Magic Keyboard Typing on its Own

[CoryP2003]

First off, I have a 27" iMac retina 5k purchased new February of 2018. Magic keyboard w/numeric keypad.

The keyboard just randomly starts typing commas. The only way it will stop is if I turn off the keyboard, and/or hit the comma button hard four or five times. Then it will eventually start back up again. Really annoying, especially when I am trying to login with my password, or if I leave a document open.

What could be causing this and any solutions?

Thanks!

(somehow made it through this post without ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, happening)

 

[dcpmark]

So it’s typing on its own? I’m guessing you don’t understand the “magic” part of Magic Keyboard.

 

[DeltaMac]

Most likely a sticking/hanging key. Do you ever get any other sticking keys?
You can likely verify a keyboard problem by opening the Keyboard Viewer (System Preferences/Keyboard/Keyboard tab)
Click the box "Show keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar"
The top menu item, (looks like a little window) which displays "Show Keyboard Viewer". Clicking THAT will display an on-screen keyboard, which will mirror every key that you press. Each key on your keyboard should highlight when pressed, and goes OUT immediately when you release the key. Press that comma key a couple of times, bang it quickly, or press slow & soft. A sticking key will be immediately obvious to you.
Might be possible to clean around the key, but unless you are lucky, the keyboard just needs to be replaced.
If you happen to have AppleCare active on your iMac, then Apple should replace it without issue (unless you have ever spilled some kind of liquid into the keyboard)

 

[CoryP2003]

So it’s typing on its own? I’m guessing you don’t understand the “magic” part of Magic Keyboard.

I obviously underestimated the magic-ness!!!

 

[CE3]

What @DeltaMac said.

As long as there’s no liquid damage and you still have warranty, if you call Apple and explain the issue they will send you a replacement (probably overnight shipping).. or go into a store. They may even make an exception if you’re just out of warranty. If you do this by mail, you put the defective keyboard in the box the new one came in, there’s a return label behind the old one, and you ship it back to them within 10 days of receiving. However, before sending the replacement, Apple will email you a link to temporarily authorize the charge for the new keyboard on a credit card. They will charge you for the new keyboard if you don’t send back the old one.

I just had to go through this for a magic keyboard that was intermittently lagging while typing, and no one explained the authorization process to me. I just got an email with a ‘pay now” link, and there was a lot of unnecessary confusion and time wasted on the phone as a result.

 

[CoryP2003]

What @DeltaMac said.

As long as there’s no liquid damage and you still have warranty, if you call Apple and explain the issue they will send you a replacement (probably overnight shipping).. or go into a store. They may even make an exception if you’re just out of warranty. If you do this by mail, you put the defective keyboard in the box the new one came in, there’s a return label behind the old one, and you ship it back to them within 10 days of receiving. However, before sending the replacement, Apple will email you a link to temporarily authorize the charge for the new keyboard on a credit card. They will charge you for the new keyboard if you don’t send back the old one.

I just had to go through this for a magic keyboard that was intermittently lagging while typing, and no one explained the authorization process to me. I just got an email with a ‘pay now” link, and there was a lot of unnecessary confusion and time wasted on the phone as a result.

Thanks - I may give this a try.

 

[mikehalloran]

there was a lot of unnecessary confusion and time wasted on the phone as a result.

Been doing that a lot with Apple lately. Eventually things get resolved but it's no fun in the mean time.

 

[iTurbo]

My keyboard is known to go crazy when the batteries are near dead. I use an older Apple keyboard with the rechargeable AA batteries though.

 

[CE3]

Been doing that a lot with Apple lately. Eventually things get resolved but it's no fun in the mean time.

No fun indeed.

When I called back to figure out why I was being asked to pay $108 for a keyboard with a hardware issue that should be covered under my warranty, the Senior Support Supervisor I spoke with came to the conclusion that it was the $99 service fee for AppleCare+. I told her the service fee only applied to accidental damage, but she advised me to read the Terms of Service and proceeded to tell me exactly how an AppleCare doesn’t work. She said the 1st year is the standard Apple Warranty, and that any issues in the 2nd and 3rd year, hardware or accidental, are subject to the service fee. I told her that was incorrect (couldn’t believe I was explaining how AppleCare works to a Senior Support Supervisor), got on the AppleCare+ Terms of Service page and asked her to point me to section in the TOS where it states this. Of course she couldn’t find it, placed me on hold, came back, told me I was correct and informed me of the authorization process for the new keyboard that should have been explained to me when I called the first time.

