repair your “MacBook keyboard will not be working” subject

A Mac keyboard not working can throw a giant wrench in your plans, particularly once you depend on your machine for work and play. Slightly than settle for defeat and begin on the lookout for an exterior keyboard, I’ll present you tips on how to diagnose and repair these points so you will get again on observe.

Let’s discover out the steps you have to take to repair your MacBook keyboard shortly.

Why is my Mac keyboard not typing?

Is your MacBook Professional keyboard not working? We are able to absolutely perceive the frustration. There’s a chance that every one MacBook fashions will expertise points with its built-in keyboard or trackpad. Nevertheless, the sooner MacBook Airs and MacBook Execs from 2016–2019 posed explicit points, no because of their Butterfly keyboard. This design made for lots of area meant prime actual property for all kinds of particles to clump collectively and trigger the keyboard to not work.

When you’ve got a more moderen laptop computer, bodily harm can occur, too, however there may be different nuanced causes, like issues along with your {hardware} or software program glitches. No worry! I’ll be going over all kinds of how you possibly can reply the burning query: “Why is my Mac keyboard not working?”

Repair the malfunctioning Mac keyboard step-by-step

Earlier than you actually get into the thick of issues with the {hardware} or go and e book an appointment on the Genius Bar, check out a few easy troubleshooting ways first.

repair your inside Mac keyboard when it’s not working

There are various explanation why your inside Mac keyboard may not be working, and there are an equal variety of methods to unravel these varied points.

1. Clear your MacBook keyboard

Over my 10+ years of getting MacBooks, I’ve at all times had a can of compressed air useful to maintain my laptop computer clear and freed from particles. And I like to recommend having one available your self. To make use of compressed air:

1. Maintain your MacBook at a 75-degree angle.
2. Place the nozzle a number of centimeters away out of your keyboard.
3. Launch brief bursts of air across the keys. 

Because the smallest quantity of particles may cause points in your typing expertise, ensure you spray the compressed air from completely different angles to cowl all floor and contemplate different particular instruments to assist with the cleansing course of. 

2. Verify your keyboard structure settings

{Hardware} points generally is a ache, however what in case your Apple keyboard will not be working due to a easy structure configuration subject? To test whether or not that is the case:

1. Open your System Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on on the Keyboard tab.
3. Click on on Edit below your Enter Sources.
4. Click on in your keyboard, which is displayed on the left of the pop-up window.
5. Click on on the plus and minus buttons so as to add or take away keyboard layouts.

   

Particularly for those who discover that your keyboard inputs don’t match the outputs, fixing mix-ups between completely different keyboard layouts may assist resolve the issue.

3. Reconfigure modifier keys

If you happen to’re having hassle performing actions in your keyboard, checking your Modifier Keys settings is a superb place to start out.

Anytime you employ your keyboard to insert a particular image or use a shortcut – you’re utilizing a modifier key. These embody the Shift, Management, Possibility, and Command keys which can be utilized in tandem with different keys to carry out duties. To reconfigure them:

1. Open System Settings
2. Scroll down and click on on Keyboard.
3. Click on on Keyboard Shortcuts below Keyboard navigation.
4. Click on on Modifier Keys and choose the Apple Inside Keyboard.
5. Reconfigure every modifier key by means of their respective drop-down menus, and select the motion you need it to carry out.

   

Apply your modifications by clicking Carried out and recheck the keyboard.

4. Disable Sluggish and Sticky Keys

Sticky Keys are a useful function that lets a consumer set modifier keys that don’t must be held to make use of, whereas Sluggish Keys change the period of time between urgent and registering a key. If these options aren’t helpful to you, having them switched on could pose points. To test your Sluggish and Sticky Keys settings:

1. Go to your System Settings.
2. Click on on Accessibility.
3. Click on on Keyboard below Motor.
4. Toggle Sticky Keys and Sluggish Keys on or off, relying in your preferences.

Each of those choices have further settings that may be accessed by means of their respective data buttons, permitting you to vary the extent of delay or have sound cues on, for instance.

If you happen to want much more management over your keyboard, strive BetterTouchTool. It supplies a central hub for a quicker and extra environment friendly approach to configure your Mac. Whether or not you’re customizing your mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, distant triggers, or Contact Bar widgets, it’s an incredible platform to not solely management all these issues in a single place but in addition prolong previous default Mac capabilities.

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5. Replace the macOS

Are you a type of individuals who by no means bothers updating their macOS? No judgment in any respect, however this may trigger all kinds of limitations relating to help, software program incompatibilities, and efficiency points – probably along with your keyboard, too. To put in a macOS replace:

1. Go to your System Settings.
2. Click on on Software program Replace Out there below your Apple ID. If this selection will not be accessible, you seemingly have already got the most recent macOS.

   

3. Click on Replace Tonight or Restart Now, relying on once you wish to begin the replace. 

Be certain that your MacBook has ample battery and sufficient reminiscence to accommodate the replace.

6. Reset the NVRAM and SMC

Non-volatile random-access Reminiscence (NVRAM) is a kind of reminiscence that your Mac makes use of to retailer and entry particular settings, just like the startup disk choice and extra. It exists to make sure your Mac begins up easily. Equally, the System Administration Controller (SMC) manages different necessary capabilities in your Mac’s {hardware}, together with the keyboard and trackpad.

