Keyboard Intermittently Non Responsive - Top row of Qwerty only

Problem in my friend's early 2011 macbook pro was unworking row of keys QWERTYUIO so I decided to figure out what was wrong there.

1. It was very dusty inside so heatsink was almost clogged and machine seemed to be very hot. I noticed heatsink sticked to keyboard black foil. But it wasnt that bad.

2. I removed keyboard (66 or so screws, yes) and disassembled it completely, every single key :-)

3. Next I took a close view on contact layer of keyboard and figured out what traces are responsible for non working keys and finally find a trace break! Im wonderin' how that break could happen, but it's a fact. There are at least 2 conductive layers separated by thin plasic layer, everything glued together so be careful when diggin' into...

4. Then I had to reestablish that trace so conductive paint was helpful. I used Mechanic MCN-DJ002. Looks kinda terrible but worked. Dont forget to check if you successfully fixed that via. Be careful, that factory traces are very fragile.

5. When my broken trace was fixed I assembled back machine and now every key works fine.

PS this fix is very hard to do but in comparison to changing top cover for 300$ this costed me few hours of time and just 4$ for conductive paint. Its much faster just to replace the whole keyboard - this is my advice for everyone.

PPS when you got multiple keys non working - the first that you wanna try is to check your keyboard connector and flex. If it doesnt work and you know how - check pcb vias from keyboard connector to chip that is responsible for that stuff, you need to get schematics and board view. If that was OK - you just get your new keyboard and install it, don't bother with diggin' so deep as I did.

I had this problem with the row "z" to "m" and a few more around. They stopped working from time to time and then recovered.

Then once I noticed they had stopped working after the MacBook was on a table but supported only in the centre of its base. Hence I wondered if the compression in the centre was somehow harming the contacts of the keyboard.

So I decided to give it a stretch! I put my thumb in the middle of the row (between the keys) and the other fingers on the left and right borders for the macbook and I pressed with my thumbs. And voilà! It worked!!! Sometimes the keys start to fail again and I repeat the exercise; it has worked all the times!

At least for now I have saved 500 euros in a new keyboard. I guess my backpack is the culprit, as it somehow unnoticeably bends my System!

This has been a pain for the last 12 months, Q to O failing.

My solution is to hold down the Q key whilst tapping the other affected keys (W to O). It usually brings them all back to life after a few taps.

You can also hold down the Q key and tap a single affected key on its own, for a quick one-key solution.

Q to O will eventually fail again, but using the above always brings them back.

Here's the problem and the solution (on my 2012 MacBook Pro):

I had this issue and found that pressing down hard on the E key before the problem keys or the lower case to the right of the trackpad got it working again for a bit sometimes. It also worked fine using a USB keyboard.

took it to a repair place and they got it working for a couple weeks but then the problem returned.

What the real issue turned out to be was the battery was swollen after two years.

If you have this problem, remove the battery and run the computer from the power cord only and see if the problem goes away. In my case it did, so I ordered a new battery and installed it, and with a new (unswollen) battery, the problem didn't return and the computer works just fine.

I didn't change the keyboard or the top case, just the battery.

No more issue.

Hi,

Are there any news regarding a official fix for this problem? I have a Macbook Air 13 Mid 2011 and unfortunately I have the same problem with the "qwertyuio" buttons row. It seems a problem with the software (maybe a bug?), because when rebooting the mac usually the row never works ... To run the keys, I have to press repeatedly (and randomly) all the keys from "q" to "o" many times. Once they take the input, the keys work correctly until the mac spend some time in standby...

Do you have any solutions or tips? I've already checked, opened, cleaned the mac and internal parts (battery is ok, not a single crumb or spill) and tried all the fixes that I could find on the internet. But unfortunately the problem continues to be there! I would not want to change all the keyboard then find out that the problem is always there :(

Thank You and regards!

Hi, I'm writing some sort of update... Maybe I found my problem!

Yesterday I opened the Mac, removed the battery and cleaned the logic board with some ethanol... Until I realized that it was not the logic board causing the issue with those keys but the one-way-pin starting from the keyboard, goes from the trackpad and connects everything to the motherboard.

I cleaned these three connectors (attached picture) : https://postimg.org/image/5e6rzygwr/

And now, It works!

My considerations? Perhaps, the old battery was inflated a bit and pressed abnormally on the trackpad, where the two connectors (keyboard + trackpad) reside. When I changed it a year ago, I probably didn't notice this difference!

So the fix is: If you have a keyboard problem and you have a macbook out of warranty, I advise you to clean everything sparingly (pins, connectors etc.) before replacing any hardware part! ;)

I hope I've been helpful. Regards

Old thread I know but I recently had the same problem with my 2011 Macbook Air.

The QWERTY row was dead BUT would, on occasion, return to full functionality.

