Do-it-yourself apple keyboard repair. Apple tip: how to clean your MacBook keyboard. Why do the keys on a MacBook occasionally stick?

Sooner or later, even the most careful computer users end up with dirt on their keyboards. This is especially noticeable on light-colored keys. In this material we will try to look at several different methods that will allow you to clean your keyboard in Apple computers.

It is worth noting that when actively used, it is better to clean the keyboard once every few months. However, if you actively use your laptop on the road, or take your computer with you to the office and home, you can clean it more often.

External cleaning

By externally cleaning the keyboard we mean removing dirt from the surface of the keys and the keyboard body. You can do this most different ways. Some people prefer to use wet wipes, cotton pads, or just microfiber to clean the keyboard.

For better removal dirt, you can use a small amount of water or alcohol-containing substance. The main thing is not to overdo it. Excess moisture in the keyboard case will definitely not extend the operating time of the device, especially for laptop keyboards.

It is worth noting that some people prefer to clean the keyboard not only with wet wipes, but also use small brushes and a vacuum cleaner with a compact attachment or a can of compressed air. The latter will help clear small debris from the keyboard. However, the main thing here is not to overdo it.

It is also worth remembering that it is better to clean the keyboard when it is turned off. This way you can avoid some problems. For example, large quantity false clicks.

Internal cleaning

Those who find external cleaning of the keyboard not enough can disassemble it by removing the keys. True, this process requires a lot of patience and great caution. Otherwise, the thin plastic fasteners may simply break off.

It is also worth noting that in some cases some keys may not be removable. This should be taken into account when disassembling the keyboard. For example, in new MacBook Pro The Space key is not removed.

On this moment Youtube already has a sufficient number of different videos designed to help users who are planning to disassemble the Apple wireless keyboard or the keyboard in a MacBook for the first time.

However, in our opinion, it is worth disassembling the keyboard only in extreme cases. With careful use, regular external cleaning will be sufficient, which is a good idea to do once every few months.

Buttons sometimes get stuck not only on new MacBooks, but also on old ones. Usually it is recommended to disassemble the keyboard for cleaning, but in practice this only leads to breakdowns - Mikk has already proven this.

We will tell you how to clean your keyboard without vandalism using a couple of proven methods if the buttons on it are already sticking or are just being assembled.

Five minutes once a week and the buttons on my 2017 MacBook Pro work like a charm. Yours will be no worse.

Why do the keys on a MacBook periodically stick? The keys start to stick only because foreign particles get under them. There are no other options, and buttons even with a broken mechanism do not behave this way.

If something gets under the button, it prevents it from being pressed, and it seems to you that it is simply stuck to the base. That's why they say the key is “stuck.”

They began actively writing about the problem in 2015. The world saw a 12-inch MacBook with a butterfly keyboard. The new mechanism turned out to be much smaller in size, so cleanliness turned out to be more critical for it than for the usual “Scissors”.

In 2017, “Butterfly” was updated to the 2nd generation, the problem began to appear less frequently, but remained.

However, the services say that they are regularly contacted not only by owners of new MacBooks, but also by old ones. Why? Residues of food and dust. Yes, these are the most frequent guests of your keyboard, who happily find hidden places under the keys and prevent them from being pressed.

If you eat near a MacBook, you have already encountered or will encounter this problem in the near future.

If you don't eat near your MacBook, dust still falls on it, so you won't be able to avoid getting stuck. Pieces of skin and sweat. Microscopic parts of your body, to a lesser extent, can also cause sticky keys.

To minimize the effect, do not forget to maintain hygiene - just wash your hands with soap and water often. Tea and water with sugar. Liquids with sugar are critical for the keyboard. In this case, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the sticking even after cleaning.

Even before the New Year, I spilled tea with sugar on the keyboard of my MacBook - there was minimal liquid, it was quickly removed at the nearest service center, but I was not able to save the keyboard.

The only correct solution was to replace the keyboard. That's what I did.

How Apple advises cleaning laptop keyboards Apple has not officially recognized the problem with sticking MacBook keys. And it was pointless to do this, because this could be avoided with banal accuracy.

But a large stream of criticism against the company forced it to update the Butterfly, which became more practical - this is a step towards users.

And last year, the manufacturer released a guide on cleaning the keyboard from dirt using compressed air.

Yes, Apple suggests simply blowing out food debris and other foreign objects from under the keys with a special balloon.

