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2017 MBP Keyboard Problems [MERGED]

Have you experienced keyboard problems with the MacBook Pro 2017?

  • Total voters
    17
O

otherguy5

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 2, 2015
94
7
Wondering if this is overblown or is it really inevitable.

Also, what conditions do you use your Macbook in? Harsh? Are you extra carefully with it?

It sucks that for someone like me who loathes Windows and needs a solid quality laptop, there's really no other alternative for me. But I just can't bring myself to take the risk. Especially since here in Canada, the Macbook Pro baseline will reach me up to 2 grand with tax along with the adaptor.
 
Most people don’t have this issue but nonetheless it is not overblown, considering Apple has an extended warranty program to address this specific issue.
 
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My 2017 nTB MBP has been working perfectly fine. My wife even actually likes the new keyboard style. I'm ambivalent myself, it's okay.
 
My 2016 MBP is over two years old now, I use the keyboard 40+ hours a week... never had a problem with it, and I like typing on it. We have almost a dozen 2016's at my company with no keyboard issues. Obviously it's a real problem, but I think most people will never encounter it.
 
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Yes I have my 13" TB since May and so far no problems at all.. Matter of fact I only use the computer's keyboard to do literally everything.
 
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I have a 2017 13" TB that I've used daily for over a year. I use it as my at home computer almost exclusively and I've never had any problems. I also have a 2015 15" MBP that I use for work and I jump between the 2 keyboards without even thinking about it.
 
Do you guys who've never had problems with it take any extra steps to take care of it?

Unfortunately, I have the habit of eating around my Macbook Air (2014). It's on almost 24/7 since I've gotten it four years ago and I've never had an issue with it, neither has it slowed down. This thing is a beast when it comes to doing light day to day stuff. Wish I could have that much confidence in today's newer models.
 
2017 15" MBP - no issues with physical keyboard. I have had the Touch Bar freeze a few times. It either returns to service itself or I go in to properties, change a setting, then it unfreezes.
 
2016 13" MBP that I bought when the pre-order window opened is still fine after two years. I only had one scare when a crumb got under the spacebar and it wasn't fully pressing down. Compressed air took care of that.
 
2016 13" TB 1 year 10 months and 2017 15" Going on 3 months. No Problems.

I really think part of the KB issue is heat related, when they are being pushed 90C plus and typing.

I don't push mine that hard.
 
I had 2016 MBP 15. No issues with KB technically.

Mine suffered swollen battery which a caused reduced KB travel. It has been at Apple repair depot more than 3 weeks. Apple decided to replace the MBP with refurb unit due to the part shortage.
 
My thoughts may be of help as I have the 2016 MBP 15” with the (replaced) 2017 keyboard.

Regarding what led to my 2016 keyboard being replaced, I had the general ‘clicky’ key issue and eventually, intermittent functioning of one of the keys. I had the keyboard swapped about 4/5 months ago and since then, I haven’t had any issues. My understanding is that there’s a marginal difference in the underside of the key cap between the 2016 and 2017 keyboards, but it’s equally possible that I’ve simply been lucky with this one and that others are having issues, as some do seem to.

From my own observations, it seems that the 2016 MBP’s were readily prone to the issue, with 2017’s being better and the 2018 edition seemingly being okay. If I were you, I’d try to go for a 2018 model and save any potential issues further down the line.

Incidentally, I’m extremely cautious when it comes to caring for my Mac. In fact, many people have laughed at how particular I am, hence I can say absolutely categorically that my initial issue with the 2016 keyboard was not down to user error.

Good luck with your purchase!
 
It's good to read some positive feedback on these keyboards. Keep 'em coming guys.
 
I have the 2016 and I loved the keyboard, however, my luck has recently run out. The spacebar keeps adding an additional space, which adds a period and starts a new sentence. In addition, my r key has started to double type. I teach biological science lectures and labs at the college level. Overall, I love the feel of the new keyboards, but it is totally true that they are MUCH more prone to issues than the past. I have had other problems with this computer. I call it my love hate computer. I absolutely love it when it works, but I will be selling it and maybe leaving the Mac ecosystem all together for something more reliable. And before anyone asks why not just get it repaired, I will be getting it repaired.
 
My sister has MacBook Pro 13" 2017 more than one year with no keyboard problem.

It was used keyboard cover.
 
Late '16 nTB 13". Was fine until I got the keyboard replaced with the 2017 model last month (Battery change and thereby the keyboard too).

And the new one has been working fine too.
 
2017 MBP with daily use as a work & pleasure computer with no issues at all with the keyboard.
 
I just turned in my 2017 15” MBP for keyboard repair. The b key would randomly produce 0,1,2 b’s. I had the same problem with the ‘.’ a few months ago. It got better, but the key never got back to normal. So, two keys failing.

On my 2015 12” MB I had the keyboard replaced twice. In both cases the space bar got stuck.

Every time it takes 7-10 days to fix, because they need to send it away to completely replace the upper case. Not good quality.
 
We bought around 20 butterfly keyboard Macs in 2016 and 2017, so far only one had a (barely noticeable) issue with sticking keys.
 
ahostmadsen said:
I just turned in my 2017 15” MBP for keyboard repair. The b key would randomly produce 0,1,2 b’s. I had the same problem with the ‘.’ a few months ago. It got better, but the key never got back to normal. So, two keys failing.

On my 2015 12” MB I had the keyboard replaced twice. In both cases the space bar got stuck.

Every time it takes 7-10 days to fix, because they need to send it away to completely replace the upper case. Not good quality.
Click to expand...
rather they need order the part from warehouse and this process will take some time
 
I have had a few keys occasionally need a wiggle to get working as they feel compressed from being in clamshell mode to long. No big deal
 
I use my 2017 everyday without issue, I did get a stuck key once a few months ago. But I mashed it a couple times and been fine since.
 
My wife and I have had our 2017 MBP 13' for 6 months now. My wife uses her keyboard for her PhD at UCLA every day for hours and hours. No problems for either of us. She is a lot rougher with her laptop than I am / eats near it, etc...

I don't do anything out of my way to care for my laptop that I haven't done with my other laptops. But at 6 months our laptops are kinda young.

poorcody said:
My 2016 MBP is over two years old now, I use the keyboard 40+ hours a week... never had a problem with it, and I like typing on it. We have almost a dozen 2016's at my company with no keyboard issues. Obviously it's a real problem, but I think most people will never encounter it.
Click to expand...

My hero! Love reading stuff like this.
 
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