Change the behavior of function keys on your Mac You can use the top row of keys on your Apple keyboard as standard function keys or to control built-in Mac features. If your Apple keyboard has icons printed on some of the keys on its top row, these keys can be used to perform the special features shown in each icon.
Well this was a fun morning. Deadlines to meet, busy busy busy, and what should be the stumbling block? Tricky PHP code? Gnarly CSS tweaks?
It’s just a simple case of my beloved MacBook Pro keys not working. Crazy, I know. So off to the Apple forums I electronically trundle.
This marvellous article (keeps popping up, so I follow it all the way through, down to every last drop of detail. So I go off-piste. And here’s the fix that worked for me:.
Go to System Preferences (you can get there from Mission Control, or the top left Apple icon on your screen, and then click System Preferences. Go to Keyboard. Go to the Input Sources tab. Click the + button (bottom left of window). Add a new keyboard (preferably of a similar language). We had British running originally, so we added U.S. Below it (i.e.
You should now have 2 keyboards in the list). Your “broken” keys should now be working again (try with glee in an open text edit window, or similar).
Feel free to remove your newly added keyboard (i.e. You should just be left with your original keyboard), as the fix should still work. You can do this by selecting the newly added keyboard and clicking the – button to remove. So why does this happen? But it seems to be a software hiccup that’s tenderly reminded of all it’s appropriate keys when a new keyboard is added. All I know is I can now get back to work.
? Have we saved you some grey hair? Or made you smile? We’d love to know about it in the comments below, or, if you’re unable to contain your happiness, we wouldn’t say no to a cup of coffee ? This entry was posted in on. ↓. Elle My A,S,D keys suddenly stopped working when I was in college. It took me hours to write my papers because I had to stop and click on the keyboard viewer. After I graduated college, my keys decided to work again.
I was aggravated but joyous at the same time. Then a couple of months later it stopped again. I stumbled onto your blog and did what you did but I added British instead. Did not work. I deleted U.S, again did not work. Back and deleted British and voila!!
You’re amazing! ↓. kirstin Hi I also have an older MacBook Pro (Mac OSX 10.5.8) with the i and u keys not working. When I go to system preferences there is a keyboard section but no “input Sources” tab. There are Keyboard and keyboard shortcuts tabs at the top and these options in a side list: Dashboard & Dock Expose & Spaces Front Row Keyboard &Text input Screen shots Services Spotlight universal Access Applications Shortcuts I’ve gone through them all to see if they offered another keyboard. I’ve also tried the link you suggested but no joy!
Be great if yo cold help! ↓.
Post author Hi Corey, Thanks for your post. If the above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓. Post author Hi Curtis, Thanks for your post.
If the above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓. jean-pierre same thing hee, i called apple they said it is not a software problem, must ee hadwae (HARWARE) r.c. A, etc no typing.so i went to apple genius Ba (BAR) in NY, they che (C) ked the keys by pluging a machine where you seen a screen and the keys woking ( R) but you have to go slooooooow very slow and also typing 3 times some keys.they concluded you have not hardware problem.Funny guy!! ↓. Post author Hi Jean-Pierre, So sorry to hear that you’re having such a rough time with your keyboard ? If our above article fix doesn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe try an external keyboard to see if that will at least allow you to carry on with your work?
![Function Keys Not Working For Spotify On Mac Function Keys Not Working For Spotify On Mac](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125372225/883887076.png)
Best of luck! ↓. Post author Hi Bill, Thanks for your post.
If the above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓. Post author Hi Christian, Thanks for your post. If our above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓.
Post author Hi William, Thanks for your post. If our above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓.
fuad If at all anyone gets this problem. Try opening the laptop, disconnect the keyboard from the motherboard (the connector is always near the battery try), by this I dont mean the whole keyboard, just the connector.
Then wipe the connector with a clean piece of cloth then re insert it again and then switch on the laptop. The keys should be working fine. Its the connector that confuses the keys either because there is dirt or loose connection. All the best.
