Stuck Key

[Sebastian79]

5 months after the top case replacement the backspace started getting stuck. After hitting hard a few times it gets working again. Is there any chance of it getting fixed by itself? Or is it doomed to completely fail?

 

[rayriceroni00]

What year Mac?

 

[Howard2k]

2017. Apple will replace the keyboard for free.

 

[Plutonius]

Is there any chance of it getting fixed by itself?

Try cleaning it with canned air first.

 

[Sebastian79]

2017. Apple will replace the keyboard for free.

but I have to prove it first and it's not like it stayed stuck. I just want to know if I have to go through the hassle again, whether it's unavoidable...
[doublepost=1550427725][/doublepost]

Try cleaning it with canned air first.

Can this be an actual permanent fix?

 

[Plutonius]

Can this be an actual permanent fix?

Reading online, many people reported success with this cleaning method.

If it is debris getting in the keyboard (dust etc.), this will not be a permanent fix so you will have to repeat the cleaning as necessary.

From what most people say, replacing the keyboard isn't a permanent fix either with people requiring multiple keyboards.

My advice is to do the keyboard cleaning until it doesn't work or until you think you can get Apple to agree that you have keyboard issues.

 

[maflynn]

but I have to prove it first and it's not like it stayed stuck. I just want to know if I have to go through the hassle again, whether it's unavoidable...

I don't think its unavoidable, but I'm speaking out of ignorance as I don't have an actual MBP. I only see the people posting here who have had to endure multiple keyboard replacements.

Can this be an actual permanent fix?

No, its a bandaid that may help some not all and it probably won't stave off the failure. Renee Ritchie was employing that method but his laptop (or laptops) succumb to failure.

 

[SDColorado]

I had my "e" key become unresponsive and "fixed" it by mashing the key several times until it worked again. It has been a couple of weeks now and it hasn't acted back up again. But I honestly don't have a lot of confidence that the issue will not re-occur with that key or another at some point in the not too distant future. Time will tell

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

TAKE IT BACK TO APPLE (a real Apple store), and have the keyboard and topcase replaced under the warranty extension program.

Prediction:
That's the ONLY WAY you're going to get the problem fixed.

 

[SDColorado]

OP:

TAKE IT BACK TO APPLE (a real Apple store), and have the keyboard and topcase replaced under the warranty extension program.

Prediction:
That's the ONLY WAY you're going to get the problem fixed.

Unfortunately, there has to be an issue that is observable and repeatable for them to do that. So he would have to wait until it acts up again and instead of doing what he or I did, take it in while it is still misbehaving. I "fixed" mine out of frustration because I was in the middle of working on something when it happened. But in retrospect, I should have left it as is and brought it in.

 

[ixxx69]

Unfortunately, there has to be an issue that is observable and repeatable for them to do that. So he would have to wait until it acts up again and instead of doing what he or I did, take it in while it is still misbehaving. I "fixed" mine out of frustration because I was in the middle of working on something when it happened. But in retrospect, I should have left it as is and brought it in.

I would suggest you did the "right" thing. Instead of trying to make a point out of principle about how the keyboard is too fragile by needlessly taking it in for service, you fixed the issue. A grain of "dirt" got stuck under the key, you mashed it up, and now it's gone and works.

The "wrong" thing to do is as soon as a key becomes unresponsive to immediately take it to the Apple store for repair/replacement. That's how you end up without a laptop for two weeks for little reason, and why some posters claim having to have it serviced multiple times, etc. This accounts for the vast majority of users posting keyboard issues.

It's a drag that the keyboard is more prone to that sort of thing and I don't think Apple should have designed it that way, but as long as a little mashing and/or compressed air fixes it, you have a fully functional working laptop. Your keyboard isn't any more or less prone to future issues because you had a stuck key and now you don't. As I'm sure you're aware, you just have to be a little more careful about food or other environmental debris.

(and before someone goes all apocalyptic, yes, sometimes the keys are truly broken-stuck and no amount of mashing and canned air will fix it and legitimately requires a repair)

 

[AppleHaterLover]

I would suggest you did the "right" thing. Instead of trying to make a point out of principle about how the keyboard is too fragile by needlessly taking it in for service, you fixed the issue. A grain of "dirt" got stuck under the key, you mashed it up, and now it's gone and works.

The "wrong" thing to do is as soon as a key becomes unresponsive to immediately take it to the Apple store for repair/replacement. That's how you end up without a laptop for two weeks for little reason, and why some posters claim having to have it serviced multiple times, etc. This accounts for the vast majority of users posting keyboard issues.

It's a drag that the keyboard is more prone to that sort of thing and I don't think Apple should have designed it that way, but as long as a little mashing and/or compressed air fixes it, you have a fully functional working laptop. Your keyboard isn't any more or less prone to future issues because you had a stuck key and now you don't. As I'm sure you're aware, you just have to be a little more careful about food or other environmental debris.

(and before someone goes all apocalyptic, yes, sometimes the keys are truly broken-stuck and no amount of mashing and canned air will fix it and legitimately requires a repair)

This is the most reasonable take I've seen on this issue in months.

OP - I've had it happen on my previous 2017 MBP - then I mashed the volume - key a few times, problem solved. An oxygen waster stole it some time after that, but the one I got to replace it has been perfect ever since.

I cannot absolutely guarantee that your laptop won't ever fail, but who can say that about any computer? Can you guarantee a 2015 MBP won't be affected by Staingate?

Keep using it, if it fails you have until 2022 to have it fixed for free.

 

[SDColorado]

I would suggest you did the "right" thing. Instead of trying to make a point out of principle about how the keyboard is too fragile by needlessly taking it in for service, you fixed the issue. A grain of "dirt" got stuck under the key, you mashed it up, and now it's gone and works.

The "wrong" thing to do is as soon as a key becomes unresponsive to immediately take it to the Apple store for repair/replacement. That's how you end up without a laptop for two weeks for little reason, and why some posters claim having to have it serviced multiple times, etc. This accounts for the vast majority of users posting keyboard issues.

It's a drag that the keyboard is more prone to that sort of thing and I don't think Apple should have designed it that way, but as long as a little mashing and/or compressed air fixes it, you have a fully functional working laptop. Your keyboard isn't any more or less prone to future issues because you had a stuck key and now you don't. As I'm sure you're aware, you just have to be a little more careful about food or other environmental debris.

(and before someone goes all apocalyptic, yes, sometimes the keys are truly broken-stuck and no amount of mashing and canned air will fix it and legitimately requires a repair)

You aren't wrong. I mean if they were going to replace the keyboard with some new and improved Gen. 4 that this time they are 100% sure would fix the issue, that would be one thing. But to send it in for 2-6 weeks to only get the same keyboard with likely the same issue, not really much sense in it for sure.

If it did not recover, that would be another issue. Bloody annoying all the same, but so far so good since then. Keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't happen again and if it does, hoping it can be "fixed" the same way. If it begins to do it regularly and frequently, well that is another story as well. But so far it has been a "one-off" and hope it at worst becomes an infrequent nuisance.

Not sure how well the compressed air works on the 2018's with the membrane though. I do clean it that way periodically, but it might be a waste of air? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

FWIW in my conversation with Executive Relations (not just about this machine but also the previous 4) she thought my "fix" was funny and was chuckling. I do have to say I am not sure I see the humor in it

Edit: But did also fill out a feedback here and would recommend anyone else experiencing this issue or any other to do the same.