Macbook Pro 2016 arrow keys not always clicking

Hey all:

The right arrow directional key on my 13" MBP (2016 - w/ touch bar) became unresponsive 3 months after purchasing. If pressed extremely hard, it registers, but the feel can best be described as: mushy.

I brought to store, Genius verified the issue and sent out for repair. Upon pick up, two days later, it seemed to be fixed when I tested it in the store. Work order says they "reseated or replaced one or more keycaps on your Mac's keyboard."

Within 24 hours, the problem re-occurred. So the fix didn't work. Bringing back to store tomorrow.

I would like for the MBP to be swapped out. That's actually what they originally said would be done - that the newness of the MBP means they'll just swap it out. But they changed their mind, I guess.

Hopefully get a new unit altogether. Looks like the current fix of "reseating" doesn't seem to fix.

JJ

I just took my laptop in. They will need to replace the entire keyboard. Dropped it off on Monday, they said I would get it back by Friday. "$475.00 Flat Rate 2 repair charge" plus $100 labor. Still under warranty (only 2 months old) so I didn't have to pay anything. Getting applecare sounds like a good idea.

I just took my laptop in. They will need to replace the entire keyboard. Dropped it off on Monday, they said I would get it back by Friday. "$475.00 Flat Rate 2 repair charge" plus $100 labor. Still under warranty (only 2 months old) so I didn't have to pay anything. Laptop was ready on Weds. Picked up and tested in store and the arrow keys are now normal. Seems it will eventually fail in the future. Getting applecare sounds like a good idea.

Same issue here, arrow up key worked about 50% of the time. The issue started spreading to other keys so after about two weeks of owning it so I returned it to the store. They did a keyboard diagnostic and it showed that seven keys were not working properly. They replaced the entire computer with a new one. The tech said this is a "known issue", but they have not received official guidance form corporate on how to handle it. 24 hours and so far so good with the new model. I get that it is a complex machine, but keyboard issues on a flagship model? I thought I was buying top of the line quality.

I had this problem crop up for the second time just now. This time I attacked it with a vacuum and some shaking and the key came back to life. Then I noticed, as a result of the shaking, that the J key had gone in the same way. So more vacuuming and shaking later I've now got the J back to life.

So there's very clearly an issue with dirt getting stuck behind the keys. I should probably point out that this laptop replaced a 2013 MacBook Pro, which was used in exactly the same conditions without issue. I'm no engineer but it's obvious that the keyboards on the 2016 MacBook Pros are highly susceptible to dirt; almost certainly down to the minimal travel on the keys. I'm pretty sure whatever's stuck behind my J key is still under there somewhere. Therefore, I'm sure I'll see this issue again; most likely after the laptop's been subjected to getting carried around in a bag and the dirt is again dislodged.

This is pretty disappointing. It's inevitable that over the multiple years of life these, expensive machines, are going to be to used that particles are going to build up behind the keys and judging from my own experience this is going to be something that will affect an ever growing number of users. I expect we'll be hearing about this in the future.

This is very disappointing. This is the second issue I am experiencing with this laptop (2016 MBP). The first one is the speaker popping noise/issue that is driving me nuts and is still unresolved! I upgraded from my trusty mid 2009 MBP but now I am getting a serious case of both buyers remorse and sellers remorse!!!

I have just discovered that my right arrow key no longer clicks or moves up an down, it was working fine until 10 minutes ago. I too need this laptop so I can't afford to just send it away for weeks at a time.

I switched to Mac when Vista appeared on the scene but have had issues with the last 2 Apple devices I have purchased. I'm honestly not one for complaining but this is just plain crap from a company like Apple.

From live chat this morning...

"If you bring it in we would examine the Mac to ensure the keys are working as normal. If they are working as normal then there would be nothing to be done. Maybe a change in your typing pattern would help. I personally know the feeling when I switched laptops before and they layout was different."

Same problem for me. Space bar stopped working. I took it to the Apple store. It was about 3 weeks old, but the Apple Genius arranged for me to get a new one. He said Apple was aware of the problem and engineering was "capturing" these failures. Thanks!

Now, however, about 5-6 weeks later, the "6" key is starting to get flaky. Still works, but it's weak. I'm not sure what I'll do. I cannot be without a computer for a long period of repair, it's my sole computer.

I certainly hope Apple is planning a permanent fix for this problem.

Just wanting to add fuel to the fire. Using a brand new 2017 Macbook Pro (Just got it 5 days ago). Up arrow key only responds if pressed rather firmly.

Live chat with Apple resulted in an appointment being made for this weekend for inspection. After seeing how many people got a worse keyboard after taking it in, getting doubts whether to take it in at all or just deal with it.

Not the Apple quality I have grown accustomed to since the 90's.

Well, I have kept postponing the repair of mine, but finally got it done. Sent it in via Fedex, came back 3 days later - fixed. I also had up-arrow problems, with occasionally other keys losing their click and function. The up-arrow though was always bad. The report said they had replaced the "top case" and battery. Not sure why they had replaced the battery but glad they did, for some reason my original battery was already more than one year old (date of manufacture) when I got my macBook in January. Good luck!

I have same problem or maybe better call it same working arrow keys (up and down). These are only two keys which work differently. They work on thier right and left but I have to click them in a diffrent way compare to other keys. I think that this is result of new keyboard mechanism. Also if you work with your Mac and don't focus on it problem shouldn't exist. Of course if there is other issue like only one side working it is a problem.

Yep, same issue here. Down-arrow is working fine, Up-arrow is faulty. It only works when I pressssss it down. It 's a real pain when working in spreadsheets 😟

It 's my daily working laptop, so I can't miss him for weeks...

I certainly;y do hope that Apple comes quickly with a solution for this.

I got a MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) a month ago and the down arrow key only works if you hit it dead center. When I tap it on the bottom or side edges, it clicks but doesn't register the keypress. I just tried chatting with an Apple service tech, but they had no information (shocker) and wanted to take me through their troubleshooting script, starting with resetting the NVRAM (???). I don't have time to mess around with this, it was a very expensive computer and I expect it to work. Based on the responses here, I don't have any confidence that they've solved the problem. Does anyone know if they're actively working on it? Will there be a recall?

I have this same issue with a new 2017 MacBook. I purchased it the day of the announcement at WWDC, but don't know exactly when the keyboard itself was manufactured. AFAIK, this machine has the 'revised' keyboard that debuted with the late 2016 MacBook Pro's.

My down arrow will not register a press unless I press it very hard, or unless I press it at the very top of the button. All the 1/2 height keys (e.g. the F1, F2..., Up, Down) are less sensitive than the full height keys. It is possible to press them and feel the tactile press without registering a press, though the down arrow is much worse than the others. None of my full height keys show any problems.

I'm going to have Apple perform a repair, but I would like to wait until the issue seems to be fixed for new machines coming off the assembly lines.

I have this issue on my 13" MBP touchbar bought in May. However much cleaning I attempt to do it will not go away.

A temporary workaround I have devised in order to not go insane while coding:

Use "Karabiner-Elements" to remap the right-shift and right-option keys to up/down.

I wonder if this will ever fully addressed for MBPs of this vintage...