She apologized, and I was very cool and understanding about the mixup, but at this point I’m concerned that maybe I really am being charged the service fee and using up one of my two ADH claims for a keyboard that I can buy for $80 on Amazon. So I ask to be transferred to the AppleCare department to make sure this isn’t the case. She transfers me and AppleCare confirms that I still have my two incidents. I hang up, authorize my cc, and get this email from Apple:

Of course more confusion and time on the phone ensues. I still have my two incidents, and apparently automated emails with contradictory statements is standard and should be ignored *shakes head*

All of this confusion and time wasted was due to poor communication, and I blame Apple for not properly training their support staff.

 

[jagolden]

My keyboard is known to go crazy when the batteries are near dead. I use an older Apple keyboard with the rechargeable AA batteries though.

Imagine my surprise when I unpacked my new iMac a few months ago and found a Magic Mouse 2 Nd Magic Keyboard 2. They don’t even take batteries, they need to be charged. Like I have the time and patience for that.
Immediately bought a great Logitech Bluetooth mouse that takes on AA battery and lasts 14 months. Then bought a matching aluminum, chick let, low profile keys keyboard with a u s b cord-the way I personally like my keyboards-plugged in.

 

[CE3]

^ Re: charging: Sorry, thought you were talking about the keyboard.

 

[mikehalloran]

Imagine my surprise when I unpacked my new iMac a few months ago and found a Magic Mouse 2 Nd Magic Keyboard 2. They don’t even take batteries, they need to be charged. Like I have the time and patience for that.
Immediately bought a great Logitech Bluetooth mouse that takes on AA battery and lasts 14 months. Then bought a matching aluminum, chick let, low profile keys keyboard with a u s b cord-the way I personally like my keyboards-plugged in.

Uh... yea... about that.

The Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 can be charged while in use. No batteries to change like the older versions—just plug in the Lightening cable and keep using.

The current Magic Mouse, OTOH, I agree: WTF was Apple thinking? The lightening port is underneath and it cannot be used while charging. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If the port was on the front, it would look like any wired mouse when charging but you could still use it. No doubt, some design or marketing fool thought it would spoil the aesthetic if the port was visible.

 

[jagolden]

Uh... yea... about that.

The Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 can be charged while in use. No batteries to change like the older versions—just plug in the Lightening cable and keep using.

The current Magic Mouse, OTOH, I agree: WTF was Apple thinking? The lightening port is underneath and it cannot be used while charging. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If the port was on the front, it would look like any wired mouse when charging but you could still use it. No doubt, some design or marketing fool thought it would spoil the aesthetic if the port was visible.

I still prefer the wired keyboard. Where am I going with it?
The mouse? I don’t even know what to say. Stupid just isn’t enough.

 

[mikehalloran]

I still prefer the wired keyboard.

Me too, actually. I just like the feel of the keys a little better and my protector fits perfectly. For some reason, keyboards are allergic to spilled coffee —imagine that!

Doesn't bother me to use a white keyboard and Magic Trackpad II with an iMac Pro instead of black like the cool kids.

 

[Blue-River]

First off, I have a 27" iMac retina 5k purchased new February of 2018. Magic keyboard w/numeric keypad.

The keyboard just randomly starts typing commas. The only way it will stop is if I turn off the keyboard, and/or hit the comma button hard four or five times. Then it will eventually start back up again. Really annoying, especially when I am trying to login with my password, or if I leave a document open.

What could be causing this and any solutions?

Thanks!

(somehow made it through this post without ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, happening)

I have the same problem on my 2020 27" only worse. the keyboard just takes off and types multiples of whatever the east character was and wont stop until you almost found on it and then it starts going in reverse and deleting everything. I found a forum that said apple changed something about their bluetooth setup and they gave a start up reset holding down a few keys on restart. Can't remember which ones. that works for a few minutes to a few hours but it just kept on happening. the keyboard kinds sucked anyway. Didn't come with a numeric key pad and it's too flat with no angle on it. Replaced it with a MacAlly wired keyboard and problem solved. I think it's time Apple stopped mangling the things that actually work and try to innovate something. It's been a long time since they did anything really new.