Follow our troubleshooting guide to have your Mac working as good as new in no time.
Mac keyboards by Apple are praised for smooth design and performance. However, like any other computer, problems can appear over time.
Whether the keyboard suffers from some unresponsive keys, sticky buttons, or any other sort of erratic behavior, keyboard problems are always annoying.
Fortunately, there are plenty of quick and painless solutions that will make sure the keyboard is as good as new. This list will go over some of the best Mac keyboard solutions out there so that your keyboard can go back to normal.
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash
1. Cleaning The Mac Keyboard
A common issue with the Mac keyboards is that a lot of dirt, debris, and dust can get trapped underneath the keys. That can cause keys to become sticky or somewhat unresponsive.
Here are the steps to clean a Mac keyboard:
- Turn the Mac All the Way Off: Before starting the cleaning, turn the Mac off to prevent any accidental button pushes.
- Get Some Compressed Air: Hold the Mac keyboard all of the way upside down and then get the can of compressed air to blow out any of the loose debris, dust, and dirt. Pro tip: Do this in a well-ventilated area.
- Remove The Sticky Residue: When a keyboard is dirty, it often will mean that the keyboard ends up sticky. Fortunately, it is possible to get tid of the rickiness on a keyboard. When the keys are sticky, they can be cleaned with a combination of isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth. That combination will make sure that your keyboard is sleek and clean once again.
- Try to Clean Between the Keys: In order to clean between each of the keys, get a small brush, like a soft toothbrush, and and brush it on the keyboard to pick up all of the dirt.
When you try all of these steps, all of the dirt and debris that was on your keyboard should be gone. With a bit of luck, your keyboard will be working well once again. If it’s not, fortunately, there are other solutions left to try.
2. Check All of the Keyboard Preferences
On many occasions, there will be issues with the keyboard because of problems with the software configurations and/or settings. There are a couple of ways for you to check these preferences for problems.
- Look at the System Preferences: First, click on the Apple menu that is in the top-left corner of the screen. Then, select the “System Preferences” option.
- Look at the Keyboard Icon: Once the computer is showing the “System Preferences” window, click on the icon that says “Keyboard.”
- Go Through the Keyboard Settings: After checking the settings on the “Keyboard” icon. Make sure that the “Key Repeat” and “Delay Until Repeat” icons are set to your personal preferences.
- Go Through the Modifier Keys: When certain keys are not functioning the right way, click on the “Modifier Keys” icon to see if there are any necessary modifications.
- The Input Source: Make sure that the source for input is set correctly for the computer.
3. Do Research and Seek Professional Help
No matter what your Mac keyboard problems are, like command-c not working on Mac or keys sticking to the keyboard like glue, you can always get help from a technology expert. The Apple Store Gurus, or service providers from Apple, will be able to figure out the problem and fix any issue related to hardware. Make sure that all of the data is backed up before getting someone to fix it so that no data is lost.
4. How to Reset the System Management Controller
If your Mac keyboard still has some issues, then try to reset the System Management Controller. The System Management Controller’s job is to manage all of the hardware functions on the Mac, which includes the keyboard.
Here’s how to go about resetting it:
- Turn off the Mac: Power off the Mac computer completely
- Plug in the Power Adapter: For the Macbook, make sure the power adapter is plugged in.
- Press Down and Hold the Keys: On the keyboard that is built-in, hold down the Shift key, the Control key, the Option key, as well as the power key for at least 10 seconds.
- Take Fingers Off the Keys: After pressing the different keys and power button, let them go.
- Turn The Mac Back On: After all of these steps, turn the Mac back on.
Resetting the system management controller can often spring the keyboard back into life. Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash
5. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM
Another way to do some troubleshooting is by resetting the Non-Volatile Random-Access Memory of the Parameter RAM, That depends on the age of the Mac. Both of these have settings for the display resolutions, the volume of sound, and the preferences for the keyboard. These are the ways to reset them:
- Power Down the Mac: Try to make sure the Mac is completely off.
- Power Up the Mac: After turning it off, turn the Mac back on. Right after doing so, hold down the Option key, the Command key, and the P, and R keys simultaneously.
- Hold for Double Startup Sounds: Hold down all of the keys until the startup sound goes off twice..
- Let Go of the Keys: Stop pressing the keys, and then the Mac will restart.
6. Testing External Keyboards
If none of these solutions work, it might be time to get an external keyboard and connect it to your Mac. This will test to see if the problem is with the keyboard or the actual Mac itself. If the external keyboard is working, then you will likely need to seek some professional assistance for the built-in keyboard.
Can the Keyboard be Fixed?
With all of the troubleshooting steps mentioned above, some of the most common issues can be solved at home. Start with our cleaning tips, and then try changing your preferences. If the issue continues, go with advanced troubleshooting solutions, such as resetting the SMC and the NVRAM/PRAM.
By following all of these steps, your Mac’s keyboard will be as good as new in no time.