MacBook Pro 2016 Random Key Repeat Keyboard Issue

Hi,

I just want to add my experience, I had problems with the enter, the backspace, right shift and the v key.

The enter, backspace and v key have a repeated key press issue.

The enter and backspace got a bit better over time, I also removed the backspace key and blew in some dry air.

With the v is it especially annoying, since it seems there is a small delay sometimes (also I set the repeated key press off), so that I get something like : evevnt or evvent although I only hit v once! I noticed that it often depends on the exact position I hit the key, for the v it seems hitting the lower part of the v with my left hand (maybe some biased position I am hitting with my left hand).

The right shift key was not reacting properly and I needed to hit the key in the middle, since the edge positions were not working (it is a very wide key). This was solved by sticking a small piece of post-it, so that the edges deliver the same pressure to the little metallic cap in the middle.

Still, I find the whole situation unacceptable. I also read and follow other posts with a similar problem and it is really bad. I also have the same problem, that I use this laptop for work, so taking it in for a repair for more than a week is unacceptable.

Cheers

Duc

This appears to be a hardware problem, and specifically a keyboard design flaw - the butterfly mechanism warps if subjected to too much or force. Once it starts, the only solution is to have Apple replace the top case/keyboard and hope the new mechanism doesn't warp.

I went through two top case/keyboard replacements with a 2016 15", and on the third they replaced it with a 2017. The Kaby Lake processors appear to run enough cooler that they don't have the same effect on the butterfly mechanism.

So I'd suggest having Apple replace the top case/keyboard, and if the problem repeats request a replacement machine.

For me this is definitely a hardware issue and I seem to have a bit closer to a workaround as this is clearly not the solution.

I tried spraying the keyboard with compressed air as many recommends, but to no avail. I got my 15" MBP 2016 with Touch Bar in December 2016, so probably the very first version.

After a while the keyboard started acting up and random buttons stopped working as expected.

Within the last few months the B has been acting as you describe and sometimes it would even type 2 or 3 Bs at the same time.

I tried removing the B and cleaning it as I've been using my Mac outside quite a lot and the dust could've settled inside the keyboard. This didn't help at all.

Then I tried writing without the button on, so I would use the rubber thing under the button directly and I noticed the issue wasn't as regular as before with the button (key) on.

I then tried to add a little piece of paper below the key and heureka ⚠ I almost always get one B, not two, not three, not zero, but 1 B almost every time I type!

As I stated in the beginning: this is merely a workaround as it shouldn't be needed to fix a hardware issue with a piece of paper, but it seems to work.

I'm travelling right now and working at the same time, so I can't afford to have my Mac in for repairs right now and even if I could I probably wouldn't be able to as I move all the time and won't come back to the same place. I'll probably live with this workaround for now, but I need to bring it in for repairs next year, so Apple can replace or fix this issue.

Disclaimer: if you pull off the keys be careful, they might break in the sides. You can use the small pin you use when dismounting your simcard from your phone - it fits almost perfectly. Remove the keys from the top and not from the bottom as the butterfly mechanism are tied in the bottom of the keys.

Hope this helps someone :-)

I has this repeating problem with the t, h, and b keys, and the space bar, and my left command key worked about half the time. It didn't start till the computer was about 9 months old. It seems to be a hardware problem. They replaced the top case with battery. It's all fixed now, and we'll see how long it lasts. For those who can't live without their computers (of which I am one), turnaround time was 48 hours.

Opps, turns out the problem is still here.

Turns out its a hardware problem, for me it is the "f" key that is repeating. I found out that the f key repeats occurs when I move my finger around with the key pressed. The issue was not present with other keys. Looks like its registering more than it should.

My MBP 2016 has had various keys not work at different times. For a wile the "6" key stopped working then worked sporadically t-en started working again. Now it is the key between "G" and "J" (you only see it in the note because of autocomplete) t-at stopped almost entirely. Works maybe once in a dozen strokes.

My 'b' key was not responding and the topcase/keyboard was replaced under warranty through depot repair. A month after the replacement the 'b' key started to act up again.. this time the 'b' key randomly repeats. I'll be sending it in again for topcase/keyboard replacement. This really worries me since warranty will be running out soon and if the fix only last a month we will be paying $700 per month just to keep this $3000 laptop running properly..

I've come looking for a solution because I have this exact problem with my h key. It seems to be an issue with where I press on the key, and then once its decided it's not working, it just stops for a random period of time, ranging from a few seconds to several minutes. It've VERY annoying. I'm a teacher and whilst I was writing reports I had to proof everything a second time, for missing h's. I'll be visiting the genius bar in the Apple Store it was purchased from in the ope they replace the keyboard and sort tis issue.

Ahhhhh tere we go, it's stopped working again. GAH!

I went to the Apple Store, they have recognized the issue. in these days they'll try to replace the broken keys (b and n for me), if that won't work they'll replace the whole top case. for free, obviously. so: ok the tiny paper piece, ok the software workaround... but go to Apple ASAP for a (hopefully) permanent fix.

my top case was replaced for the same issue (b) key twice already and now it happened for the third time.. Apple store is telling me they'll replace the top case again.. what's the point in getting it repaired with the same faulty part? Such a hassle for sending it to the depot for repair every other month.

i had to copy and paste all the "b" above..

It's been just three months since my repair and I have a genius bar appointment today for the h key repeating. I'm out of warranty now, so we'll see what they say, but I don't intend to pay $800 every three months to fix a $3000 machine. They need to find a permanent fix for this or their reputation is going to be trash.

I am not sure if all the people that have posted about this kind of issue since my last post in April 2017 have the same problem I did or not but just in case they have I wanted to drop a quick note to say the problem I had never returned after I 'exercised' the keyboard back in April 2017...

Interesting! Was the comma the original problematic key? I have had problems with the L, N, and B keys thus far. After going through the steps I posed in one of my previous replies, the L and N have resolved, but the B persists.

Yeah was the comma for me ... been working great since then with no other iffy keys - I have done a lot of coding on that machine since then and would have noticed if any of the others were problematic.

My letter F began working intermittently, sometimes producing two instances of the letter and other times not a single instance when depressed. It is only the letter F.

Is this a mechanical or software issue. The computer is well taken care of all of the time and I am the sole user. MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016),