Replacing the spacebar key.

1. If you need to remove a rectangular key (for example, because it sticks when pressed), always start prying it off from the left side - from the upper or lower corner.

2. Glue is used under the topcase to attach the keys more tightly, so after removal, carefully inspect the area under the keys and if it is present, you need to wipe it off using a spatula tool.

3. Test the mechanism for attaching the keys to the topcase by carefully lifting and lowering it with a spatula several times.

If the mechanism is installed correctly, it should move smoothly during testing.

If it moves too freely, remove the mechanism and compare the 2 parts with the picture below.

The inner part should turn smoothly within the outer part.

The 4 pins and sliding surface must not be damaged.

When closing the mechanism, there should be no gaps in it.

4. Check the back of the mechanism for two clips on one side and two hooks on the other side

If any hook or clip(s) are damaged, the key should be replaced.

If all parts are intact, then this key can be used again.

5. Check the rubber tip and surrounding metal areas on the topcase for integrity.

If the rubber tip is pressed and released, it should return to its original shape; if this does not happen or there is other visible damage, then the topcase should be replaced.

If the hook securing the sliding surface of the key is bent, then try bending it to its original shape, i.e. perpendicular to the topcase. If it is impossible to straighten the hook leg, the topcase should be replaced

If the metal tabs are bent, use pliers to straighten them. If it is impossible to straighten them, then in this case the topcase should also be changed.

6. In the open fastening mechanism, install the sliding surface under the metal hook of the topcase.

7. Align the sliding mechanism with the corresponding pins on the topcase, then press one pin at a time with a spatula to secure it completely.

8. Once the sliding mechanism is secured in place, check its operation - it should move smoothly down and up when pressed

9. Check the area under the key: if the lower stabilizer is raised up, it should be lowered as far as possible.

11. Align the row of clips on the bottom edge of the key with the stabilizer.

12. Slide your finger from left to right along the underside of the key to secure it in the clips (you will hear a characteristic click)

13. Now slide your finger from right to left along the top side of the key to secure it into the stabilizer.

14. Press down on the entire key area to ensure it is secured in the clips and stabilizer.

15. Check that the mechanism is correctly secured: press the upper left corner of the key and see if the right side is pressed together with the left; if so, then you have followed the procedure correctly.

Repairing laptops and electronics for more than 9 years, we've seen it all. MacBooks broken in half, phones falling from the 5th floor. Tablets brought in for repair with the case sawed through by an angle grinder, and much more. All these cases are certainly quite rare and interesting. But now we will talk in detail about an equally interesting and quite common malfunction - replacing the Macbook keyboard. Let's start with how it works and the reasons for its breakdown.

How does a MacBook keyboard work?

Each key is attached using special mounts that allow the Mac keyboard to move up and down. Under each button there are thin films with contact pads. When you press the button, the pads touch and lock, sending a signal to the Mac's motherboard. A special rubber membrane returns the key to its normal position, everything is quite simple. Keyboards for the European market and the US market differ. In laptops for Europe, the Enter key has an “L” shape, and for the US market and some Asian countries it has a rectangular shape.

Why the macbook keyboard does not work, causes and consequences.

The main problem is our carelessness, or the will of chance. The absolute leader is the ingress of moisture, such as water, juice, beer and other tasty and not so tasty liquids. In such cases, the MacBook behaves quite unpredictably. Some buttons stop working, and the keys become crunchy or sticky. Sometimes it gets to the point where the MacBook cannot be turned off, or, even worse, cannot be turned on. A faulty keyboard can cause laptop reboots and freezes, and incorrect operation of the cooler (cooling system fan).
In such cases MacBook keyboard replacement happens entirely. Of course, you can try to wash and clean it, and it will cost a little less. But it is unfortunately impossible to guarantee a positive result of these procedures and give a serious guarantee for its work.

In second place are torn or broken buttons. In this case, the keyboard works quite well, but some keys or mechanisms may be missing. The reason for this is most often children or animals. Less commonly, such a malfunction can be caused by a heavy object falling. If the fasteners on the substrate are intact and the films are not damaged, then you can replace the macbook button separately. It will cost several times less than replacing the entire keyboard.

The third case concerns the new Macbook Retina models, as well as the MacBook Air. Due to a fall or impact, the inter-board cable becomes unusable. The keyboard is first connected to the board on the touchpad, then a cable goes from the touchpad to the Macbook motherboard, which is sometimes the culprit. The symptoms in this case are obvious - the touchpad and keyboard of the MacBook pro or air either does not work correctly or does not work at all. In this case, it will be enough to replace only the cable.

What to do if your Mac keyboard doesn't work.

First of all, stay calm, this repair is fairly painless for a laptop. If moisture gets in, it is better not to delay it and contact a service center as soon as possible. This will increase the chances of salvation and reduce possible negative consequences. Drying the keys with a hairdryer or rice and repairing the Mac yourself is highly not recommended. If you dry it out, you can melt the buttons, and if you replace it yourself, it can cause even worse damage to your MacBook. For example, you may end up having to repair the board or replace the MacBook matrix. Better trust the professionals.

How to replace the keyboard on a MacBook Pro and Air.

