Some 2016 MacBook Pro Owners Experiencing Keyboard Problems

[Elijen]

My "b" key intermittently has that problem.

b bb bbb bbbbb

Sometimes no "b" appears, sometimes multiple.

Seems like stuff can get into the keyboard easily causing this problems. I flipped the MacBook upside down and pressed the key multiple times and it seems to work fine now. I am bit worried what will happen in ~2 years with all the dirt accumulated under the keys.

 

[devniel]

My "b" key intermittently has that problem.

b bb bbb bbbbb

Sometimes no "b" appears, sometimes multiple.

did you solve it ? I'm having the same problem with my 'b' key. You can detect the difference while keeping it touched and moving the finger, sometimes a new 'b' will appear and that's not correct. Thanks.

 

[cmaier]

did you solve it ? I'm having the same problem with my 'b' key. You can detect the difference while keeping it touched and moving the finger, sometimes a new 'b' will appear and that's not correct. Thanks.

Not solved. Intermittent. I suppose i should bring it in. I don't think it's an issue with some dirt in there or anything. I think it's an actual hardware problem.

 

[sundragon]

Well, was not a fan of the keyboard, or for that matter the laptop, have a tMBP 2.9gHz, 1TB etc.

As t relates to the keyboard, can type on anything and while I did not like it, I knew would get used to it. However, constantly experienced more mistakes, errors, etc. After sticking it out for 90 days, I finally surrendered and went to the Genius Bar. Yes. Need to replace the entire "top sheet with the keyboard".

The kicker? Out of stock due to high demand. . . .

So, almost $4,000 buys one a defective machine. Combined with the, for me, useless TB (I want my function keys), the need to press keys twice when once would suffice (volume, brightness, etc), poor palm rejection, massive track pad, etc., the keyboard and delay in repair has ruined the experience.

For the first time in more than two decades, now reconsidering my loyalty to Apple.
[doublepost=1489384870][/doublepost]

In the end, I must agree with your assessment. There are many good things about the machine. However, the negatives outweigh the positive. I too can not recommend.

Respectfully, I hear you but there are a few points I'd like to make.

$4000 is because you bought a 1TB SSD - Any laptop with a 1TB SSD is going cost a ton - I paid $2100 for the 15 on sale during Christmas.

FWIW, I've had no issues with the "massive trackpad and palm rejection" I'm 6'4" with huge hands that pretty much touch the trackpad during typing. I'm not saying you're wrong but I wonder if you got a lemon or the way your hands touch it require the default palm rejection in the settings to be adjusted.

 

[Playfoot]

Respectfully, I hear you but there are a few points I'd like to make.

$4000 is because you bought a 1TB SSD - Any laptop with a 1TB SSD is going cost a ton - I paid $2100 for the 15 on sale during Christmas.

FWIW, I've had no issues with the "massive trackpad and palm rejection" I'm 6'4" with huge hands that pretty much touch the trackpad during typing. I'm not saying you're wrong but I wonder if you got a lemon or the way your hands touch it require the default palm rejection in the settings to be adjusted.

Thank you for your reply.

Have made three visits to the Genius Bar this month. Will see if this last repair works for the keyboard. Interesting to note the entire top sheet must be replaced, even for a simple keyboard repair. Unlike before, it is a 7 to 10 day repair period: older models could be done in place, or overnight. And for reference the battery is glued or otherwise attached to the top sheet. Total repair cost, note covered under Apple warranty is just north of USD1,000.

This will be expensive when out of warranty. Do not see the machine being either as durable or as easy to upgrade/repair as previous models.

As for the flattop called a track pad, Genius technicians noted there are many complaints in their records and while they are unable to comment/are unaware, their gut instinct and experience leads them to believe Apple is working on ways to mitigate the trackpad issues.

 

[Macuser291]

Went to the Apple Store today to check out the 2016 MacBook Pro keyboards. I checked the the 2016 Mbp keyboards. One had a bad Fn key. It's a 13" MBP no TouchBar. The others (13 & 15 inch mbp with touchbar) had good keyboards.

The broken Fn key stays in the pressed position. I could not press it down further and it would not come up.

Is there a way to derive manufacture date from serial number or any other info? Some say it only affects the earlier units. Thanks.

