My MacBook Keyboard Is Broken and It's Insanely Expensive to Fix

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My MacBook Keyboard Is Broken and It's Insanely Expensive to Fix

TobiasBerg

Comments (136)

MostlyStable
>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future.No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either.One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. These quality features are, in part, achieved by the same choices that make it hard to repair. Ease of repair and "build quality", are to some degree (although not entirely) tradeoffs against each other.I say this as a framework owner who would never buy something as irreparable as a macbook. Regulation is not the answer here.
bonyt
I replaced the keyboard MacBook Air M1 keyboard with a $20 model from Amazon and it's been going strong for a full year. I had spilled ginger ale on the original.The board is riveted in, but there are enough screws to hold the replacement in place. Removing the board is a shockingly violent process, but it worked for me.Keyboard: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQBVMM3X (price has gone up).Video of rivets breaking: https://i.tonybox.net/9f2083b218d5.mp4 (you can see I missed a screw and slightly cut my hand here too).
relium
My MacBook Pro M1 keyboard broke too and Apple wanted $900 to replace it. I bought a $30 replacement on Amazon and started replacing it myself. Unfortunately the repair was a bit too complicated for me, but luckily one of my co-workers had more patience and replaced it for some beer.This video is a good overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmMpEEP5ls
mattbillenstein
Framework Laptop + some form of Linux - MacOS keeps getting worse and the hardware exceeding hard and expensive to repair.
KnuthIsGod
My first computer was a Mac Plus.I got to experience Apple's customer hostile practices.Many years ago l decided never to buy an Apple product again.
h4kunamata
No symphaty!!!Apple has been doing this since forever and people keep buying its hardware.You cannot replace a screen even if you buy a genuine one because Apple locks hardware ID via firmware, so only they can replace that!Apple own customer is the reason why Apple does what it does best: You rent your hardware, you don't and never will own an Apple hardware!!
Tade0
> I say “stopped working”, but technically it works too well now, it is being pressed constantly, which makes the laptop pretty unusable.I had this problem in my Framework. I fixed it by... holding the laptop upside down and mashing the offending key for several minutes. Didn't work immediately, but now you wouldn't tell that it was ever broken. I've managed to panic-order (~€80) another keyboard though, so now I have a spare.For context a laptop keyboard is build like this:https://www.iqsdirectory.com/articles/membrane-switch/membra...This problem is caused by the layers sticking together. In the case of the Framework 16 the "d" key sits on top of a foam pad which in turn is placed on top of a heat pipe, so this area gets particularly hot under load. The layers are often made from PET, which starts softening anywhere in the range of 65-87C - so easily within range of a laptop heat pipe.By mashing the key I was hoping to detach the layers and apparently it worked.That being said for gaming I use an external keyboard now, because the one built-in is made by an external supplier and I don't think they'll start using a more heat-resistant material anytime soon.
ebbi
Cautiously optimistic, given the repairability of the MacBook Neo keyboard, that this design will make it to the rest of their laptops when the refreshed designs are released (next year?).
linsomniac
Does anyone know if this is covered under the Apple Care plans? My 16" M1 MBP keyboard has been no problem, I'm just curious. Not saying that negates the issue.Unfortunately, AFAICT, these repairability issues are largely due to the move to thinner and lighter laptops. Replacing my MILs Microsoft Surface tablet was a pain in the butt. Had to cut the case open and tape it back together. But that thing was insanely small and light. My MIL liked it because she has a lot of trouble carrying anything very heavy.
jwlake
ifixit sells just the keyboards, why doesn't that work?https://www.ifixit.com/products/macbook-pro-14-a2442-a2779-a...
VladVladikoff
Looks like it’s possible to replace just the keyboard https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSQ0DpG1HA&t=907s&pp=2AGLB5AC...
coldsunrays
> order a replacement keyboard, take the laptop apart, replace the keyboard and good to goThat’s all it took with my Framework laptop, and I’m very grateful for it. I was in a good place financially when I got it, but now I’m not. I feel a strong sense of relief that if an accident occurs and I need a repair, it won’t set me back too much.
bluedino
I thought the keys were replaceable now?(first video I found on a search)https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WYT7YIh00XkI know in the Butterfly days those keys would break when you removed them.