To carry out a reset of your SMC:

1. Shut down your MacBook.
2. Plug in your MagSafe adapter.
3. Press and maintain down Shift + Management + Possibility + the ability button.

As soon as your adapter modifications colour, you’ll know you’ve reset the SMC.

To reset your NVRAM:

1. Restart your MacBook.
2. Instantly press and maintain Command + Possibility + the P + R keys till you hear the startup jingle once more.

This may even reset the PRAM (Parameter RAM) that offers along with your trackpad.

7. Verify your just lately put in apps

Some apps can have funky settings or battle with different software program in your laptop computer. That may trigger all kinds of interferences, together with along with your keyboard functioning. To assessment your just lately put in apps:

1. Open the Mac Finder.
2. Go to your Functions folder.
3. Type by Date Added, and also you’ll see your most just lately downloaded or up to date apps.

   

You might obtain and redownload these apps, look by means of their settings, and do some common trial and error to see if that fixes the problem.

This methodology is okay however will be time-consuming. (You realize what I imply for those who’ve ever tried going by means of all of your apps, recordsdata, and folders to pinpoint what’s messing up.) For such instances, I take advantage of CleanMyMac X, my go-to app, once I need assistance cleansing up the contents of my laptop computer. Whereas this may not immediately repair your keyboard points, it deletes pointless apps with all their traces, plus detects and removes malware that would trigger keyboard malfunctions.

8. Preserve an exterior keyboard in emergencies

I do know, the advice sounds apparent, however it’s value mentioning. It did save me prior to now. 

My laptop computer serves as my hub for work, gaming, and all the pieces in between. It’s a part of my desk setup, the place I’ve an exterior keyboard for when it’s arrange on my laptop computer stand. Having this exterior machine has been helpful once I’ve had issues with lacking keys on my outdated Butterfly keyboard or have to work round a defective keyboard in pressing conditions.

Fixes for exterior keyboards

If you have already got an exterior keyboard that isn’t working both, listed here are some fast fixes you might strive.

1. Verify your Bluetooth connection

Exterior keyboards sometimes work by means of Bluetooth connection. So, the primary plan of action is to see whether or not your Bluetooth is turned on and your keyboard is linked. Subsequent, you might take a look at your Bluetooth keyboard settings:

1. Go to your System Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Click on on the data circle subsequent to your exterior keyboard.

   

3. Click on Keyboard Settings and alter your keyboard settings.

Alternatively, you might strive forgetting the machine and reconnecting it from scratch.

If you happen to continually have hassle navigating your Bluetooth units, it’s possible you’ll like ToothFairy. It presents a a lot quicker approach to join and disconnect any machine – Airpods, Keyboards, Mouses – you identify it. Every machine can have its personal icon in your menu bar and you’ll program hotkeys for connecting and disconnecting. Superior options even embody high-quality audio, stopping disconnection, and launching sure apps when sure units are linked.

2. Verify the battery on the wi-fi keyboard

This is likely to be a easy and apparent factor to test, however is your wi-fi keyboard charged? Most exterior keyboards don’t have a bodily battery indicator, so in case your keyboard isn’t connecting to Bluetooth, you might have to plug it in for a couple of minutes or hours.

You may need seen that solely Apple units present their real-time battery life within the Bluetooth menu bar. This may be irritating, particularly for those who’re uncertain when your batteries are dying or not. That’s why I take advantage of Batteries to present me a fast rundown of all my units’ battery ranges and inform me once I have to recharge.

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3. Troubleshoot your wired keyboard

For wired keyboards, the problem would seemingly be hardware-related. In conditions the place your keyboard isn’t responding correctly, the keyboard cable would possibly should be changed. In any other case, it could possibly be the USB port in your Mac. To determine this out, strive connecting the keyboard to a unique USB port or one other machine to the USB port.

Bonus: repair MacBook trackpad

When a MacBook trackpad will not be working, it’s an equally irritating drawback. In any case, it makes your laptop computer unusable with out an exterior machine. If you happen to’ve just lately spilled liquid in your trackpad, you’ve seemingly discovered your reply. If not, there are a number of different options at your disposal.

• Clear the trackpad’s floor with a microfiber material or spray the sides with compressed air.
• Replace your macOS.
• Reset your SMC or PRAM.
• Verify your trackpad settings by means of your system settings.
• Run Apple Diagnostics by shutting down your MacBook and turning it on whereas holding the D key.

If you happen to want detailed directions on every step, take a look at our information: MacBook Professional trackpad not working? Right here’s tips on how to repair it.

Prepared to repair your MacBook keyboard that’s not working?

If you happen to’re panicking and questioning, “Why can’t I kind on my Mac?” or “Why isn’t my keyboard working anymore?” – I’ll provide you with peace of thoughts and allow you to know that there’s at all times an answer to a malfunctioning Mac keyboard. Making an attempt out a number of troubleshooting choices can let you realize what the trigger is and can provide help to resolve your keyboard points in a flash. If none of those software program and {hardware} fixes appear to work, visiting the Genius Bar is a sound ultimate possibility.

CleanMyMac, Batteries, ToothFairy, BetterTouchTool, and One Swap are all helpful in enhancing your MacBook capabilities and making keyboard upkeep quite a bit simpler. All these instruments and 240+ extra can be found with a 7-day free trial of Setapp – an all-in-one subscription platform that provides all kinds of helpful native apps for Mac.

FAQ

Ending up with a bunch of questions we hear most frequently concerning the Mac keyboard not working drawback.