MacBook Pro / Air Keyboard Issues (Repeating, Stuck, Unresponsive)

 Apple launched redesigned keyboards for its MacBook and MacBook Pro in 2015 and 2016, debuting new butterfly keys under each key with home switches that reduce thickness while also offering a satisfying press under the fingers.

Unfortunately, owing to their penchant for failure due to tiny particles such as crumbs or heat problems, Apple's butterfly keyboards are extremely controversial and have been called out as one of the company's worst design decisions. Both butterfly keyboards introduced between 2016 and 2019 (and 2015 in the case of the MacBook) on the MacBook Pro, MacBook, and MacBook Air models have butterfly keys that may be vulnerable to failure.

Apple started phasing out the butterfly keyboard in 2019, and it is no longer in use in new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models as of May 2020, but older devices will continue to encounter problems as the new scissor switch mechanisms can not be upgraded with these.

What's the problem?

Butterfly keys use a distinct butterfly mechanism from the scissor mechanism used by standard keyboards. It is called a butterfly mechanism since the components underneath the key mimic the wings of a butterfly, with a hinge in the middle rather than a pair of scissors overlapping.

To make a thinner keyboard, Apple moved to a butterfly mechanism, which is possible because each key moves less when pressed, so less space is needed. When each key is pressed, the keyboard offers a satisfying amount of travel and stability, but sadly, the thin butterfly mechanism may get jammed with crumbs, dust, and other debris, resulting in keys that do not press correctly, keystrokes that miss keystrokes, or letter-repeating keys.

Keyboard failure is a failure in Apple notebooks because it involves replacing the entire top assembly of the device to patch the keyboard, which is not a cheap fix.

Which Macs are affected?

Since the 2015 MacBook was the first computer to get a butterfly keyboard, all MacBook models have the ability to encounter keyboard problems. In spite of some generational improvements Apple has made to the keyboard with different versions, both 2016, 2017, and 2018 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models are vulnerable to failure, as we will discuss further below. It is not yet clear whether because of component updates, the 2019 models are vulnerable.

Apple's MacBook Air 2018 uses the same butterfly keyboard that is on the MacBook Pro, which has also been the subject of some Reddit and MacRumors forum malfunction complaints.

Note: Not all owners of the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air have encountered Butterfly keyboard problems. With some complaints of heat problems, it is a problem that tends to be related to dust, crumb, and small particulate exposure, which affects a portion of owners of MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air.

According to Apple, there have been issues with the butterfly keyboard for just a "small percentage" of Mac users, but anecdotal reports and the high exposure of the issue have contributed to a general belief that most butterfly keyboards struggle. This is not true, as some individuals have fine keyboards, but the keyboard of any modern Mac notebook has the potential to encounter problems.

What has Apple done?

In June 2018, Apple released a keyboard repair programme equipped with butterfly keys for MacBook and MacBook Pro models, and in May 2019, the programme was extended to include all MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air machines equipped with a butterfly keyboard, including the latest 2019 models.

• MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (Retina, 12­-inch, Early 2016)
• MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, 2017)
• ‌MacBook Air‌ (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
• 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)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2018)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2019)

To receive repairs free of charge, customers with qualifying machines from 2015 to 2019 who encounter keyboard problems can visit an Apple retail store or Apple Approved Service Provider. The repair service is a big deal, as some consumers had to pay upwards of $500 in fees prior to its initiation to have their MacBook and MacBook Pro models fixed.

For four years from the date of purchase, all MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air models are eligible, so the 2019 machines are covered until 2023.

What about 2018 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models?

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that use a modified butterfly keyboard of the third generation were unveiled by Apple in 2018. Behind each key, the third-generation butterfly keyboard has a thin silicone barrier that was placed in place as an entry-proofing measure to avoid dust from entering the keys.

After the introduction of the third-generation butterfly keyboard, there was hope that it would cut down on errors, but the 2018 MacBook Pro is still prone to keyboard problems, as a recent article from The Wall Street Journal pointed out. Apple apologised in a statement, but did not detail particular repair solutions or potential keyboard plans.

We know that with their third-generation butterfly keyboard, a limited number of users are having problems and we are sorry for that. The vast majority of customers with Mac notebooks have a good experience with the new keyboard.

2018 machines with revised butterfly keyboards may malfunction less frequently, but owners of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air have still reported problems in 2018, which is something to be aware of before making a purchase.

What about 2019 MacBook Pro models?

New MacBook Pro models with additional enhancements to the third-generation butterfly keyboard were released by Apple in May 2019. The 2019 MacBook Pros have keyboards made with a new material that Apple says will reduce the keyboard errors users have seen dramatically.

In the modified butterfly keyboard, Apple did not include clear information about the material upgrade. Apple has made modifications to the membrane which covers the keyboard switches, according to an iFixit teardown.

2018 MacBook Pro parts on left, 2019 MacBook Pro parts on right in each image

The new membrane tends to be made of polyacetylene and is cleaner and smoother to the touch. Over any key turn, there are also slight improvements to the metal dome, possibly intended to mitigate issues with longevity, bounce-back, or other problems.

According to Apple, with this new updated third-generation butterfly keyboard, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air machines that experience keyboard errors will be able to update in 2018. It would not be necessary to upgrade older devices that do not use the third-generation butterfly keyboard with the 2019 technology, but even this newer technology is occasionally prone to failure.

What do I do if my butterfly keyboard fails?

You can contact Apple support, or visit an Apple retail store for repair options, regardless of the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro you have. Customers with an infected computer would have no trouble having a patch now that all butterfly keyboards are secured.

Instead of sending machines off to a repair facility that takes days, Apple prioritises MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboard repairs and allows Apple retail workers to perform in-store repairs. Apple is also planning to include MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboard replacements for next-day delivery time, which could increase the inconvenience of repairs.

In certain situations, if you get a big crumb under a key, the key will feel locked in place. There are moments when you can wiggle the key to crack the crumb and get it working properly, and Apple also suggests that the compressed air keyboard be washed out.

No more butterfly keyboards?

Apple has essentially dropped the butterfly keyboard from its notebook range with the introduction of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, and the revised 13-inch 'MacBook Air'. There are no MacBooks that feature the butterfly key mechanism as of May 2020, with the newest Apple computers all featuring a newer, more robust keyboard scissor switch mechanism, which Apple calls the 'Magic Keyboard.'

In the Magic Keyboard, the scissor mechanism provides 1 mm of key travel and a stable key feel, plus an Apple-crafted rubber dome designed for a more sensitive key press to store more potential energy. Apple claims that a convenient, enjoyable, and quiet typing experience is provided by the Magic Keyboard. The keyboard is similar to the butterfly keyboard choices in terms of design, except on the Touch Bar there is a physical Escape key instead of a virtual key, and the Touch ID button is also a separate button.