koinedad
I use right command + HJKL with karabiner and use it way too much, typing on someone else’s keyboard really throws me off but it’s great for my daily usage
mememememememo
> mapped capslock + J K L Iyou need to visit the confessional for that
heelix
Had a similar experience with the XPS series. Was able to find a keyboard. When taken apart, realized they had used plastic bits, tape, and other things to connect the keyboard to the top lid. Seems they expected one to either be handy with epoxy or buy the combo.
hermitcrab
The trackpad on my 2.5 year old Macbook Air stopped working. Apple wanted over £400 to fix it. Thankfully I found a local guy who did it for a fraction of that. Screw Apple.
anon
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tim-tday
I just had the most horrendous Apple repair experience. In standard warranty with Apple care. Would NOT authorize a mail in repair. Would only authorize walk in to my local shitty Apple authorized third party repair center who were unable / unwilling to reproduce.Fought with them for weeks. Escalated. They lied and said they were doing a no cost replacement. Had to fight the charge. Then they lost my return.So much so that I’ve started switching to Linux and de-googled phone. (Switching off of iPhone just to go to google seems like the greater of evils)The non Apple ecosystem is much more mature than last I checked but still irritating. De googling was my biggest challenge. Getting a viable replacement for Mac OS was the easy part.
0xbadcafebee
This is like complaining that BMW maintenance is expensive.
charcircuit
It would have been cheaper if the author would have bought AppleCare.
contingencies
I strongly recommend not buying a Macbook and instead hacking a mini: https://github.com/vk2diy/hackbook-m4-mini ... cheaper and restores control of peripheral selection and replacement. That is to say "such a system will last ~forever instead of ~3 years [when the first major component dies and replacement costs ~70% of a new Apple product]". Particularly with Asahi Linux progressing so quickly. https://asahilinux.org/ Without Asahi Linux I would not buy a Mac in 2026.I too looked at Framework and like the idea, unfortunately in my case the supply chain was too slow to be tolerable, before even considering the price-performance ratio.I strongly support the idea that the EU should force vendors to make consumer device repairs cost-effective and available or open source and expose their component interfaces in exchange for the right to sell in Europe. After all, the EU brought us USB-C, so we know regulatory pressure works. Thanks, EU!
BoredPositron
What MacBook is it? If you don't have the insane butterfly switches single keys are pretty repairable now.
sleepybrett
the macbook neo has gone back to a replaceable keyboard. The next line of macbookpros are appenrly getting a new case design. There is hope.
TacticalCoder
Apple is disgusting from that standpoint. I have my MacBook Air M1's screen break overnight (the "bendgate"), without any reason, after 13 months. I didn't buy the extended two years warranty. I was one-month off warranty. On a MacBook Air M1 I paid something like 1000 EUR VAT included (don't remember the exact price but in that ballpark), they were asking 700 EUR to fix the screen.I still just ordered a MacMini M4 (I know the M5 is coming but we've got something like 20 computers at home, including servers, NUCs, laptops, desktop, etc. so I may not mind buying a M5).Still... Apple, from the bottom of my heart: FUCK YOU.
julienreszka
>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future.if you thing government regulation will help you you are lying to yourself that's not how the world works
EteenSMASH
Buy a framework bro
0xedd
[dead]
chad_strategic
[flagged]
lobito25
[flagged]
k310
Go figure. MacBook Neo Is the Most Repairable MacBook in 14 Years [0]Much as a laptop would suit me, I opted for a mini and a large display.Come keyboard time, I was ready to spend $$$$$ for an Apple keyboard, but the only backlit ones come on laptops. I'm using a Logitech now, with the option of charging it all the time, else the lights dim themselves to conserve battery.Yes, I was 19 once. And three times after that. But there we go again, stuff designed for 19 year-olds.How about this? (image at imgbb.com)https://i.ibb.co/66RZd3b/mbp16-m3-max-01.jpg (JK)
carlosjobim
Swedes many times have a defeatist attitude towards companies and authorities, and expect that they will never get any help unless they have a right to it (from warranties or such).The author doesn't mention ever contacting Apple to get his keyboard fixed. Maybe he could have gotten pleasantly surprised?"Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future."However, this quote is not a surprise at all, and goes perfectly in line with Swedish philosophy. And the philosophy of this message board as well.
hurricanepootis
This isn't an issue with macbook keyboards, a lot of windows laptops have their keyboards riveted to the C cover of a laptop.