 

[mindthegip]

I'm facing this issue on several letters (R,O,E,S,Backspace, Tab) and the keyboard is very uncomfortable to use with this strange rumour.

 

[rjain2]

Apple's latest line of notebooks introduced an entirely revamped keyboard featuring flatter keys built using a second-generation butterfly mechanism, designed to optimize for stability while also maximizing travel. The butterfly mechanism was originally introduced in the ultra thin MacBook, but a newer version was implemented in the MacBook Pro.

There have been mixed opinions about the keyboard of the 2016 MacBook Pro due to its vastly different feel compared to previous-generation MacBook Pro models, and it appears the new butterfly mechanism may also be less reliable compared to older construction techniques.

A growing number of customers who have purchased a 2016 MacBook Pro are running into issues with the keyboard, including non-functional keys, strange high-pitched sounds on some keys, and keys with a non-uniform feel. There are dozens of threads both on MacRumors and on the Apple Support site.

One of the most significant issues appears to be keys that make different higher-pitched sounds than other keys in some cases, a problem that was caught on video by MacRumors user monstermac77. As is demonstrated, when the caps lock key is pressed, it makes a sound that's much different than the other keys on the keyboard.

According to monstermac77, the issue is only reproducible when the Mac is warm, a complaint that has been echoed by several other MacBook owners in the thread, suggesting heat plays a role in activating the problem. Some users are experiencing the overly-clicky sound without heat, though.The high-pitched clicking sound is irritating, but it isn't as serious as some of the other issues MacBook Pro owners have been having with the keyboard. In some cases, certain keys on the MacBook Pro miss clicks, enter double letters, or refuse to respond at all, a problem that we here at MacRumors have also experienced. MacRumors reader rroch describes the problem:It's not clear what's causing the issue with the keys that suddenly become non-functional, but the butterfly mechanism is sensitive and can be interrupted by something as simple as a bit of dust. In our case, with the machine we had that was experiencing issues with a specific key, the problem cleared up on its own, but other MacBook owners have not been so lucky.

One other minor keyboard complaint is an inconsistent feel across keys, with some keys that feel spongier than others or that don't press down consistently. This seems to be related to a problem with the butterfly mechanism which some users report having fixed with a needle or other thin tool, but most people should not try that sort of repair at home.

While many of the complaints seem to be focused on the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, some users have also had problems with both the 13-inch model with a Touch Bar and the 13-inch model with no Touch Bar.

Customers who are experiencing keyboard problems should visit an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. In most cases, Apple is offering repairs and replacements for affected users, especially those who have verifiable hardware problems related to skipping keys, but some MacRumors readers have needed to go through several replacement machines to find a keyboard that doesn't experience issues.

Keyboard replacements are also not a simple matter on a machine as complex as the MacBook Pro, and users should expect repairs or replacements to take multiple days. According to reports from customers who have sought repairs, Apple is outright replacing most Touch Bar models while sending non-Touch Bar models out for repairs.

Article Link: Some 2016 MacBook Pro Owners Experiencing Keyboard Problems

[doublepost=1493259745][/doublepost]It is definitely a problem. I have owned the late-2016 Macbook Pro 15-inch with touchbar for 4 months. It has already gone for repair when the "T key didn't press far enough (as they said, it lost travel...so you had to press somewhat harder if you are a touch typer). The whole computer was gutted to replace the keyboard (logic board, i/o boards etc.). And now one month after that repair, the "G" key has the same problem. I wish people would take notice to a point there is a recall and replacement with a redesigned keyboard. Otherwise, we are stuck with a $3500 toy. For people who want to follow other discussions, here is a link to one of the threads:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/31554196?ac_cid=tw123456#31554196

 

[adrianm2000]

I'm facing this issue on several letters (R,O,E,S,Backspace, Tab) and the keyboard is very uncomfortable to use with this strange rumour.

S,O,R,E,BKSP,TAB?

 

[polee]

We're not criticizers, we're coaches.
On the matter at hand, a clear-thinking person will wonder How thin is too thin?

Ask Jony Ive. Thin is never thin enough.

