2016 MacBook Pro Space Bar Replacement

[Christian 5G]

Hello,

Ever since I got MacBook Pro 2016 I have been having different issues consistently which I got used to. My space bar stopped working on right side, then left, and yesterday I woke up and it stopped working completely.

Took it to the Apple store (no more apple care), they wanted $450 for just a spacebar replacement, I asked what is the problem and he goes that they need to open it to find out what happened. I find it crazy that they are asking so much like they know exactly what happened.

So, curious me - I was able to pull the spacebar apart carefully after many videos I found and saw that my hinges were broke on both sides which caused it to stop working.

I ordered this replacement here and it is a generation 2 which is from 2017.

I am now wondering if anybody can tell me how to successfully install the spacebar by yourself on 2016 MacBook Pro?? This was so far the best video I found

And no way I'm paying $450 for a freaking spacebar replacement at an apple store!!

I will try to film it as well and if everything works out I really hope this video I will create could help others.

Lets start a campaign for Apple to replace keyboard haha

 

[exogeneity]

You need a gen 1 keyboard. The 2017 MBP uses different keyboard.

Yes, i hope hope they acknowledge the issue for all 2016 and 2017 MBPs!!

 

[csurfr]

Hello,

Ever since I got MacBook Pro 2016 I have been having different issues consistently which I got used to. My space bar stopped working on right side, then left, and yesterday I woke up and it stopped working completely.

Took it to the Apple store (no more apple care), they wanted $450 for just a spacebar replacement, I asked what is the problem and he goes that they need to open it to find out what happened. I find it crazy that they are asking so much like they know exactly what happened.

So, curious me - I was able to pull the spacebar apart carefully after many videos I found and saw that my hinges were broke on both sides which caused it to stop working.

I ordered this replacement here and it is a generation 2 which is from 2017.

I am now wondering if anybody can tell me how to successfully installed the spacebar themselves on 2016 MacBook Pro?? This was so far the best video I found

Thanks very much!!

And no way I'm paying $450 for a freaking spacebar replacement at an apple store!!

I will try to film it as well and if everything works out I really hope this video I will create could help others.

Lets start a campaign for Apple to replace keyboard haha

Just to throw this out there, that video is for the MacBook, not the MacBook Pro, which uses the 2nd generation butterfly keyboard.

 

[Loge]

You need a gen 1 keyboard. The 2017 MBP uses different keyboard.

Yes, i hope hope they acknowledge the issue for all 2016 and 2017 MBPs!!

Late 2016 and 2017 MBP both have gen 2 keyboard. However the keyboards do seem to have been steadily improved through the production cycle.

 

[exogeneity]

Late 2016 and 2017 MBP both have gen 2 keyboard. However the keyboards do seem to have been steadily improved through the production cycle.

Oops, I just recalled they are using different mechanism under the keyboard. Maybe memories have failed me.

 

[Christian 5G]

Here are some photos for comparison from 2016 and 2017 from the website I bought from, it is a noticeable difference!

I might even consider replacing every button in the near future if this works out

 

[Christian 5G]

Update

Firstly, Success!! At first, I failed and gave up but then after dinner I tried again and was able to put it all together with everything from gen 2. The space bar is now so much more sensitive and million times better.

It is a hassle process and not something I would recommend for anyone to do unless you trust yourself enough. I completely tore apart everything that held spacebar, then glued the same parts but brand new ones and put the space bar together.

I can tell 100% that the hinges are noticeably larger and much more supportive in 2017 model.

If you need help and find yourself in the same position, I would gladly help with step-by-step.

Another thing is I saved about $350 which what apple was asking

 

[black4hawks]

!!!! I am in the same exact boat. I assume you didn't take a video when you re-installed the new spacebar? did you end up buying the gen 2 butterfly mechanism even though yours had a gen 1? and it worked fine? How in the world did you re-install it? I have my butterfly mechanism and spacebar and I can not figure out how to re-attach...

Update

Firstly, Success!! At first, I failed and gave up but then after dinner I tried again and was able to put it all together with everything from gen 2. The space bar is now so much more sensitive and million times better.

It is a hassle process and not something I would recommend for anyone to do unless you trust yourself enough. I completely tore apart everything that held spacebar, then glued the same parts but brand new ones and put the space bar together.

I can tell 100% that the hinges are noticeably larger and much more supportive in 2017 model.

If you need help and find yourself in the same position, I would gladly help with step-by-step.

