MacBook Pro Keys Keep Falling Off When I Type

[MVallee]

So I got my MacBook in August of last year and from the beginning noticed a few of the keys seem to become loose every now and then. Over time it has progressed to the point where the "X" key is permanently crooked and the "G" key comes loose about every 5 minutes when I am typing. Alot of the other keys have come loose and popped off as well. None of them are broken and they just click right back in, but then they always pop off again.

I am going to bring it to the Apple Store this Saturday and see whats up but I am assuming they will replace something. I'm just wondering, since this is a Unibody Mac, will they be able to replace just they keyboard? I looked at the iFixit tear down and it looks like a HUGE job to get the keyboard out. Would they just give me a new MacBook?

Just wanna know what I'm in for before I get down there. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Pentad]

I had the same problem with my Control Key on my last MBP (2008 Unibody).

I took it to an authorized service center and they wanted to replace the entire Unibody because that is what Apple told them to do as the keyboard is not seperate. Not that it was a bad thing but they estimated about a day because they had many repairs to do.

I told them to call me when the part came in. Later in the week I was in a different city with an Apple Store. I popped in, showed them my Control Key and they told me that indeed they would have to replace the entire Unibody frame because the keyboard is not separated.

I asked the guy if we could just pull the Control Key off the new one and put it on mine. He asked if I was sure since I would be getting a whole new body, et al. However, time was a factor and there was nothing else wrong with my MBP.

So he pulled the key off, swapped it with mine and I was out of there in like 10 mins!

So that is my experience.

Cheers!
P

 

[Mactrillionaire]

This seems somewhat unusual. I certainly haven't heard of it happening. I guess the lesson in all of this is to type gently because repairing the keyboard may not always be possible depending upon what the problem is. Not only that, but if you type with tense muscles, which can result in damage to keyboards, it can also lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. That said, I'm sure Apple isn't crazy about shelling out for a whole new computer because of a broken keyboard. Do you have any other information on how common this issue is by model?

 

[MVallee]

Trust me, I am VERY gentle with my MacBook. I have become OCD about washing my hands before typing so that I don't get grease spots on the black keys.

The keys just seem to pop up on one side of the hinge that connects them. You can actually flip them up and see underneath when that happens. If I push them down they click back in but then pop up again in a few minutes. Sometime when typing an e-mail I can have the key come loose and then I hit the key and hear it pop back in and hit it again and hear it pop out. Has happened about 3 times since writing this response. In the beginning it happened a few times a week, now it seems they are getting looser and it happens every time I type.

 

[JamesMB]

I have become OCD about washing my hands before typing so that I don't get grease spots on the black keys.

I thought I was the only one that did that.

 

[MVallee]

So I brought it in to The Apple store and the "Genius" informed me it would take 3 days to fix. When I told him that I lived an hour and a half away and asked if there was a faster way he told me the alternate solution would be to purchase an external USB keyboard, and just plug it in and use that one instead.

Some "geniuses" they have working there. I go back Sunday to pick it up.

 

[NickZac]

Some geniuses are outright idiotic. Call them and they WILL ship it to you if you talk to a supervisor. They usually ship it express as well.

 

[tigress666]

Trust me, I am VERY gentle with my MacBook. I have become OCD about washing my hands before typing so that I don't get grease spots on the black keys.

The keys just seem to pop up on one side of the hinge that connects them. You can actually flip them up and see underneath when that happens. If I push them down they click back in but then pop up again in a few minutes. Sometime when typing an e-mail I can have the key come loose and then I hit the key and hear it pop back in and hit it again and hear it pop out. Has happened about 3 times since writing this response. In the beginning it happened a few times a week, now it seems they are getting looser and it happens every time I type.

Yeah, my 2010 MBP seems to have this issue. One key popped up when a cat walked across the keyboard (which I at least was able to pop back on). The other key popped up (and the mounting brack broke requiring a new key) and I don't even know what happened (I swear I got home, opened it up, and the key was popped up and wouldn't go back in!).

 

[MVallee]

I got it back and the keys seem to be fine. They replaced the entire top case.

I am having some other issues though. One thing is the light on the MagSafe adapter does not light up at all anymore. It shows on my screen that its charging but the light is off. Never happened before but its annoying because I keep seeing it and thinking something is wrong with the power.

Also, when I plug headphones into the port and play a video or music, it plays through the speakers, not the headphones and requires me to unplug and re-plug in the headphones and also sometimes wiggle it around a bit before it starts playing in the headphones. This also never happened before.

Did they mess something up?

-Update- So I did a little test and switched my magsafe adapter for my partners and sure enough the light came on. But after about a minute of having his adapter plugged into my MacBook, the light slowly faded out and is now off. Meanwhile the light on my adapter is still shining on his MacBook after over 10 minutes.

So I know its not a faulty adapter, its something to do with my MacBook. I left my macbook unplugged and let the battery run down to 94%, I plugged in the adapter and it says "Not Charging" but when I click it it says "Power Source: Power Adapter" so my MacBook knows that it is connected but will not charge my battery. Tried again with my partners adapter and same results.

I am SO mad at Apple right now! Can't wait to call Apple Care in the morning!