 

[AnonymousJosh]

I picked up the new touchbar macbook pro and i HATE it. So sick of APPLE's nonsense--this laptop is the worst $4000 downgrade i can imagine. I had to take the first one back--processor failure right out of the box. The keyboard is not only loud as %&^, the H key sticks. The screen has accumulated scratches in 2 months that my 2013 macbook didn't in 4 years. The touchbar is worthless. actually worse than worthless--where i used to simply press the lower volume button to lower the volume. now i have to open up their stupid animation of a speaker before i can drag the volume down. And frankly, the speed and stability is not improved so much that i'm not thinking of selling and going back to my 2013 macbook.

 

[ruudboon]

Same issue here with a 13" and 15" macbook. Already replaced the keyboard twice on the 15", replace the complete macbook 15" once. Replaced 13" keyboard and replaced mainboard of 13" because of video issues.
The spacebar of my 15" is already feeling different, will only take a few days before it will break down.

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Well, I'll join the chorus. I've used Macs for 35 years an this 13" MBP 2016 is the first computer I've bought from Apple that not only isn't an improvement over my last one (2013 MBA), it's a significant downgrade.

Even if the keys didn't stick, I'd still hate the keyboard. I still have a 27" iMac 5k with Apple Keyboard, and it's like a breath of fresh air when I go from typing on the MBP back to typing on that normal keyboard. I often use the computer while I'm on the phone, and the MBP is so loud that it interferes with the call.

But that's not all. Like many others, I have the "sticky key" problem. In my case it's the "D" key most consistently, but it can happen to other keys too. Sometimes compressed air will solve the problem, but other times (like right now) it doesn't. It took me a lot longer than it should to write this message, for example, because I had to re-type the "d" so many times.

I've been avoiding taking it in for repair, because WTF am I supposed to do without my MBP for 7-10 days? I take it in to my office every day an can't really work without it. And what are my alternatives if I want to stay within the Apple ecosystem (I do, at least for now). Seems like Apple is committed to this ridiculous path of thinner (and more and more useless) computers.

As others have pointed out, what is a significant inconvenience now (having to part with your computer for 7-10 days while it gets fixed) becomes an unacceptable expense ($1k for keyboard repair) in the future—and it's clearly a recurring problem. Most people on this thread who've had it fixed go on to have the issue again, often with a different key.

Argggh, this is so frustrating!

 

[blackcypher]

My "b" key intermittently has that problem.

b bb bbb bbbbb

Sometimes no "b" appears, sometimes multiple.

Same here, had my keyboard replaced once, on my second keyboard atm. The b key would sometimes double type, often at the start. bb b bb bb bb bb b all when I'm merely pressing the key once.

 

[cmaier]

Same here, had my keyboard replaced once, on my second keyboard atm. The b key would sometimes double type, often at the start. bb b bb bb bb bb b all when I'm merely pressing the key once.

How long did the replacement take? I haven't done it yet since I usually use an external keyboard and I don't really have time to leave my machine with Apple for a few days.

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Has anyone done the replacement and ended up with a good keyboard? Seems to me that everyone on this thread that had the keyboard replaced got another one that ended up with the same problems. This makes me even less enthusiastic about taking mine in for repair and being without it for 10-14 days.

 

[blackcypher]

How long did the replacement take? I haven't done it yet since I usually use an external keyboard and I don't really have time to leave my machine with Apple for a few days.

I'm in Hawaii and it took about 5 business days. Apple gave me the choice to have it shipped via FEDEX to my home.

 

[nviz22]

Would rather get the Surface Book, Surface Laptop, or Surface Pro over the 2016 MBs. Last good MB is the 2015 MBP imo.

 

[blackcypher]

I managed to come up with a temp ghetto solution to the repeating key issue. My b key used to sometimes repeat itself adding in additional letters even when I pressed the key once. Using my iFixit toolkit, I decided to pop off one of the keys following a youtube video, but you don't need that if you have a thin guitar pick.

The first thing I tested was whether the key was warped in some way so I swapped the n and b keys around and found that the key in the b position (now the n key) had the exact same issue and where the b key was (where the n key would be) had no problems. So this told me that it wasn't the key itself.

This led me to believe that the issue was under the b key, so I started to mess with some clear plastic shipping tape and cut it into very small strips of 3mm long by 2mm wide. I started to tape around (not on) the nipple under the b key forming a square (around the nipple) and replaced the key onto the keyboard and found a compromise where it now behaves for the most part. Depending on your specific issue, it make take more than one layer of tape in some areas.