NB PRAM, CMS Reset and all the above keyboard language change will not help. This is a hardware thing. Even reformatting wont help. I have done this and the only thing that helped is cleaning the connector. ↓. Jackjack Hi, my name is a Jack and I’m currently 21 and in College.
I have a macbook pro using OSX I have been dealing with an issue for about 2 years now where my e,r,t,y,u,i and o keys suddenly stop working. My only remedy to solve this problem was to open up keyboard viewer and randomly click buttons till the unresponsive keys shortly after start working again. I get a unresponsive keyboard for the letters once every 2-4 minutes or whenever I wake my macbook up from sleep. I had tried using my windows operating system using bootcamp to see if the keys worked but I had the same result.
I couldn’t get the keys to work at all on my windows operating system. I use my macbook pro a lot but because of my unresponsive keys I use a exterior keyboard most of the time. I generally would like to use my internal keyboard again without the hassle of spamming my keyboard till my keys work. I have tried have tried removing my windows operating system on my bootcamp, changed keyboard import sources and tried removing useless programs and clutter on my macbook. But I didn’t find a permanent fix or any improvements. I also tried looking into fixes online and this article is the closes I could find to my issue. I have read multiple tricks on how people have fixed their macbook’s keyboards and was wondering if anyone had a specific trick that might be suitable for my situation before I decide to backup everything and re-install Macintosh on my macbook.
I am currently using my internal keyboard and mouse pad for this letter and have ran into the problem of unresponsive keys about 8 times. If someone could look into my issue I would greatly appreciate it. ↓. Post author Hi Jack, Thanks for your post. If our above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓.
Post author Hi Abhey, Can you try logging in as a guest account, applying the fix in our article above and then see if you can log into your regular account? If our above article fix doesn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓. Karl Sebastian Go into System Preferences and choose Accessibility. Choose Mouse and Trackpad. If Enable Mouse Keys is ticked, untick it.
Then choose Options in this same panel and untick Press Option Key five times etc. In my case I apparently activated this Enable Mouse Keys. It still happens occasionally without my conscious input! After five frustrating calls to Apple help with no resolution of my problem I came across the exact description of the problem and it’s cure.
I cannot remember how I worded my Google request to get there! All the very best, Karl Sebastian.
↓. Post author Hi Ciara, Thanks for your post. If our above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: If no luck there, then maybe visit a Genius Bar and they’ll be able to let you know if it’s fixable. Best of luck! ↓. Paul Courtney Hi Sara, I’ve had my keys in the center top letters row slowly lose their functionality. It started with “t” and the spread to the right.
I did my due diligence of google searching and I came here after I tried resetting the NVRAM, which did not work. I tried adding a British keyboard (I’m in the US) but that did not solve the problem. However, it did get me to use the “keyboard viewer”. When I did so I noticed that the y, u, i and o keys, all of which were no longer working, would pop up their accent keys on the viewer. On a hunch, I disabled this through a terminal command (see ) and restarted my mac.
The “t” is still a bit wonky but the other keys have all reappeared. ↓. terry Hey, that solution worked on an email I was typing, but now that I’m responding here, those keys are not working again, now using my external keyboard.
You guys need to figure this out please! WTF is causing this, obviously a soft ware problem, yet my local Apple store was suggesting I would need a $250 keyboard replacement, or perhaps it was a swelling batter, or, my theory, the vibration of the internal speaker, located under this batch of misfunctioning keys, was the cause Can we not figure this out? Operating a 2012 MacBook Pro OS 10.12. ↓. Post author Hi Terry, I’m afraid as we don’t actually work for Apple, we’re a bit limited in what we can do to permanently fix this problem. If our above article fix didn’t work for you, then maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: Hope this helps!
↓. Sarah, I just upgraded to the latest version of Sierra last night that was available, I believe version 10.5.5 On my 2013 MacBook Pro 15 inch.
