How to Fix an Unresponsive Mac Keyboard

Step by step

1. 1 min

   Perform a forced restart

   Hold the Power button until your Mac shuts down completely. Wait 10 seconds and press the Power button again to restart the system, which clears temporary process hangs affecting the keyboard driver.

   Note: If you are using an external keyboard, disconnect it before restarting.
2. 1 min

   Clean the keyboard assembly

   Hold your MacBook at a 75-degree angle. Use a can of compressed air to spray the keyboard in a left-to-right motion to dislodge debris that may be preventing key registers.

   Note: Do not shake the canister while spraying.
3. 1 min

   Disable Slow Keys

   Navigate to System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Ensure the toggle for Slow Keys is set to Off, as this feature delays key registration and can mimic a non-functional keyboard.

   Note: Use an external mouse or trackpad to navigate settings.
4. 1 min

   Reset the SMC on Intel Macs

   Shut down your Mac. Press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the left side of the keyboard and the Power button for 10 seconds, then release all keys and press Power to boot. This resets the System Management Controller responsible for hardware power states.

   Note: This step is only applicable to Intel-based Macs; Apple Silicon Macs reset automatically upon restart.
5. 1 min

   Run Apple Diagnostics

   Shut down the Mac. Restart and immediately press and hold the Power button until the startup options appear, then press Command + D on your keyboard. Follow the on-screen prompts to identify specific hardware failures related to the keyboard input controller.

   Note: Connect an external keyboard if the integrated one fails to register the command.