MacBook Keyboard Not Working?

Are you having problems with your MacBook Pro keyboard not working? Is your MacBook Air keyboard not working correctly? Have the Mac keys ceased to function or are the keys repeating themselves? Do you have issues with the MacBook keyboard sticking? Want to figure out how to fix the MacBook keyboard? You’ve come to the right place to get your Mac keyboard issues fixed if you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above or if you’re experiencing other types of keyboard issues.

You’re not the only one facing such troubles. There have been many complaints of Apple Butterfly keyboard issues among MacBook users. The Mac models released between 2015 and 2019 are what we are talking about. Apple has made improvements in its latest MacBook models which were launched in 2019 end or later. If your Mac is an older model, you will need to fix the keyboard problems. What is the best thing to do at such a time? No worries, we’ll answer all your questions in this guide, so let’s get started.

Table of contents:

What causes MacBook keyboard problems?
What can you do if your MacBook Keyboard is not working?
When your MacBook Trackpad doesn’t work!
If both the trackpad and keyboard are not working on your MacBook
Even if it still doesn’t work, what should you do?

What causes MacBook keyboard problems?

Many MacBook Air and MacBook Pro users have encountered problems with their keyboards at least once. This especially pertains to the older butterfly keyboards.

Have you ever wondered how Apple laptops are so thin? This included the butterfly keyboard mechanism, where most keyboards have a scissor mechanism that provides tension on keys so that they will click back into place as soon as you are done typing. Apple designed a minimal switch as slim and elegant as a butterfly – hence its name. Unfortunately, the butterfly keyboard is extremely fragile. Getting even a tiny spec of dust under a key and inside the mechanism can cause problems such as a key repeating, sticking, or not registering hits at all.

Note: After numerous attempts to fix the butterfly keyboard issues – and even launching a dedicated Keyboard Service Program at one point – Apple finally decided to discontinue butterfly keyboards in 2019, switching to a scissor-based Magic Keyboard.

With a new keyboard, there might still be problems. The most obvious one is dust that accumulates on your keyboard over time, but there might also be more nuanced issues, such as faulty hardware. The following tips will help you figure out whatever the issue is and resolve it.

What can you do if your MacBook Keyboard not working?

1. Clean your Macbook keyboard:

The most common cause of malfunctioning MacBook keyboards is dust and other debris, so start by cleaning your keyboard to the best of your ability. Apple’s recommended procedure is as follows:

Put the MacBook on a table or floor at a 75-degree angle so the base is parallel to the ground. Blow compressed air left-to-right and top-to-bottom between the keys using a straw to direct the pressurized air.
Rotate the MacBook so that the right side is facing down, and then blow again using the same left-to-right and top-to-bottom pattern you used before.
Keeping your MacBook at a 75-degree angle, turn it again with the left side facing down and blow the same way you did before.

Following the instructions listed above will help you clean the keyboard on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

2. Update macOS:

Does your system have the latest updates? There’s every chance that outdated firmware, drivers, and even the operating system may affect the keyboard.
To check for updates, open the App Store and click the Updates icon. If updates are available, click on the Update or Update All button to install them.
The easiest way to make your Mac automatically check for updates is to go to the Apple menu > About This Mac > Software Update and check the “Keep my Mac up to date automatically” box.

3. If some keys don’t work (Caps lock, media eject key):

The Caps key may not work with a quick tap on your wireless, USB, or Mac’s built-in keyboard. You must hold down the key and wait until the green indicator lights up. Repeat this process to turn off the Caps lock.
The media eject key has been designed with a slight delay to prevent accidental activation. You can hold down the media eject key until you see the Media Eject icon on your screen if this key does not work on your mac keyboard.

4. Reset SMC:

System Management Controller (SMC) is a chip on your MacBook that controls various physical parts of your device, including the keyboard, trackpad, power button, cooling fan, and battery. MacBook users have found that resetting the system management controller fixes all hardware and power-related issues, including charging and overheating issues.

Note: The steps to reset SMC are dependent on what model of MacBook you have.

SMC reset for MacBooks with T2 Chips (MacBook Pro & MacBook Air released after 2018):
First, shut down your Mac.
To reset the SMC, press and hold the Power button for ten seconds, then release it.

Once the device has turned on, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

When your MacBook Trackpad doesn’t work!

1. Restart your MacBook:

There’s an old-school yet effective hack that works like magic in many cases – a simple turn OFF and ON. If the trackpad on your MacBook is not responding, you must reboot your computer.

Go to Apple Menu > Restart
After your Mac has rebooted, close the lid, put it to sleep, and wait for three to four minutes.
You should now be able to use the Trackpad.

2. Turn off Force Click (only for Macs with 3D Touch):

It is possible for the trackpad to not work on the MacBook if it does not register the click. As a first step, you can try disabling the Force Click to see if it fixes the problem.

Select System Preferences
-> Trackpad -> Point & Click
– disabling Force Click as well as haptic feedback

3. Reset SMC:

The SMC is responsible for running various physical parts of your device, including the keyboard and the trackpad, so you can reset the SMC to fix Mac trackpad not working problems as well.

After you reset the SMC, check if the trackpad problem on your MacBook has been fixed.

If both the trackpad and keyboard are not working on your MacBook

1. Delete .plist files:

A Property List (PLIST) file is used to store preferences for applications. If these files become outdated, they may become corrupted and cause problems. After deleting the PLIST files, your trackpad and keyboard will be reset to the factory settings, and you will be able to resolve the issue. You must first backup your Mac using Time Machine, before proceeding with the steps mentioned below.

Go to the Finder, press Command-Shift-G.
Select ~/Library/Preferences/ and click Go.
The following files must be located:

Magic Trackpad – com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist

Magic Mouse – com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist

Driver for wired AppleHIDMouse – com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist

com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist

сom.apple.preference.trackpad.plist

Delete it.
Restart your Mac

2. Reset PRAM & NVRAM:

PRAM and NVRAM are memory modules that your MacBook uses to store and speed up access to certain information. Resetting these memory modules can effectively fix problems related to the display, sound volume, and other aspects of your MacBook. It is imperative to note that the steps for resetting NVRAM and PRAM are the same.

Follow the instructions below to reset PRAM/NVRAM on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro:

Turn off your Mac
Press and hold Command + Option + P + R while rebooting your device. Release the button as soon as the gray screen appears.
After hearing the reboot sound or seeing the Apple logo, release the keys and let your device turn on by itself.

3. Restore a previous version of macOS on your MacBook:

When problems with the keyboard and trackpad appear, you can restore your Mac to a previous date using the Time Machine. The issue could be due to a recent system update, and a restore can solve it.

When problems with the keyboard and trackpad appear, you can restore your Mac to a previous date using Time Machine. The issue could be due to a recent system update, and a restore can solve it.

It is necessary to have Time Machine set up to backup data to a storage device.

Your Mac should be restarted.
Press Command-R when the system restarts to enter Recovery mode.
Choose Restore from Time Machine Backup. This will restore your MacBook computer to 24 hours previous.

Even if it still doesn’t work, what should you do?

Even after you’ve tried all these fixes to fix your MacBook keyboard, if it still doesn’t work or specific keys aren’t working, then you should seek professional help from a Macbook service center. We at Soldrit, a leading MacBook repair Bangalore, provide MacBook keyboard repair Bangalore to defects in butterfly switch mechanisms. Please contact us directly if you are not sure if you are covered.

Important: Before you take your MacBook to the service center, make sure to back up your data on your MacBook.