Checks that need no tools
Plug in the charger
When the battery is nearly flat, the built-in keyboard can stop responding without the alert appearing. Apple recommends connecting your Mac to mains power, or plugging in an external keyboard, to bring up the alert.
Check Slow Keys
Go to Apple menu › System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and make sure ‘Slow Keys’ is turned off. When this option is on, you have to hold each key down for longer before it registers.
Check Mouse Keys
In System Settings › Accessibility › Pointer Control, turn off ‘Mouse Keys’: this option takes over certain keys to move the pointer.
Plug in an external keyboard
If the external keyboard works, macOS is receiving keystrokes: the fault lies in the built-in keyboard, its flex cable or its connector. Until the repair is done, Keyboard Viewer lets you display a keyboard on screen.
If keys are sticking or only respond intermittently on a 12″ MacBook (2015 and later) or a MacBook Pro from 2016 onwards, Apple recommends cleaning with compressed air, holding the Mac at a 75-degree angle and working from left to right.
Keyboard, flex cable or logic board: the signs
- Faulty keyboard: a few keys or an entire row have stopped responding. This is also often the case after liquid damage, even once the keyboard has dried out.
- Keyboard flex cable or connector: the whole keyboard has stopped working but the trackpad still works, especially if the fault appeared after a repair. If the flex cable is in good condition, the keyboard is probably at fault.
- Shared keyboard and trackpad flex cable: the keyboard and trackpad stop responding at the same time. On some models, such as the MacBook Air A1466, the keyboard flex cable connects underneath the trackpad and it is the trackpad flex cable that runs to the logic board; on others, such as the MacBook Air A1932, a single flex cable serves both.
- Logic board: nothing changes with a keyboard and flex cable in good condition. This is the most serious case, often following liquid damage.
Repair: which part to replace
- Top case keyboard: when the keyboard is at fault, it is usually the top case keyboard (the upper case with the keyboard fitted) that gets replaced. For several older models, such as the 2010 to 2015 MacBook Air or the Unibody and Retina MacBook Pro, the keyboard is also available on its own. You can easily find the right keyboard for your model and layout (AZERTY, QWERTY, QWERTZ).
- Flex cable: if the signs point to the flex cable, it can be replaced on its own for several models, such as the trackpad flex cable for the MacBook Air A1466 or the keyboard/trackpad flex cable for the MacBook Air A1932. Here are all the flex cables and cables available.
- Logic board: if the problem persists after replacing the keyboard and the flex cable, you will need to replace the MacBook logic board.
Keyboard working but no longer lighting up? Read our article on a keyboard backlight that has stopped working. After liquid damage, start by reading what to do after a liquid spill.
Find the part for my Mac
Not sure which model you have? Quickly identify the parts you need for this repair without making a mistake.
Need help with the repair? We offer tutorials to guide you step by step through replacing the part. Our team of technicians is also on hand if you need advice.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether it’s the flex cable or the keyboard?
If only a few keys have stopped responding, the keyboard is probably at fault. If the whole keyboard stopped working all at once, especially after a repair, the flex cable or its connector is more likely. Start by reseating the flex cable with the battery disconnected: it costs nothing.
My keyboard and trackpad have both stopped responding. Why?
On several MacBook models, they share the same flex cable. On the MacBook Air A1466, for example, the keyboard connects underneath the trackpad, and it is the trackpad flex cable that runs to the logic board. Check this flex cable first.
What is a top case?
It is the upper case of the MacBook, surrounding the keyboard. On most recent models, the keyboard is sold with it, so both are replaced at the same time.
An external keyboard works. Can my Mac be repaired?
Yes, and it’s actually a good sign: macOS is receiving keystrokes. The fault is most likely in the built-in keyboard, its flex cable or its connector, all of which can be replaced.
Can I replace the top case keyboard myself?
Yes, but it’s a lengthy repair. On a MacBook Air A1466, for example, our tutorial runs to around thirty steps: the battery, speakers, fan, display, logic board and trackpad are all removed and refitted to the new top case.
