Between 2015 and 2019 Apple used the so-called butterfly keyboard in many MacBooks. It was very flat and thin, but it got a bad reputation: keys that stick, letters that appear twice or keys that stop responding entirely. If you have a MacBook with a butterfly keyboard and typing problems, this article explains which models have it, what you can try and how it is repaired.
Blue Apple repairs MacBook keyboards in Amsterdam, including the butterfly keyboard.
Which MacBooks have a butterfly keyboard?
- 12 inch MacBook (2015-2017).
- 13 inch MacBook Pro (2016-2019; the two-port 13 inch of 2020 already had the new keyboard).
- 15 inch MacBook Pro (2016-2019).
- 13 inch MacBook Air (2018-2019).
Not sure? Check About This Mac. See which MacBook do I have.
Why does it go wrong?
Under every key is a very flat butterfly mechanism with little room. A crumb or speck of dust under the key can block the mechanism. The key then sticks, or the contact registers twice. Apple changed the design a few times, including a thin membrane under the keys from 2018, but it was never fully solved.
Common complaints
- A key sticks or feels different.
- A letter appears twice, or not at all.
- The space bar only responds on one side.
- Keycaps come loose or break.
What you can try yourself
- Clean with compressed air as Apple advised: hold the MacBook at an angle, about 75 degrees, and blow in short bursts along the keys from left to right. Turn the MacBook onto its right side and repeat, then onto its left side.
- Do not pry keys off; the caps and mechanisms are very fragile.
- With double typing: macOS has a Slow Keys option under Accessibility, Keyboard. It can help against double presses, but makes typing slower.
Also see cleaning the keyboard safely.
Typing with a broken keyboard
If one letter does not work, you can temporarily use the Keyboard Viewer: in System Settings, Keyboard turn on the option to show keyboard and emoji viewers in the menu bar. Then you click the letter on screen. For longer work an external keyboard via USB-C or Bluetooth is much more pleasant, and it spares the built-in keyboard until you have it repaired.
Apple's repair programme
Apple had a repair programme for the butterfly keyboard, for four years after a MacBook's first sale. Because the last models are from 2019, the programme has ended for all models. See checking Apple repair programmes.
How is it repaired?
- One key: sometimes a single cap or mechanism can be replaced. See replacing a single key.
- Several keys or the whole keyboard: the keyboard is fixed to the top case. Then the keyboard in the top case is replaced, or the whole top case. See replacing a MacBook keyboard.
Repair or move on?
MacBooks with a butterfly keyboard are now six to ten years old and most no longer get new macOS versions. Whether a new keyboard is worth it depends on the rest of the MacBook. An external keyboard is a cheap stopgap. See repairing an old MacBook or not.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test the keyboard, clean it where that helps and replace keys, the keyboard or the top case if needed. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our page about MacBook keyboard repair.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I have a butterfly keyboard?
The keys are very flat and make a distinct click. To be sure, check the model and year.
Do the problems return after a new keyboard?
A new butterfly keyboard can develop the same problems over time. Careful use helps.
Does the 2020 MacBook Air still have a butterfly keyboard?
No, from the 2020 MacBook Air Apple uses a scissor keyboard again.
