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Level 1

55 points

MacBook Pro (15" with Touch Bar) Keyboard Clicking/Sticking When Machine is Warm

When my computer heats up, certain keys (particularly the N, M, <, >) keys begin to click and catch on something as I type. The keystrokes still register but there is a loud clicking sound and you can feel slight resistance as if they are catching or sticking to something. This doesn't happen when the machine is cool, but the warmer it runs the more pronounced the issue becomes.

My computer is still within the return period, so I plan on returning it and buying another one. Before I do this, is this issue specific to my computer or has anyone else experienced this? Thank you.

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2016), macOS Sierra (10.12.1)

Posted on Nov 25, 2016 2:14 PM

94 replies

MrStorm

Level 1

4 points

Dec 27, 2016 6:02 AM in response to mbz365

I received it the first day of December, ordered the 29th of October.

Dec 27, 2016 7:47 AM in response to mbz365

I'll be receiving my BTO replacement in two days and will report back here.

I'm wondering if there's some commonality between all of our computers. I received mine on December 16th, and ordered on November 22nd. Mine was a BTO baseline 15" with the 512GB SSD and Touch Bar. I know people on Macrumors have had the issue on pretty much every model (13", non Touch Bar, etc.), but the issue doesn't seem to be incredibly widespread, so perhaps BTO or a window of time in production could be to blame? http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2016-macbook-pro-issue-high-pitched-keyboard -clicking-sound.2022399/

MrStorm

Level 1

4 points

Dec 27, 2016 7:55 AM in response to Monstermac77

Mine is a BTO 15" as well, i7 2.9 GHz, AMD 460, 1 TB SSD, US layout. Thanks for reporting 🙂

mbz365 Author

Level 1

55 points

Dec 28, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Monstermac77

Mine is a non-BTO that I received on December 9th. It is the 15" with the 512GB SSD, i7 2.7 GHz, and AMD 455.

Dec 28, 2016 10:42 PM in response to Monstermac77

I received a replacement machine today (which is actually going to a family member). My family member used the keyboard lightly to setup the machine, and then let me run my tests. I first went around pressing every key ~5 times to see if any had the high pitched click issue. None did. Then, I started heating up the machine using the terminal command I posted earlier. After very warm (10 minutes later), I repeated the click of each key (~10 times each) to see if the high pitched click was activated on any key. None were activated. Immediately afterward (computer still warm), I went through and very firmly pressed each key, holding my finger down for ~1 second. This actually activated the high pitched click on the '9' key. After being activated, even a normal key press caused the high-pitched click noise (most reliably when pressed in the center of the key, lesser so the corners of the key). As expected, once the machine cooled down, the clicking went away.

Quick note: one upside was Apple's impressive delivery time: it took only 6 days from the day I ordered the replacement (BTO) for it to arrive. Hats off.

andixy

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2016 4:26 AM in response to mbz365

Same Problem here.

https://youtu.be/IaSr63eASTU

MrStorm

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2016 4:53 AM in response to Monstermac77

Sorry to hear that the replacement has the same issue. I have sent a feedback to Apple through this page: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

Maybe you should send it too! 🙂

Dec 29, 2016 5:28 AM in response to mbz365

I have the same issue too on 13 inch base without touch bar. When the computer heats O, P and R keys make this sticky noise, extremely annoying 😟

mbz365 Author

Level 1

55 points

Dec 29, 2016 5:54 AM in response to MrStorm

I've submitted feedback via the link provided. Thanks for all your help on this issue.

FWIW, I got a good deal on a 13" W/ Function Keys model that I considered using for a semi-temporary solution. This exhibited the same behavior on several keys.

I'll echo your earlier suggestion of either having Apple repair the faulty keys or waiting for a refresh/acknowledgement that this issue has been fixed, which is the route I'll be taking. Playing the return game is not a viable solution in my experience.

Dec 29, 2016 12:42 PM in response to mbz365

Thank you for the feedback link. I just submitted the issue via the link as well.

Archal1012, andixy, and any others who have not yet done so already: please also make a post on this Macrumors thread as well so we can increase the visibility of this issue: http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2016-macbook-pro-issue-high-pitched-keyboard -clicking-sound.2022399/.