How To Fix Sticky Keyboard Keys On A Macbook Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          10 - 30 minutes

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How To Fix Sticky Keyboard Keys on a MacBook
10 steps

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Introduction

If cleaning your keyboard doesn’t fix the issue, iFixit does sell MacBook Pro replacement keyboards and parts and also MacBook Air replacement keyboards and parts.

What you need

Step 1

              How To Fix Sticky Keyboard Keys on a MacBook

Before getting started make sure to completely turn off your computer.
Click on the apple in the upper left-hand corner of your computer screen. A drop down menu will appear.
Click “shut down”.

Before getting started make sure to completely turn off your computer.

Click on the apple in the upper left-hand corner of your computer screen. A drop down menu will appear.

Click “shut down”.

1024

Step 2

Dip a q-tip in isopropanol, and wipe around each sticky key.
Make sure the q-tip is damp, not dripping.
You may need multiple q-tips, as they get pretty dirty.

Dip a q-tip in isopropanol, and wipe around each sticky key.

Make sure the q-tip is damp, not dripping.

You may need multiple q-tips, as they get pretty dirty.

Step 3

Use a toothpick to remove crumbs or debris from under the sticky keys.

Use a toothpick to remove crumbs or debris from under the sticky keys.

Step 4

Now test out your keys. If they are still sticky continue on to Step 5.

Now test out your keys. If they are still sticky continue on to Step 5.

Step 5

Use a spudger or plastic opening tool to pry up sticky keys.
Insert the spudger under the side of a key.
Lift up.
Use your fingers to twist the key off.
To avoid damaging your laptop, use a spudger or plastic opening tool rather than the butter knife shown in the image.

Use a spudger or plastic opening tool to pry up sticky keys.

Insert the spudger under the side of a key.

Lift up.

Use your fingers to twist the key off.

To avoid damaging your laptop, use a spudger or plastic opening tool rather than the butter knife shown in the image.

Step 6

When you are removing a key if one or both of these white plastic pieces come off the key board, don’t worry. They are called key carriers and are very easy to put back on.
If one part of the carrier is still in the keyboard, remove it so you have both in you hands.
Look at the second picture and align the two piece then push them together. There should be a soft clicking sound.
In the same alignment as the second picture, place the carrier in the spot on the keyboard where it came off and press firmly into place.

When you are removing a key if one or both of these white plastic pieces come off the key board, don’t worry. They are called key carriers and are very easy to put back on.

If one part of the carrier is still in the keyboard, remove it so you have both in you hands.

Look at the second picture and align the two piece then push them together. There should be a soft clicking sound.

In the same alignment as the second picture, place the carrier in the spot on the keyboard where it came off and press firmly into place.

Step 7

Put soap and warm water in a cup.
As you remove the keys, put them in the soapy water.
Let the keys soak for 10 minutes.

Put soap and warm water in a cup.

As you remove the keys, put them in the soapy water.

Let the keys soak for 10 minutes.

Step 8

Wipe down your keyboard with q-tips damp with rubbing alcohol.

Wipe down your keyboard with q-tips damp with rubbing alcohol.

Step 9

Optional: If your keys are particularly sticky use rubbing alcohol and a q-tip to wipe the back of the keys.
Dry the keys completely with a paper towel.

Optional: If your keys are particularly sticky use rubbing alcohol and a q-tip to wipe the back of the keys.

Dry the keys completely with a paper towel.

Step 10

Pop the keys back on:
First align the key and press firmly into place.
Then, move your finger side to side until you hear a double clicking sound.

Pop the keys back on:

First align the key and press firmly into place.

Then, move your finger side to side until you hear a double clicking sound.

Hopefully now you’ve fixed the sticky keys problem on your MacBook. It’s a good idea to do light cleaning and maintenance on your keyboard from time to time. iFixit’s Electronics Cleaning Bundle and Precision Cleaning Kit are great for avoiding sticky keys and generally keeping the insides and outsides of your electronics spick and span.

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                    Lilly Paul

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                                            13 Guides authored

Victoria Patterson - Aug 4, 2016

YOU ROCK THANK YOU

(I’m going to type “S” a few times to demonstrate how well this helped me!

SSSSSsssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssSSS

Aeron Ebbs - Aug 30, 2016

Ugh it frustrates me that the author doesn’t comprehensibly guide you through the complexities of taking keys off and on your keyboard. They are delicate and fit together elegantly. You should really elaborate before going and telling people to yank their keys off.

kaymay - Oct 19, 2016

I disagree. He specified what to use, how to put them back on, etc. It’s clear and precise!

Anyway I’m going to try this tonight so we’ll see how it goes!

David Lyonz - Nov 16, 2017

Actually it’s really not clear. If the key carriers come off and you don’t see how they were originally in the keyboard then there’s a huge amount of possible combinations as to which way around they could go. The author actually says “refer to the second picture to see how they go together” and then FORGOT TO UPLOAD THAT PICTURE ! You may have been lucky, but as many times as I’ve done this, it’s still a nightmare to figure out exactly which way around and which way up these little pieces go together. You may be lucky and get it right, or you may get it wrong but it’s still “good enough” or you may get it wrong and the key will never quite work the same again and you’ll end up taking it to a shop to replace the whole %#*@ keyboard for some ridiculous price because the author didn’t proof-read this article better and actually include the pictures that he said to refer to !

Kate - Sep 1, 2016

Great help - thx!

Introduction#

What you need#

Team#

Introduction

What you need

Team