MacBook Keyboard Repair or Replacement

MacBook keyboard repair is one of the most common jobs in my workshop. A key has fallen off, keys type twice, keys are sticky, the mechanism under a key is broken, or the keyboard stopped responding altogether — in most cases this is fixable, and far cheaper than what an authorized service will offer you.

MacBook keyboard repair is almost always possible when the problem is mechanical: a key came off, doesn’t press properly, or keys type twice or three times per press. But sometimes the keyboard is damaged beyond repair, and then a full MacBook keyboard replacement is needed. Which of the two applies to you — the inspection will show, and it’s free.

Why MacBook keyboard repair beats a top case replacement

The keyboards in all MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models are fixed to the case with aluminium rivets and partly with screws. Apple never planned for the keyboard alone to be replaced, so an authorised service is required to replace the entire top case — together with the trackpad, battery, speakers and everything else mounted on it. The price is accordingly high: a MacBook top case replacement costs considerably more than replacing the keyboard alone, and the figure depends on the model.

If your MacBook is still under active warranty, by all means go to Apple. The free butterfly keyboard replacement programme, by the way, closed a long time ago. I would also add that a top case swap here in Israel, at the official service centres, can take a fair amount of time — two to three weeks, often longer, because top cases are not always in stock. Meanwhile most keyboard faults are solved by a repair, often for very little money, and sometimes free of charge, right in front of you.

I always look first at whether a simple, quick repair will do, rather than replacing the whole keyboard or the top case straight away.

Butterfly and scissor mechanisms

MacBooks from 2015 to 2019 use the butterfly mechanism. The whole architecture of these keyboards is delicate and sensitive to dust and to oxidation on the contacts — that is why keys type twice or stop pressing at all.

The butterfly mechanism is used in these models:

MacBook 12-inch, 2015, 2016 and 2017 — A1534.
MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2016 and 2017 — A1706 with Touch Bar and A1708 without it.
MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2016 and 2017 — A1707.
MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2018 and 2019 — A1989.
MacBook Pro 15-inch, 2018 and 2019 — A1990.
MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2019 — A2159.
MacBook Air 13-inch, 2018 and 2019 — A1932.

Every other MacBook, both older and newer, uses the scissor mechanism. That architecture is more reliable and the mechanism itself is far easier to repair. The return to scissors began with the 16-inch MacBook Pro at the end of 2019, and by 2020 the whole line had moved over.

You will find your model number on the bottom cover: the letter A and four digits.

Common MacBook keyboard problems

Liquid was spilled on the MacBook keyboard.
The keys are sticky.
One or more keys are hard to press.
The keyboard has stopped responding completely.
One or more keys don’t work at all.
Keys type twice or three times per press.
Keys type the wrong characters.
Keycaps have come off or the mechanism under a key is broken.
One or more keycaps keep coming off.
The keyboard backlight doesn’t work.
The trackpad and the keyboard have both stopped working.
The trackpad works but the keyboard does not.

MacBook keyboard repair — what exactly I do

Keyboard repair or replacement on any MacBook model.
Fixing keys that type twice or three times.
Repair or replacement of individual keys.
Restoring the butterfly or scissor mechanism under a key.
Cleaning sticky keys or the whole keyboard.
Inspection and cleaning of the keyboard after a liquid spill.
Repair of the keyboard or backlight flex cable.
Keyboard replacement without a top case replacement.
Repair of the electronics on the keyboard itself, on models with the butterfly mechanism.

This is not the full list — some keyboard problems need an individual approach. For other faults see the MacBook repair page.

How much does MacBook keyboard repair cost

The price depends on the model and on what exactly needs to be done. A MacBook keyboard repair costs several times less than a full MacBook keyboard replacement, and far less than a top case swap at Apple. So it starts with free diagnostics: describe the problem or bring the MacBook to the workshop, arranging it with me first, and I will inspect it and quote the cost before any work begins. For a truly minor repair I often charge nothing at all.

The fastest way: describe the problem and send a photo or a short video to my WhatsApp — I’ll reply right away. Or contact me any way you like.

Important to know about liquid

If you spilled coffee or any other liquid on your MacBook — don’t wait and don’t hope it will be fine. In 95 cases out of 100 it isn’t: liquid starts corrosion, and sooner or later the problems show up — not only in the keyboard, but on the logic board too. The longer you wait, the more the repair will cost. What to do if liquid was spilled on a laptop.