I invested 6.95 in a set of nice quality tools for back and battery removal and went ahead and removed the aforementioned bits. I left the battery out and disconnected for 24 hrs and also pressed and held the on / off button for a few seconds. On re assembly the Macbook is working perfectly and back to its old self.

I had the EXACT same issue as described here and I just wanted to add what worked for me. The screws on the bottom of these laptops can quite easily fall out and I had noticed that 2x screws were missing from the bottom of my laptop.

I then noticed that applying pressure where the missing screw was enabled me to make the top row of keys work again.

Simple fix - either tighten or replace the screws in the base of the machine.

I gradually loosened up the 5 screws, which hold the battery, until it worked like a charm. Redid it 2 times the same week because I was stingy on screwdriver turns.

When problem occured:

Charging cycles: 150

29 months old

Now:

Charging cycles: 212

34 months old refurbished European 13 ‘’ MBA early 2015 A1466 (128 GB SSD, 1,6 GB proc., 8GB RAM)

Issue reoccured about a month ago, disappeared and reappeared at its own will, after one week the issue was permanent.

No method I tried worked (loosening battery screws, pushing multiple / different keys / the keyboard hard at different locations, putting something below the motherboard to lift it slightly, removing the battery, removing keycaps that have a metal hinge part, using pressurised air without and with keys being removed).

Thinking about the answer below from centar07 I disconnected the two cables that connect the keyboard to the motherboard.

On the plug of the cable connecting the keyboard to the trackpad I found well visible soft white solid stuff on 2 pins on the far side where the tab button is.

I removed it in one second using my fingernail and the keyboard worked instantly and has been working since.

I have this same problem, and it looks like it happens a lot to other people as well.

Still not solved it, but this helped make it way better:

http://www.webholism.com/blog/sara/macbo...

Did you find a fix?

I have exactly the same problem - right down to the 'P' key working.

I brought it to the Genius Bar and they kept it for 48hrs to run tests. They found no problem but as soon as I opened it to use it, the problem recurred.

hey! did you guys find any solution to this issue? im also experiencing it on a macbook air. i was going to get a keyboard replacement, but i don't want to change it only to find out afterwards the problem appears again!

this macbook is running both el capitan and windows 7 using bootcamp, and the problem appear in both OS, so that made me think of a keyboard issue. how could i discard any logic board issues? any ideas?

Same issue here with a MacBook Air, 2014, 13". Problem occurred prior to upgrading to High Sierra.

Problem keys are: q, w, e, r, t, y, u, i and o. When I press those keys individually, they type this: AQ1§§'JMU7;IK8,\.'U7JMU7;IK8\

2015 MacBook Pro 15” here. R works only when press very hard. ] completely stopped working. Traces under R look corroded but under ] looks clean.

T%hi8s i8s my6 ke3y6bo9ar4d pr4o9ble3m. All o9f t5he3 t5o9p r4o9w2 ke3y6s add a nu7mbe3r4.

This is my keyboard problem. All of the top row keys add a number. Bluetooth keyboard

I had issues with 789YUIHJKM or more. The issue was when I pressed these letters it moves the mouse point. I tried to clean it but it didn’t work. But somehow I went to setting/accessibility/touch/assistivetouch/mouse keys and then turn off the (use primary keyboard). Now it goes back to normal. Just in case if someone have the same issues. Magic keyboard. Thank you.

Μac's are an unsolved cosmic mystery. I follow this topic for years after I left my AiR in a box NOT FUNCTIONAL as a laptop cause the qwerty bla bla had left me for ever. Even the best fixers in my town couldn't repair it... (I had try evrything except spells magics e.t.c.)... a few months ago I was in need of an extra monitor for a simple job with no need of keyboard... so I recover it from the box, charge it, open it...still absolutely functional tho I hadn't use it for more than 5 years... and guess what! Keyword works perfectly good...lol

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!! AFTER 2 YEARS WITH THIS PROBLEM!!

I’m using the normal keyboard instead of the bluetooth one I was using for 2 years!!!

I tried everything !! and at the end, by chance, I explain how I fixed:

Using a flat hexagonal head and a piece of cloth to avoid any scratch and marks on the aluminum case, apply quite a pressure in the space between the following keys, Q,W,2,S,A,E,D,F,3.. around that area it worked for me very well.

You will notice as the keys QWERTYUIO returned to work again!!

In that area there is the liquid cooling system, I guess that with time it gets separated or makes a bad ground connection and it creates electrostatic fields that might interfere with those keys in the same line, probably the key P, TAB, and numbers around are connected internally in a different way, separated from the malfunction ones.

Whatever is I got a solution that even Apple couldn´t solve …oh yes… they can.. by paying for a new keyboard.

I hope you have the same results because it was extremely annoying.

Good luck my friends

Enrique