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Repair Macbook Pro keyboard?

Posted: 19 Mar 2018, 18:16
by coltrane
I have a 2012 Macbook Pro which still works perfectly fine, but for a single alpha key that works sort of intermittently. It'll go for a day or so mostly working. Then other days it's much worse and I have to plug in an external keyboard.

Might this be something I could fix without replacing the whole keyboard section?
Also, before I pull off the cap to check for dust and clean it up: I've read that these scissor switch caps can be difficult to put back on without damaging the switch. Any truth to this, or suggestions from those of you who know how to take these things apart?

Posted: 19 Mar 2018, 23:37
by TicTocTom
My MacBook 'r' key was giving me trouble. Brought it in. They popped of the keycap to discover the clip was broken off and impeding the key from being depressed. Free cap replacement. Done. Try popping it off with a guitar pick if it seems like theres something under it. Could just be debris.

Posted: 20 Mar 2018, 01:05
by Daniel Beardsmore
coltrane wrote: I've read that these scissor switch caps can be difficult to put back on without damaging the switch. Any truth to this, or suggestions from those of you who know how to take these things apart?
For me, I find that keycaps generally just pull off with a keycap puller, and snap back on without bother, but yes, they have tiny plastic parts and you have to be very careful! Also, there are a great many designs of scissor switch, and they may not all be as amenable to disassembly as the ones I've played with.

Posted: 20 Mar 2018, 20:45
by coltrane
Okay, I'll try prying the cap off gently.

If not dirt/debris, any ideas what might cause this behavior? And whether or not that would be fixable?
Although it's an older laptop at this point, I'd hate to have to replace something so expensive when it is functioning just fine except for the one key.