By the way, you can easily find one like this in any modern electronics store or order it online. The asking price is 200-400 rubles. Step 1: Hold your MacBook so that its keyboard is at a 75-degree angle to you—no need to place it vertically. Step 2. Blow the entire keyboard or just the most problematic keys, first from left to right, and then from right to left. Step 3: Place your MacBook on its right side and do the same. Step 4: Place your MacBook on its left side and repeat the procedure.

Please note that when using a compressed air cylinder, a small amount of liquid may be released from it. It's harmless, just wipe it off your keyboard with a tissue.

Our method for cleaning a MacBook keyboard from the pharmacy To blow it out MacBook keyboard from dirt, you can use not only compressed air. You can simply blow on the buttons with your mouth, but this is not as effective.

It is better to use a “Pear” type enema-syringe from the nearest pharmacy for purging. Don't laugh - the method works quite well. Roma Yuriev tested it on himself a couple of years ago.

Blow air out of the device so that it gets under the keys. The faster you compress the rubber part of the device, the more efficient the process will be. Which syringe to choose? I took the smallest version with a plastic tip to prevent blockages, which I do once a week.

If the blockage is serious, it is better to pay attention to the larger option. With it it will be easier to create a powerful stream of air.

How to avoid problems with keyboard sticking 100% To protect the keyboard from dirt and further sticking, you can use special covers, which are full on AliExpress for every taste.

But working with them on a MacBook is terribly inconvenient. I don't recommend this option.

It is better to thoroughly blow off dust from the laptop buttons with a syringe or compressed air from a cylinder at least once every one to two weeks. Then you are unlikely to encounter sticking.

And if you can’t handle the problem yourself, go to service. Do not try to disassemble the keyboard - do not repeat the mistakes of others.

There's probably dust, crumbs, bits of food, hair and other debris under the keys on your computer. Even the most careful Mac users are unable to keep their keyboards from getting dirty.

The buttons on Apple computers fit neatly, the holes in the case have minimal clearance, but even this is enough to regularly collect a batch of garbage.

Why clean your keyboard?

Firstly, this is useful from a hygienic point of view. Computer keys are the first breeding ground for germs and bacteria in the house after the toilet. It’s not every time that you wash your hands before typing something, and if it’s a laptop, it will also pick up dirt from the office, cafe and travel bag.

Secondly, dirt and dust can cause buttons to stick. The contacts on the board may become clogged and may not respond to pressure the first time.

Third, A clean keyboard looks aesthetically pleasing. The Mac looks like new.

How often to clean your keyboard

It all depends on your desire and mode of operation of the Mac. It is recommended to clean home computers at least once every three months. It is advisable to clean portable laptops every 30 days.

How to clean your keyboard

Cleaning the keyboard is divided into two stages: external and internal. External cleaning of the keys can be carried out as they become dirty or at the user's request. It is aimed only at removing dirt from the surface of the keys and will not affect the operation of the device in any way.

Internal cleaning is aimed at removing dirt and debris under the buttons. This procedure must be carried out regularly to avoid contamination and sticking of the buttons.

External cleaning

To perform external cleaning, it is not necessary to turn off the computer or disconnect the external keyboard. You can use the KeyboardCleanTool for Mac utility. This free utility Locks keys and prevents false keystrokes during cleaning.

Don't forget to grant permission to the app along the way Settings – Protection and Security – Privacy – Universal access (Administrator password required).

After blocking, we arm ourselves with microfiber, cotton swabs or pads. They must be lightly moistened with water or an alcohol-containing substance. You can use special wet wipes to clean the keyboard and display.

Attention! The liquid should not drain from the rag, cotton wool or napkin. If you're worried about wetting, it's better to play it safe and turn off the computer's power.

Carefully wipe all buttons from the front and ends. Don't forget to wipe the surface of the keyboard itself, bottom part and legs (for external devices).

How to clean the inside of your keyboard

This is a painstaking and time-consuming process. Be patient and have up to an hour of time at your disposal. First, take a photo of the location of the buttons on your smartphone so that you don’t painfully remember the layout later.

Be sure to perform internal cleaning while the computer is powered off.

Using a toothpick or plastic tool, pry up the upper corner of the key and carefully unfasten the fastener from the groove (do not use screwdrivers or knives, they can damage the keys).

Now grab the entire button and unfasten the fastener from the second groove.

Attention! Excessive use of brute force may cause the keys to break. Be careful.

If the retention mechanism is still on the keyboard, unfasten it and secure it to the key.

Once all the buttons have been removed, you can clean up the debris using a vacuum cleaner. Remaining dirt and particles should be removed with a lint-free, slightly dampened cloth.