Another thing is I saved about $350 which what apple was asking

 

[Christian 5G]

!!!! I am in the same exact boat. I assume you didn't take a video when you re-installed the new spacebar? did you end up buying the gen 2 butterfly mechanism even though yours had a gen 1? and it worked fine? How in the world did you re-install it? I have my butterfly mechanism and spacebar and I can not figure out how to re-attach...

As far as video, no. I didn't know what I was doing. Next time if I do it, I will make a video. But honestly this process was so stressful.

Yes, I fully tore everything out, literally even the little scissor paper clips (it was fully naked) then reglued it because unfortunately in order to reinstall it I needed to start attaching from the bottom to the top and made much more sense when I was putting it back together.

So, when installing, make sure you are 100% sure that everything is placed in order and correctly. After doing it and your space bar is not working, you will not want to redo everything again especially those tiny hinges.

 

[ahmedouvix]

this could be the most valuable fix right now. it's cheap but we need a tutorial. even buying extra keys is cheaper than paying for a new top case

 

[black4hawks]

Thanks for the reply! Wow - that does sound stressful. When you say naked....do you mean this?

Or do you mean like take apart the entire computer and get below this??

Agree with ahmedouvix - a tutorial is needed. I just saw an article today about a class action law suit! Idk if I should just pay the $500 and hope the suit actually is successful (doubtful) or try it myself...

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...cbook-macbook-pro-butterfly-keyboard-failures

As far as video, no. I didn't;t know what I was doing. Next time if I do it, I will make a video. But honestly this process was so stressful.

Yes, I fully tore everything out, literally even the little scissor paper clips (it was fully naked) then regaled it because unfortunately in order to reinstall it I needed to start attaching from the bottom to the top and made much more sense when I was putting it back together.

So, when installing, make sure you are 100% sure that everything is placed in order and correctly. After doing it and your space bar is not working, you will not want to redo everything again especially those tiny hinges.

 

[Christian 5G]

Thanks for the reply! Wow - that does sound stressful. When you say naked....do you mean this?

View attachment 761560

Or do you mean like take apart the entire computer and get below this??

Agree with ahmedouvix - a tutorial is needed. I just saw an article today about a class action law suit! Idk if I should just pay the $500 and hope the suit actually is successful (doubtful) or try it myself...

https://appleinsider.com/articles/1...cbook-macbook-pro-butterfly-keyboard-failures

I took the plastic hinges out, don’t remember why though, but DONT BEND THEM if you decide to take them out, be careful

 

[Br3nd4n]

Update

Firstly, Success!! At first, I failed and gave up but then after dinner I tried again and was able to put it all together with everything from gen 2. The space bar is now so much more sensitive and million times better.

It is a hassle process and not something I would recommend for anyone to do unless you trust yourself enough. I completely tore apart everything that held spacebar, then glued the same parts but brand new ones and put the space bar together.

I can tell 100% that the hinges are noticeably larger and much more supportive in 2017 model.

If you need help and find yourself in the same position, I would gladly help with step-by-step.

Another thing is I saved about $350 which what apple was asking

[doublepost=1528594265][/doublepost]What glue did you use? Superglue?

 

[Christian 5G]

[doublepost=1528594265][/doublepost]What glue did you use? Superglue?

Yes, but be VERY CAREFUL! Think of it as your only chance and make sure you are correctly putting it back together.
You also don't need much like very tiny drops on sides will do.

 

[candivillalobos]

Yes, but be VERY CAREFUL! Think of it as your only chance and make sure you are correctly putting it back together.
You also don't need much like very tiny drops on sides will do.

Hii Christrian! Sorry to bother with this, but in case you have the patience to help me, I would appreciate it!
I have a macbook pro with the butterfly mechanism, same as yours. I removed my space bar (not so smoothly I realize..) and the butterfly mechanism came off as well. Do you have any tips for my situation?

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[Christian 5G]

Hii Christrian! Sorry to bother with this, but in case you have the patience to help me, I would appreciate it!
I have a macbook pro with the butterfly mechanism, same as yours. I removed my space bar (not so smoothly I realize..) and the butterfly mechanism came off as well. Do you have any tips for my situation?

Thank you in advance!!!

Hey, I am wondering whether you’ve taken your computer for the Apple MacBook Pro repair or are you just trying to replace the keyboard?

Here’s link to the keyboard replacement post from MacRumors you can read up on.
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/22/apple-macbook-pro-keyboard-repair-program/amp/