I was working fine prior to the upgrade as far as the keyboard etc. Now the keys U, I, O, K, and M, will not function. I do notice that by depressing the K and M for a period of time, the cursor seems to move up and down very slowly as though I had the mouse keys enabled but I do not. I have read your thread above dating back to years and I have tried other options I have read such as, hitting it off and key five times in a row, enabling an additional keyboard and then removing it later, holding down all non-functioning kets, and and still I’m cursed with the same problem after this upgrade. I don’t use an external keyboard or mouse does have to rely on the internal keyboard and touchpad. Have you any additional ideas as to what I can try? Again, this works perfectly yesterday and only stopped working after I did the upgrade on the OS.
↓. L Hall Sara, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!! I was about to replace my MacBook Pro as I was told by Apple that the key are broke but it’s all working again thanks to you. My Mac is from 2011 but still a fast computer which should last me a few more years! You’ve just saved me at least $1300 and can still go on vacation this year as I don’t have to buy a new Mac!!!!! Just 1 tip from me. My Mac was purchased in Australia, I first tried changing the keyboard to US English but it didn’t work.
I then changed to French and then to British English and then it’s been perfect ever since! Utterly random solutions, but so glad it works. ↓. Destiny Firstly, I just want to say that its pretty shocking that this is an ongoing issue for iOS users since 20 4 (I cant type the number one, doh!) So Ive been having issues for a few months: first it was my Shift L (so I downloaded Karabiner Elements which has been a God send!) but yesterday the A key stopped working and now its the number one. Its like a disease thats spreading on my laptop!!! Im currently using a wireless keyboard just to be able to function/write this message but its rather annoying! So unfortunately your original post hasnt worked for me ? I added the U.S.
Keyboard, then I added a few others (Irish etc) – deleted, readded – still not working. I see that you have been responding to everyone on here and posted quite a few links to alternative solutions, but theres quite a few links to go through so Id be really grateful if you could respond and send me the best link that you think will work for me. I have a macook air so the keyboards built into the laptop. Thanking you in advance Sara!
↓. Dean I know this is a bit of a necropost at this point, butthank you for trying to address this problem, as I brought my (then still relatively new) macbook to more than one Apple store about this very issue—the Y, U, I, and O keys mysteriously deciding not to work. All they did was shrug and smirk (one of them actually winked at me, which to this day I find baffling). One told me he could install a new keyboard, but the price of that was basically 1/4th of the cost of the machine. So I just started using USB or bluetooth keyboards, which I still do whenever this issue pops up. I tried your method and frustratingly it didn’t work for me—at first it seemed to, but quickly stopped working again.
Strangely this problem seems to have a confusing pattern. Some days those keys work fine, but other (most) days they don’t. The only thing I’ve noticed is that if you hold all four of them down for a moment, they start to work again for a few moments. If anyone figures out this bizarre and annoying glitch for certain, I will give them a gold medal.
Anyway, happy to know you made it work for you. ↓. Post author Hi Dean, Thanks for your post, and sorry to hear that our fix didn’t work for you. If you do spot a pattern, please do let us know. With so many people commenting on this post we’re keeping all fingers and toes crossed that someone will finally discover what’s causing the glitch and share it with us.
In terms of fixing your issue, maybe give the solutions here a try: If you’re still having no luck, then it might be that your keyboard needs a little spring clean – check out the solution at the bottom of the page here to see if that fixes the problem, although you may need to find cleaning instructions to fit your particular keyboard: Hope this helps! ↓. Thank you for this helpful post! The time you took to explain this fix has helped me – and others, as well – a great deal. Several years have passed since this went up, so I’m not sure if anyone still follows this thread, but I just found it and solved my problems with typing f, g, h, j, k, and l. Hopefully, you will see this expression of my gratitude.
Just in case someone sees this, I also have a couple of questions. The solution posted here works for one day, in my case, making it necessary to follow the instructions again the following day. Given that the fix takes less than a minute, I don’t mind doing it every day, but I wonder if there is a way to solve it permanently. Until I find this, I worry about keeping my computer password protected. Also, I wonder if this means that no hardware malfunction has caused this problem. On another site, I saw a claim that the wiring to specific keys might have shorted out, a problem that I would want to fix if it exists. Since the fix explained here works, it would seem as though this could not be caused by a physical flaw in the machine, but perhaps I misunderstand this; I would happily see any responses that clear this up.
All the best, Marco.