Reliability of first generation butterfly keyboards (2015 & 2016 Macbook 12 inch)

[k1ckdapro]

Hi,

I have a 2016 Macbook 12 with the first generation of the butterfly keyboard and was wondering if a lot of people here have experienced issues with that particular keyboard. Since my purchase in 2016, I did not have any issues with sticky keys or doubles etc. However, I don’t use it for work, so no heavy use.

I was wondering if other people here also did not have any issues so far? I think it’s an interesting point as the 4 year free replacement program will expire soon for these machines with the first generation keyboard.

Is there anything in particular you do to prevent any problems? I also saw that a few people said that sticky keys might resolve by using them.

Cheers!

 

[Mike Boreham]

I did once have a key that lost its click briefly. It was easily resolved with an airjet. Otherwise no problems.

I would say that after my 2016 MacBook I have had two 2017 MacBooks, no problems with either, but the keyboard is much nicer to use than the 2015/2016.

 

[k1ckdapro]

Thanks for your reply. Did you fix it with the air jet following apple‘s instructions?

 

[Mike Boreham]

Thanks for your reply. Did you fix it with the air jet following apple‘s instructions?

Yes but here's nothing very special about the Apple instructions. I also held the key to one side with a very thin blade to make the gap slightly larger and air jetted into that.

 

[ozzieman10]

2015 first gen macbook 12 inch here. Keyboard has been fine, but for a few months I noticed that my space bar would only work if I pushed it on the left side, no response from the right side. I was past the 4 year free replacement so I just put up with it.

One day I was reading how things can get stuck under the key, so I blew hard under the space bar and something little flew out and it’s worked great ever since. Lol

 

[MultiFinder17]

I had a 2016 that I used for a little while as my teaching laptop. I ended up with several sticking keys or keys that wouldn’t register after a few weeks (I type a lot). Blowing them out the recommended way got them going again, although the issues cropped up worse a week later. Two keys were not able to be blown clean. I ended up having to take it in for a keyboard replacement. I sold the little guy after that and went back to using my 2010 white MacBook for school.