Repeated Keyboard Issues on MacBook Pro 2017

You are still under warranty, so Apple should fix this for you for free. You won't get a replacement Mac, but you should be able to get the keyboard fixed or replaced.

It's possible there was a run of faulty keyboards, so you may just have to persist until you get a good one.

Good luck.

When I had my iPhone in for service, I was offered a loaner — which I, of course, accepted. I'd expect Apple could do the same for a laptop, if you asked.

The laptop can't tell where on the key you're pressing, so if it works on one corner and not on the other, that's a bad switch in the keyboard for sure — very much a hardware problem. Warranties are good for that sort of thing. 🙂

I have this problem on a 2017 MBP as well. Various keys (it's currently the 'k' key) require that I hit them at a certain place on the key face; if I hit a corner, the key doesn't work.

The keyboard is fantastic otherwise, it's the best I ever have used.

My 'solution' has been to blow out the keyboard using high pressure air. Sometimes just blowing a sharp stream of air (from my mouth) at the key that isn't working clears up the problem. I think tiny pieces of dust or debris get stuck beneath the key and you need to dislodge them. I'm fortunate to have a compressor in my studio, so that sometimes works as well. I think one of those cans of compressed air photographers use to clean lenses might work as well.

I agree, I purchased a 2017 Macbook Pro 13 and had same issues with the keyboard that everyone else is having. My huge concern is out of warranty repair of $700 for Keyboard. I ended up selling my Macbook Pro 13 on eBay and purchased a Dell Latitude on ebay for $600 that came with a 5 year warranty from dell. intel i5, 8gb ddr4 ram and 256gb SSD. Oh yeah and it comes with 3 usb & 1 usb C, hdmi, micro sd and 4g LTE. I can upgrade memory, ssd & battery in less than 5 minutes. I really do enjoy Apple Products however, with Apple pushing the price boundaries this year on the MacBook & iPhone and Battery Gate I'm slowly moving away from their products for now..... Always open to coming back to them if they start to change.

Don't get my started on Social Responsibility.

Yes, I have this prooblem (see, there it is) with certain keys that repeat and some that are hard to press. It's driving me crazy right now.

I try blowing out the keys with compressed air, but it doesn't seem to do much good.

When I was experiencing issues with my 2016 MacBook Pro, a loaner was not offered. It was hugely inconvenient. I have been extremely frustrated with my new computer, which performs worse than my 2014 MacBook Pro on almost all levels except the fact that the 2016 MacBook Pro is lighter. I get about 2 hrs of battery life unless I turn off all programs, in which case I get 4; my 2 year old computer would get 4 with normal use routinely. One of my touch bar keys doesn't work. Now one of my keys isn't working on my computer.

The only problem is that there isn't another alternative except buying an older MacBook Pro model.

2017 Macbook Pro 15 4600$ CAD ( 3200 $ USD + tax) 2 hr after spacebar key not working . WOW.... End of apple MacBook here, still love my 2015 one

Most anticipated return ever, so sad that quality is an issue today with such an expensive one

rjoesq wrote:

I am now on my second MacBook Pro 13" with keyboard issues - the Apple Store replaced the first one when the the "R" and "T" keys stopped working after one month (they only worked if you hit them in one corner, but not the middle or the other three corners. Now, after 3 weeks with the replacement, the "G" and the space bar all of a sudden work only if you hit them in the middle of the key, not on the edge, which is useless when typing.

Has anyone else experienced this and received a satisfactory explanation? Any ideas on how to fix it?

I assume it is a hardware issue, but I guess it could be software. Super frustrating.

Wow! What bad luck. I would call Apple Care and go all the way to the top tier and get a loaner and demand a replacement. That's too much down time.

I've had the same experience. Have now had my laptop in to the Apple Store twice, about to take it in for the third time. Each time the issue has been the same: butterfly clip beneath the key broke, and a little shard of plastic was edged under one corner of the key.

Each time, the Genius Bar has been able to fix it within a couple of minutes in store.

Your Apple warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year from receipt. If items are less than satisfactory, use your warranty.

Apple has its own internal mechanism to track defects that are submitted back through their repair channels, and correct them. Do not wait for them to send you a fix, or there won't be enough problem items piling up to warrant an Engineering change.

For the short term, act on your OWN behalf, and do not try to save the Apple or the world -- present your computer at an appointment at an Apple store or authorized Apple service provider and get it fixed. If it is not fixed properly the first time, present it again.

Face the exact same issue with my B key after 2 WEEKS . also at times i feel the Keyboard is lagging on a whole. like i am typing fast and its catching up.

I have to blow with my mouth the B key and its ok again. But im a dev and its really annoying when u are in those long coding sessions 😟

My issue is i travel to my home country too and back there Apple is not officially there. So it a bummer for me. Wish i had read these issues before buying in late 2017. I skipped using a mac in 2016 and most of 2017. So after almost 2 years of using Windows based machine (and cursing it daily in front of my colleagues) i am back and THIS .. it really breaks me inside as an Apple user/fan...

Also the Touchbar is stupid as **** if u are writing code or maintaining systems... I am afraid to USE VI as i know ill press something else instead of stupid ESC key...

I had a similar keyboard issue where my "g" won't work. It may be a weird yet logical solution, but I just blew some air from my mouth on the corner of the key "g" and it has started working. LOL. Previously, I could type "g" only if I press on the top/bottom right corner. Left top/bottom wouldn't work. I guess there was something under that side, some dust perhaps. Thanks for the high pressure air solution. It has fixed the problem temporarily. I will update if I experience the problem again.

Your MacBook comes with a one-year warranty. If you have an Apple-owned store available, your appointment for an evaluation at the Gneius bar is free, in warranty or out.

There is also a mail-in service available in most countries where Apple has a direct sales presence.

Apple Authorized Service Providers are free to make their own policies concerning evaluation charges.

I have had this issue also with the keyboard. Of course it could include other keys, but I have only noticed that the B key repeats. I ever turned off repeating keys. Does not seem to really do much. Though with the latest version of the OS there seems to bbe an issue with the repeating keys not working anyway. I already brought the laptop to the genius bbar and they took the machine in the back and blew out the keys. It worked initially bbut quickly came back. I am purposely not fixing the text as I write. As you can see it is not consistent.

I too and a software developer so having a messed up keyboard is very annoying. This is my second bad experience with an expensive apple product. I also owned one of the 17" models in the past (when they made them) and in that case the design team had a major flaw that became clear from lots on internet posts on it. In that case the video chip was not heat sinked properly and would de-solder itself from the mother board. I repaired it myself as described on the web. but it soon failed again.

Back to this issue. I am seeing this is also mostly a design flaw. It has me quite turned off in buying the MOST expensive laptop on the market and having an issue like this. I will be calling the genius bar again and see what they think. Obviously not much they can do except maybe replace the keyboard. I am SO glad I bought the warranty on the laptop now.

Loosing my laptop potentially for a few weeks is quite annoying. But I do my backups so if they decide to replace it I am good.

Wanted to chime in to let you know my internet research shows this is mostly a design flaw and I honestly doubt the genius bbar can do much to fix it short of replacing the keyboard of machine repeatedly until I get one that has an "ok" keyboard. VERY VERY SAD!!!