Official Apple services usually do not replace the keyboard separately; they install it complete with the top case and, in some cases, with the touchpad. As you understand, such repairs are expensive and you will have to wait for a spare part for some time. Private services successfully replace the keyboard separately, it is faster and cheaper, and the quality remains the same.

First of all, the Mac is almost completely disassembled; getting to the keyboard is not so easy. On MacBook Pro 13, 15 and 17 inches (a1278, a1286 and a1287 respectively) it is screwed to the TopCase. The old keyboard is unscrewed and a new one is installed in its place. The Mac is then assembled, inspected and given to the lucky owner.

On laptops MacBook Air 11 and 13 inches (models a1370, a1369, since 2012 a1465 and a1466), as well as on Macbook pro Retina 13 and 15 inches (models a 1425, a1502, a1398) everything is a little more complicated. The keyboard is secured with screws only around the perimeter. Aluminum rivets are used in the central part for fastening. In this case, the accessible screws are unscrewed, and then the master removes the rivets. After successfully removing the old part, a new one is installed in its place, and screws are screwed into the places where the rivets were.

As you can see, the devil is not so scary; repairs are quite possible. The price indicated on the website includes:

• Diagnostics of basic functions;
• Spare part price;
• Price of work;
• Warranty for work and spare parts;

In addition to replacing the MacBook keyboard, we can also repair 99% of all possible faults, be it replacing the MacBook disk or component repair and soldering of the motherboard. We carry out all work with 5+ grades, and you are satisfied and we are pleased. If you have any questions, we will be happy to advise you by phone or email, please contact us, we are happy to help!

On a MacBook, replacing a faulty part is a complex procedure that requires experience and a special set of tools. Therefore, if you have problems with your MacBook, contact only specialized service centers. We professionally repair MacBooks. Our service engineers are specialists in their field who solve any problems.

Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and concise as possible.

If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.

Warranty and responsibility

A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.

Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works directly with suppliers, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.

Free diagnostics

This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.

Service repairs and delivery

A good service values ​​your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: they can be done correctly and according to technology only in a prepared place.

Convenient schedule

If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00

The reputation of professionals consists of several points

Company age and experience

Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.

How many masters in areas

If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices

Technical literacy

If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.

The keyboard of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro (until 2015) consists of several layers of film on which conductive tracks are applied. When you press a key, the contact between the layers is closed and information about which key was pressed enters the controller.

The most common problem when such keyboards break down is a failure when liquid gets into the keyboard, in which the conductive layers become short-circuited or destroyed depending on the acidity of the liquid that gets into it.

First aid if liquid gets on your MacBook keyboard:

1. turn off macbook
2. in the open state, turn the keyboard down
3. use a regular vacuum cleaner and vacuum up the liquid that remains in the keyboard

You should not do the following:

1. put in rice
2. wait for the fixers
3. dry with a hairdryer or in the microwave (yes, that happened too)

The most common symptoms of liquid getting into the keyboard:

1) one or more keys do not work

2) other keys or several keys are displayed on the screen

3) constantly pressed keys

If the power button is damaged, the MacBook may turn itself off.

A malfunction of the Shift, Ctr, Alt buttons can cause a system boot failure or a spontaneous SMC reset, which will lead to the computer shutting down.

A flooded keyboard is the most common breakdown, but there are others - mechanical ones.

The button mechanism consists of a rubber pusher, a plastic swing and the button itself. Most often it suffers from pets, children, or breaks when hit by foreign objects.

Most often, the fastening of the button to the plastic swing breaks, but there are cases when the pusher wears out or breaks.

On new MacBooks (since 2015), Apple has changed the design and operating principle of the keyboard; it has become more technologically advanced, but at the same time it causes many problems for users.

The new keyboards are made of thin PCB, and fragile graphite tracks have been replaced with reliable copper ones. At the same time, the keyboard backlight was placed inside the keyboard and became more uniform. The keyboard controller has been moved to the keyboard itself.

However, the plastic swings are no longer inserted, as before, but glued. The button mechanism has become less reliable and more difficult to repair. The keyboard travel has greatly decreased, it has become smoother and quieter. Moreover, under each button there is now a microswitch rather than a contact, which has reduced maintainability.

Now let's talk about replacing the keyboard.

When replacing the keyboard yourself, you must take into account that almost every MacBook model has its own keyboard form factor: its own fastenings and mounting holes, so you need to select the appropriate keyboard.

Apple ships MacBooks with different keyboard layouts for different markets. For example, in the USA version the Enter button is located horizontally, and in the RosTest version it is vertical.

Starting with the Unibody case (2008-2012), the keyboards are screwed to the TopCase with small screws. However, Apple decided to torment service engineers and on MacBook Air laptops (since 2010) began attaching the keyboard to aluminum rivets, and continued to use this technology in the MacBook Pro Retina, which was done to reduce the cost of the production process. When replacing the keyboard, you literally have to tear it off from the TopCase and very carefully pull out the remaining rivets, and the new keyboard is attached to the good old screws.

To replace the keyboard on a MacBook Pro Retina, you not only need to disassemble the MacBook to its core, but also peel off the battery, since the battery has become glued to the TopCase itself. It is necessary to peel off the battery very carefully, because accidental damage to the layers can lead to a short circuit, and the battery will ignite with a large release of acrid smoke.

So we looked at the main points of replacing the keyboard in your favorite MacBook.