You’ve got an important email to send. Or maybe you’ve been struck with a genius idea, and you need to type it up. But then, as you sit down at your MacBook keyboard, you remember that you have a problem:
You have a key or two or more that doesn’t work.
MacBook keys not working can be a huge pain when you have things to do on your computer. But this problem doesn’t have to last forever. If you want to restore your laptop to its former, fully functioning self, here’s how to do it.
1. Clean Your Keyboard
In many cases, your MacBook keys not working may be down to a few bits of dust and dirt in the keyboard. Perhaps you’ve spilled a drink or a bit of food on there — that could be the culprit, too.
So, your first step is to clean your keyboard. Follow Apple’s advice to ensure that you’re not causing damage in your attempt to clean. For example, use a lint-free cloth, and don’t press too hard on your keys. That could lodge dirt and debris further into your keys.
Compressed air is also a great way to clean between the keys. Hold your MacBook at a 75-degree angle to the floor, then spray behind your keyboard. This will dislodge any lingering dirt, too.
Once you’ve cleaned your keys, test out your keyboard again. Did that solve the problem? If not, then keep going through the next few steps.
2. Plugin Your MacBook
Have your keys stopped working all of a sudden? This problem could be down to your computer’s battery being low — it may not have enough juice to power the keyboard anymore.
So, plug your laptop into a power source and let it charge up a bit. Then, start typing. If your keys start to work again, then you’ve solved your problem.
3. Double-Check the Bluetooth Connection
You might use a Bluetooth keyboard with your MacBook, and perhaps that add-on isn’t working. So, you’ll have to double-check that the Bluetooth connection is still alive.
All you have to do is click the Apple symbol in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, then click System Preferences. From there, click Bluetooth to ensure that your keyboard is on and connected via this wireless feature.
It only takes a few steps to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to your computer. So, if your Bluetooth keyboard has unpaired, you can quickly fix it and get back to typing.
It may be that your Bluetooth keyboard needs new batteries, too. That’s another easy fix — one that will get your MacBook up and running in no time.
4. Download Any Updates
If you keep clicking to ignore your MacBook’s operating system updates, you may not have a broken MacBook — you just have an outdated one. These vital updates may fix a bug with your keyboard, thus bringing it back to life. So, if you ignore it, you’re causing this must-have apparatus to stop working.
Go back to the System Preferences control center, filed under the Apple logo at the upper left-hand side of your screen. There, you can click into the Software Update section to see if you are, indeed, missing out on a patch or update that could fix your keyboard’s problems.
Download the new software and install it. Did that work? If not, keep going on to the next step.
5. Delete Any Recent Downloads
Perhaps you’ve downloaded an app or program recently. Did that download coincide with your MacBook keys not working? If so, you may want to delete those apps and see if your keyboard comes back to life.
We can’t help you troubleshoot why this is happening — unless, of course, you come and see us in person. However, for a quick keyboard fix, delete recent app additions and restart your computer. If your keyboard starts to work again, then you at least know why the issue arose.
6. Turn Off the Slow Keys Setting
Maybe you have accidentally turned on a setting that’s causing your MacBook keys to stop working. One such setting is Slow Keys. As the name implies, it makes your keyboard-less reactive — you have to hold down the buttons for longer before your computer registers what you’re typing.
Go back to the Apple menu in the upper left-hand corner of your screen. Then, click the System Preferences button again. There, you’ll find a section for Accessibility — click on that, then press the option that says Keyboard.
Under the Keyboard umbrella, you’ll press Hardware. And, finally, under Hardware, you can check to see if you’ve accidentally switched on Slow Keys. If so, turn it off, and you’ll instantly enjoy a fully functional keyboard once again.
7. Restart the System Management Controller (SMC)
Your MacBook’s system management controller, or SMC, is responsible for many of your device’s core functions. If the above steps don’t fix your MacBook, you may have to reset the SMC to restore its vital functions.
Resetting the SMC will vary by device, but it will always start with restarting your computer. After pressing the right combination of keys, your computer should restart with its SMC settings cleared, back to how they were when you got your MacBook. In many cases, this is what it takes to get a broken keyboard working again.
What If I Still Find My MacBook Keys Not Working?
The above are seven ways to fix the problem if you find your MacBook keys not working. However, they’re not the only options — at Fruit Fix, we know them all.
So, if these tips don’t help you fix your MacBook, call us today. We can restore your MacBook, as well as any of your other Apple devices. Click here to get started on your computer repair now — and have that keyboard back to how it used to be in no time at all.
