didn't work.
Something is seriously wrong with Apple's butterfly keyboard design / manufacturing process.
Update: thanks to being on an Apple Care program I have got my top case exchanged, that is, they replaced the keyboard, trackpad and speakers in one piece (at least that's what I've been told). Of course, now everything works fine. Let's see how long that will last.
The repair service admitted that with the 2016 MacBook Pros there are rising issues with the keyboard, interestingly not as much with the 2015 onward MacBooks. Hence they got me the second generation keyboard.
Petty, that the formerly sturdy hardware is currently not as reliantly anymore.
wolf
Best bet would be the Genius Bar, as suggested, but you could go over the keys lightly with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment. I say lightly because you don't want to risk sucking the keys off.
Im sorry you have had problems , unfortunately some people have problems with every product out there no matter who makes it . The problems aren't happening to a large enough percentage of MacBook owners . There are posts from owners that have had problems yes but how many from people who haven't had any problems with the keyboard ? The canned air I and members of my family and friends have been using it since the 80s . My dad for instance has had a can next to his desktops ever since the 80s and even had a cover for them when not in use . I have had them since the 90s , always a can near by . Just part of regular maintenance with computers . Has there been problems in Macs , yes of course as with any product . The keyboard problem posts several have said are not one of them with a big enough percentage to warrant action other than what has been done individually .
It's clearly a very flimsy, cheap design and it's not durable. You can even feel it, type side by side with a MacBook Air or previous generation MacBook Pro.
Even when it isn't outright failing miserably, the old keyboard design just felt better to type on.
This happended to me right after i wiped down my keyboard, many keys got stuck, i could put in the password to unlock it. I restarted is a few times and they keys stuck stopped typing. I was able to pry a few keys ack up and i left it alone for a while, and it was fixed
Stuck key on 12 inch Macbook keyboard
