MacBook keyboard repair for sticky, repeating and dead keys.
A key that sticks, a letter that types twice, or a row that stopped after a spill. We repair single keys where possible and replace the keyboard when it’s the better fix.
- 2–5 days typical
- No fix, no fee
- 90-day warranty
- Free insured mail-in shipping
Signs you need this repair
Sound familiar? The diagnosis is always free.
- Keys that stick or feel crunchy
- Letters that repeat or double when pressed once
- Keys that don’t respond at all
- A keycap that has come off or won’t click back on
- Uneven or dead keyboard backlight
- Keys stopped working after a spill
Butterfly or scissor: which keyboard do you have?
Apple used two very different keyboard designs in recent years, and the repair options depend on which one your Mac has.
- Butterfly keyboard: the 12-inch MacBook (2015–2017), the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2019, and the MacBook Air from 2018 to 2019.
- Scissor keyboard (Magic Keyboard): the 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2019, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air from 2020, and every Apple silicon MacBook. Older MacBooks from 2015 and earlier also used scissor-style keys.
Butterfly keys have very short travel, so a single crumb or speck of dust under a key can stop it registering or make it repeat. That’s the classic failure on those models. Apple ran a keyboard service program for them, but it has ended for all affected models, so repairs are now paid.
Try this before you book
- Use compressed air the way Apple recommends: hold the Mac at about a 75-degree angle, spray across the keyboard in a side-to-side pattern, then repeat with the Mac turned on its right side and its left side.
- Check Keyboard and Accessibility settings. A very fast key repeat or a setting like Slow Keys can make a keyboard feel faulty.
- Try a different app, then an external keyboard, to rule out software.
- Don’t pry off butterfly keycaps. Their clips are fragile and break easily.
How we repair MacBook keyboards
At the free diagnosis we test every key and the backlight, look under the problem keys, and check for liquid. Then we recommend the smallest repair that will last.
- Cleaning or a single key: debris can often be cleared, and a damaged keycap or key mechanism can be replaced on its own.
- Full keyboard replacement: on most MacBooks from 2016 onward, the keyboard is riveted into the top case rather than screwed in. The manufacturer’s usual fix is a whole new top case. We either replace the top case assembly or carefully remove the old keyboard from your top case and secure a new one in place, depending on the model and its condition.
On models with Touch ID, your original Touch ID button stays with the Mac. It’s paired to the logic board, so a replacement button wouldn’t work for fingerprints.
When it isn’t just the keyboard
Sometimes keys fail for a reason that has nothing to do with the keys themselves. A whole block of keys going dead at once can point to the keyboard’s ribbon cable or its connector on the logic board. Keys that work in some apps and not others suggest a software setting or a misbehaving app. A keyboard that works but has a dead backlight can be the backlight film, its cable, or a backlight part on the board.
That’s why we test before quoting. If the fault is a cable, a connector or a board component, the fix can be smaller and cheaper than a full keyboard. If the Mac won’t start at all, see MacBook logic board repair.
Sticky or dead keys after a drink is a sign the liquid got into the keyboard, and it may have gone further. Spills often reach the logic board under the keyboard. If your Mac has had a spill, treat it as a liquid damage repair first, because replacing the keyboard won’t stop corrosion on the board.
What affects the price of a MacBook keyboard repair
Keyboard repairs start from $149. The final price depends on butterfly or scissor design, whether one key or the whole keyboard needs replacing, whether the top case is needed, the condition of the backlight, and any liquid damage beyond the keyboard. We confirm the price before any work starts.
Before you send it
Back up with Time Machine or check that iCloud Drive is synced. Note which keys fail and how, such as repeating or dead. An external keyboard is a good stopgap if you need to keep working. We may ask for a login only to test the keyboard; a separate test user account is fine.
Mail it in from anywhere in the US
No repair store near you? Book online and we'll email a free, prepaid, insured shipping label. We diagnose it within 24h of arrival, repair it once you approve the price, and ship it back insured. How mail-in works.
Questions
Can you replace just one key?
Often, yes. If only the keycap or the small mechanism under it is damaged, we can replace that piece. If the key switch itself has failed, the keyboard usually needs replacing.
Will a replacement butterfly keyboard fail again?
It’s the same basic design, so it can still be sensitive to debris. Keep food away from it, clean it with compressed air now and then, and avoid thick keyboard covers, which can press on the screen when the lid closes.
Can I keep using my MacBook with a sticky key?
Yes, it won’t harm the rest of the Mac. But on butterfly keyboards, pressing harder on a stuck key can break its mechanism, and debris can spread to nearby keys. Try the compressed air method first, and book a repair if it doesn’t help.
How long does a keyboard repair take?
Single keys and cleaning are quick. A full keyboard or top case replacement fits the usual 2 to 5 day turnaround, unless the part for your model has to be ordered, which we’ll tell you upfront.
Is the keyboard backlight included?
Yes. The backlight is part of the keyboard on most models, and we test it as part of the repair.
More MacBook repairs
Something else not quite right?
Screen replacement
Cracked, lines, dark or flickering display
Battery
Service battery warning, short battery life
Liquid damage
Diagnosed free. You see the price before any work.
Won't turn on / logic board
Diagnosed free. You see the price before any work.
Won't charge (USB-C / MagSafe)
Port or charging circuit faults
Trackpad
Won't click, unresponsive or swollen battery pushing it up
Repair guides
Try this first.
Does your MacBook need a new battery?
How to check your MacBook's battery, when to replace it, and what affects the cost.
Spilled something on your MacBook? Do this now.
The first few minutes matter most. Here's exactly what to do, and what to avoid.
MacBook won't turn on? Try these fixes first.
No lights, no fans, nothing? Rule out power and the display, then learn when it's the logic board.
Broken today? Start your repair in two minutes.
Three quick questions: your model, what's wrong, and how you'll get it to us. See your price, then book a nearby store or mail it in.