Ever since Apple made a move to the butterfly keyboard on the MacBook 12-inch a few years, support forums have been plagued by users with sticky or unresponsive keys. As more MacBook models adopted this same keyboard design, the complaints only grew.
The situation was so dire, in fact, that some customers had enough and filed a class action lawsuit against Apple for the quality and failure rate of the new keyboards.
I speak from personal experience of how frustrating this is as my MacBook 12-inch developed an annoying fault with the space bar that caused it to become unresponsive or in certain examples stuck down. This made typing, as you can imagine, impossible. Luckily Apple fixed the space bar free of charge but fast forward to my now 2017 MacBook Pro and I’m finding occasional issues with the ‘E’, ‘U’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ key often sticking or feeling different. I put my experience with the space bar down to something perhaps I had done; while I don’t have any fluids around my laptop and am usually quite careful with it, I had assumed the countless trips in my backpack had somehow developed a fault. Now having the same issue with my MacBook Pro and hearing countless others with the same experience, it seems it wasn’t me after all.
While Apple did replace my space key eventually, it wasn’t without the usual AppleCare sale and ridiculous advice that the screen also needed replacing. Let’s just say, it wasn’t a smooth or pleasant experience.
Thankfully, Apple has finally acknowledged an issue with the keyboard on certain MacBook and MacBook Pro models and will now replace the keyboard free of charge where the key(s) “feel ‘sticky’ or do not respond in a consistent manner.”
The eligible models include:
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016)
- MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
If you have one of the affected models, book yourself an appointment at the Apple Retail Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or mail your device into an Apple Repair Center for a free replacement keyboard. If you’ve already paid for a replacement keyboard, get in touch with Apple to discuss getting a refund.
I’m off to book my Apple Store appointment!