Theories:

- the underlying part is not made uniformly
- the way in which the keyboard is mounted is not uniform
- poor quality control of the underlying keyboard
- the butterfly mechanism (white parts) does not manage the key cap properly

Note: It's important to use clear tape if you want the backlight to show through the key.

 

[ILUVAPPLE69]

My backspace went numb after one month of using my MBP 2016, 13''. What irritates me even more than that happening is the posts in this thread (and others) where people praise their new MBPs without having had this problem with the keyboard. It is ridiculous.
I do think the machine deserves the suffix "pro": I mainly do programming and numerical work, and OSX is the decisive factor for me to stay with Mac -linux would be the only serious alternative. What you get is a solid OS in a very smooth package. The battery life, the low weight and the compact form makes it a joy to carry around; it is an excellent compromise between portability and being a serious machine for professional use. I was hesitant to the keyboard but I quickly learned to appreciate it too; it is snappy and trustable.
But when one key suddenly goes numb, out of the blue, nothing of the above matters any more: the machine becomes a pain to use.
I think I resolved the problem (for the time being) by "cleaning" around the key with a folded paper. It didn't work immediately, but rather recovered in half a day or so. Thanks to all of you that have proposed different solutions, and I will consider getting a silicon cover for the keyboard.
And let me add, this is a showstopper. If you are considering buying: don't.

This is so frustrating because I use my MacBook Pro a lot and want to upgrade to a bigger screen, but again I have to play the waiting game with Apple. First, waiting for WWDC for any improvements or upgrades. Then again waiting for an October event for Kaby Lake processors and any improvements. I love macOS but with Apple it's a non stop waiting game.

 

[protoncito]

I bought my MacBook Pro about a month ago. As soon as I opened the box I realized there was a problem with the keyboard, some keys got stuck, so I went immediately back to Apple to get a new machine, which I did.
My new machine worked fine for a whole month until the other day, when two keys stopped working.
What kind of company sells a computer for nearly $3000 with a keyboard that's absolutely crap?

 

[dmelgar]

Respectfully, I hear you but there are a few points I'd like to make.

FWIW, I've had no issues with the "massive trackpad and palm rejection" I'm 6'4" with huge hands that pretty much touch the trackpad during typing. I'm not saying you're wrong but I wonder if you got a lemon or the way your hands touch it require the default palm rejection in the settings to be adjusted.

I agree with most of the points.
The keyboard is experiencing periodic key misses apparently because of debris under the keys.
The touch bar is not useful. I have it set to the standard function keys and it still gets in the way. Too easy to inadvertently hit a key when a finger casually slides that way. No press required.
The touch pad give me major headaches. My right palm seems to sometimes hit it while I'm typing and suddenly the cursor moves somewhere else and I'm typing in the wrong place. Very annoying and happens frequently to me with no option to control its behavior. The trackpad on the 15" is insanely big. Not remotely useful.
[doublepost=1498929257][/doublepost]

Would rather get the Surface Book, Surface Laptop, or Surface Pro over the 2016 MBs. Last good MB is the 2015 MBP imo.

I actually bought both. The Surface book works surprisingly well for a Windows machine. But the trackpad is like the previous generation trackpad. The force touch trackpad is nicer. Otherwise the Surface book is nice. But ultimately, I've continued to use my MBP as my main machine.

 

[blackcypher]

Well, I had to return to the Apple Store for a third time for servicing a key-related issue.

The work order doesn't describe in detail what they did but I'll say this, it appears they replaced the entire lower half of my MBP with the newer keyboard installed. The older model had "Alt" inscribed on the Option keys but now it looks like the more recent models.

I can only hope this time will be a more permanent fix.

 

[macintoshmac]

What kind of company sells a computer for nearly $3000 with a keyboard that's absolutely crap?

Only Apple could do this. -Tim Cook

 

[blackcypher]

Got my MBP back, this time they replaced the bottom half of the unit. The screen and bottom access cover is the same, but the keyboard is now the same as the new models. I think they gutted the inside, replaced the keyboard with the 2017 models.

As I'm typing here, I'm noticing the keys are less "clicky" sounding and more deadened. I like this much better than the 2016 keyboard I got used to. The feel and such doesn't change all that much though.