Does your MacBook’s keyboard have a sticky key or two? It could be due to dirt and dust buildup or small crumbs from food you consumed while working, which can often be removed in a few steps.
Fixing an unresponsive key isn’t complicated to do on your own. Try troubleshooting with this technique first at home before contacting a professional.
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Spray compressed air
The first step in any cleaning process is to ensure your MacBook is turned off and unplugged.
Spraying compressed air is the easiest way to loosen and clean any dirt buildup around and under a key. Make sure the thin straw is securely attached to the can’s nozzle to concentrate the air in one spot.
Open the MacBook with the keyboard facing you at a 90-degree angle, and tilt it backward slightly. Spray compressed air left and right around the stuck key. While you’re at it, you may want to do a quick clean and spray the entire keyboard with compressed air, from left to right.
Now, rotate the MacBook onto its right side and repeat the spraying process. Then, repeat the process on its left side. Finally, turn the keyboard upside down so that it faces the floor, and spray compressed air again. To avoid dropping your laptop, ask someone for help.
If this doesn’t work or the area around the problem key is noticeably dirty, try wiping the affected area with isopropyl alcohol using a microfiber cleaning cloth or cotton swab. Be careful not to douse the isopropyl alcohol directly onto the keyboard, and avoid using rubbing alcohol since it can damage electronics.
Remove the keycap
If those solutions failed to resolve a sticky key, you may want to try removing the keycap to clean the gunk lodged underneath. Before doing that, double-check to see if your MacBook has a butterfly switch keyboard, which was used in MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro machines built from 2015 to 2019.
Unlike the easier scissor-switch keyboard, where the keys attach with two plastic pieces that interlock in an X shape, a key with a butterfly switch has two halves that attach to a middle hinge, much like the wings of a butterfly. This type of mechanism, designed for thinner keyboards, is more complex and notoriously difficult to remove. Consult Apple for repair options if you’re unsure.
If your keys have a scissor switch mechanism, you can use a thin plastic disassembly tool to carefully pry it off the keyboard. (We’ve even seen someone use a playing card.) Slide the tool into the side of the keycap and gently lift it off the keyboard. Whatever implement you use, practice caution to avoid damage.
Once the keycap is removed, clean the area with compressed air and/or isopropyl alcohol, as mentioned above. Also, clean beneath the keycap itself. Once it’s dried off, carefully replace the keycap.
Check your warranty
If this at-home method doesn’t work, you may have a dead key, which is a bigger problem. Or if your stuck key is a manufacturing defect, it may be covered under Apple’s warranty. For accidental damage, an AppleCare subscription may cover the repair cost.
In any case, you can check with Apple to see your options and the associated costs. If it’s covered, it could be a safer and easier method than fixing it yourself.
If you’ve got visible crumbs still hanging out on your keyboard, use a small vacuum tool to remove them. Once you’ve done that, give your keys a good wipe down with an electronic cleaning wipe. Ditto for the floor or whatever surface the gunk has fallen onto.
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