Some keys on your Mac keyboard aren't working or type the wrong thing

Why it happens

Most dead or sticky keys come from a crumb or dust under the keycap, or from a small software glitch that a restart clears. A few settings can also make keys seem broken, like Mouse Keys or Slow Keys. If the problem started after a spill, it's almost always physical damage.

How to fix it

1. Save your work and restart: choose Apple menu > Restart. A restart clears most temporary glitches that stop keys responding.

2. Clean the keyboard. Hold a MacBook at an angle, about 75 degrees from flat, and spray compressed air along the rows of keys from left to right. Turn it to its right side and spray again, then its left side. Use short bursts and keep the straw a little above the keys.

3. Test the key in a different app, like Notes or TextEdit. If it works there, the first app is the problem, not the keyboard. Quit it and open it again.

4. If the key still does nothing, or only works when you press very hard, book a keyboard repair with Apple or an authorized service provider.

Still not fixed?

1. If letters on the right side, like U, I, O, J, K, L and M, move the pointer instead of typing, Mouse Keys is on. Turn it off in Accessibility, under Pointer Control.

   Accessibility›Pointer Control›Alternate Control Methods›Mouse Keys

2. If keys only type when you hold them down for a moment, Slow Keys is on. Turn it off in Accessibility, under Keyboard.

   Accessibility›Keyboard›Slow Keys

3. If keys type the wrong letters or symbols, your keyboard layout may have changed. Open Keyboard settings, click Edit… next to Input Sources, and make sure the layout matches the keyboard in front of you.

   Keyboard›Text Input›Edit…

4. On a Magic Keyboard, charge it with its cable for a few minutes, and check that it shows as connected in Bluetooth settings. If keys still drop out, use it plugged in with the cable to rule out a wireless problem.

   Bluetooth

5. After a spill, shut the Mac down, unplug it, and don't turn it back on to test it. For a spill, or any key that stays dead after cleaning and a restart, contact Apple Support or a repair shop. It's a hardware fault and needs a technician.