Wipe the buttons themselves wet wipes or an eraser.

We install the clean buttons in place. We put the key with the fastened fastening in place and press it along the entire perimeter until it clicks. We press several times and make sure that all fasteners are in the right grooves.

Here's a cheat sheet if you forgot to take a photo of your keyboard:

Wait until the keyboard is completely dry and only then turn on the computer.

Do not forget to regularly monitor the condition of the keys and clean them. Do this right now - and tomorrow you will say Thank you yourself for this.

Although Apple company opened the MacBook keyboard maintenance program, the user will not always be able to contact service center. We'll tell you how to deal with the problem of a clogged keyboard and sticky keys yourself.

The keyboard can stop working for a variety of reasons. It could be dust, moisture, or crumbs that got on the keyboard during breakfast. Of course, if the keyboard is seriously damaged or completely fails, you must take the laptop in for repair. However, a little preventative cleaning not only won't hurt, but may also eliminate the problem.

How to clean your MacBook or MacBook Pro keyboard?

• Take the laptop and hold it at a 75 degree angle
• Use a can of compressed air or a bulb on the keyboard. Zigzag from left to right
• Next, repeat these steps from different angles.

Here are photos that clearly demonstrate the cleaning process:

If after carrying out this procedure the user still has problems with the butterfly keyboard, then you should immediately contact a certified service center. Employees will perform the cleaning free of charge if your MacBook model is eligible for maintenance. Here is a list of suitable laptops:

• MacBook (Retina, 12 inches, early 2015)
• MacBook (Retina, 12 inches, early 2016)
• MacBook (Retina, 12 inches, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (15 inches, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (15 inches, 2017)

There are times when you need to remove individual keyboard buttons MacBook Air or Pro. Most often, this happens when liquid is spilled on the keyboard or solid particles get under the buttons, which in turn leads to sticking (sticky pressing) or jamming of individual MacBook keys. Today we will learn how to eliminate troubles of this kind with our own hands.

The most common case is when a sweet liquid is spilled on the keyboard (tea with sugar, compote, Buratino, etc.). To restore functionality in this case, it is necessary to remove the stuck keys and clean the fastening mechanism under them.

Each MacBook keyboard button is attached to a miniature mechanism. It resembles a scissor mechanism, and consists of two tiny plastic rectangles inserted into each other and connected by a central hinge (see picture below). This mechanism is responsible for the smooth movement of your MacBook's keyboard buttons.

So, if the buttons stick or don’t press at all, then something is interfering with them. Let's take them off and see what's going on. This procedure is not complicated, but it requires care and attention.

To remove the buttons, we need a tool to lift the edge of the button itself (this could be a small flat-head screwdriver, a plastic spatula, etc.) and something flat and thin (for example, tweezers) to detach the mechanism.

There are many videos on the Internet on this topic, but be careful when following the advice you are given. So in one of the videos, the “craftsman” removes the buttons of any keyboards only by lifting the right corner of the button. Try this method with a MacBook and your keyboard will lose a couple of teeth.

I want to warn you right away that the mount Air buttons and Pro are slightly different and use different methods for removal.

In order to remove the MacBook Air keyboard buttons you need to.

Step 1

It is necessary to lift the bottom edge of the button using a plastic spatula (flat-head screwdriver). Don't be afraid to raise the bottom edge, but don't overdo it either. The plastic mechanism is quite pliable and easily allows the bottom edge to rise 1.5 - 2mm above aluminum body.

STEP 2

We insert the tweezers horizontally into the resulting gap on the right and gently press down. This will release the lower right corner of the button from its engagement with the mechanism.

If the button does not release completely, insert the tweezers from the left, move it slightly towards the bottom edge and press down lightly. Both lower corners are free.

STEP 3

After removing the button, examine the mechanism for possible reasons inoperability. Is it possible to fix the problem (clean off sweet jam or remove hard crumbs) without removing the mechanism?

If not, then remove the plastic mechanism. To do this, we perform a tricky maneuver: insert the blade of a stationery knife into the gap between the parts of the mechanism (as shown in the pictures above), push the plastic parts of the mechanism apart and bring the edge of the inner part up.

We do the same on the other side. Thus, the parts of the mechanism disengage and are easily removed from the mounts on the body.

STEP 4

To restore the button, put the scissor mechanism in its place and press it with your finger to the base of the keyboard. You will hear “click-click” - the mechanism has engaged with the base.