How To Clean Macbook Pro Keyboard Sticky Keys

How to fix sticky keys on Apple MacBook Butterfly keyboard?

In this reading, you will be finding a working solution to fix sticky keys on the MacBook Butterfly keyboard. Before you go to the solution you should understand what exactly is the difference between a butterfly and scissor mechanisms to understand logically how the solution to the issue works.

The Butterfly Keyboard

Butterfly keys use the Butterfly mechanism that is different from the Scissor mechanism which is used in traditional keyboards. It's called a butterfly mechanism because the components underneath the key resemble a butterfly's wings, with a hinge in the center rather than overlapping like a pair of scissors.

Apple's Butterfly Keyboard is a new invention made to make the keyboard feel louder and look thinner. It is 40% thinner as compared to the classic scissor keyboard. This was designed to have precise and best typing experience for all Apple users.

The Fault Story

Apple's Butterfly keyboard was expected to be a game-changer (making the keyboards even thinner than normal) but the reception was dismal. People even started trolling the Butterfly keyboard as the "Worst Design" ever made.

Many people have complained about the Butterfly keyboard …sticky keys……non-responsive…etc..,

Even I faced problems with the Butterfly Keyboard on my MacBook Pro 2017 edition. The Key "R" on my machine was sticky and non-responsive until tapped with more vigour than tapping the normal keys.

What's the problem?

Understanding the basic mechanism and design of Butterfly keyboard

We can see that they are thin and have less space to move. When dust particles enter the cavity underneath the keys then space gets lodged and there's no space for the keys to actually move down and touch the sensor and this causes Sticky keys and non-responsive keys.

Such keys cause an awkward typing experience with some keys sounding different and feeling different for the other keys.

How to fix the issue?

The only logical solution to this problem is to dislodge the dust in the cavity.

To dislodge the dust we need to first crush the dust particles into small pieces so that they are easy to be removed from the cavity. To perform this tap on the problematic key repeatedly to pulverize and then turn the MacBook upside down and then tap on the backside so that the particles vacate the cavity. Then use compressed air or just blow the keys with your mouth to make sure the smaller particles are completely dislodged.

This worked pretty well for me and should also serve fine to you.

If the problem still persists then I would recommend you repeat the same a couple of times and If the problem still subsists then don't hesitate to visit the Genius Bar.

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