15 Best Fixes If Your Mac Keyboard Has Stopped Working

While Apple’s wireless keyboards are convenient, they’re not without flaws. This Mac keyboard problem has stopped working and stopped your vital work. You can’t send an email or write a critical note, and you can’t even log into your iMac.

Many MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the keyboard. While you may feel stuck with this issue, remember that this is temporary and that you can fix it with a few simple steps.

Causes: The Mac keyboard has stopped working.

Dust and other contaminants are the most common reasons for a MacBook keyboard not working.
Even the slightest amount of dust can cause problems if you have a MacBook with an Apple butterfly keyboard mechanism.
Other contaminants such as food and beverages can also damage your Mac keyboard.
Due to issues with the Apple Butterfly Keyboard, the company had to launch a keyboard program for the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.
Dust and other contaminants are common causes of MacBook keyboard failure.

Incorrect software settings.
problematic applications.
Glitches and bugs
Broken equipment.

Necessary fixes for a Mac keyboard issue have stopped working.

Check if the “Speak selected text when key is pressed”option is enabled in Ease of Access Settings > Speech.
Make sure your Mac is not exposed to cold, heat, or extreme humidity.
Make sure the input sources in the Language & Text section of System Preferences match your language. For example, if you are using US English, this should be the US input source.
Make sure mouse keys are disabled in System Preferences under Accessibility.
In System Preferences, go to “Security & Privacy”and turn off file storage.

Fixes for your Mac keyboard have stopped working

Clean your keyboard
Update macOS
Disable slow keys
Checking available space and RAM
Check keyboard layout
Reset PRAM
Restore your Mac to an earlier version
Delete files. plist
Boot your MacBook in Safe Mode
Recover Macbook Drive
Use a different user account to sign in to your MacBook
Turn your Macbook off and on again
Check the battery level of your keyboard
Reconnect your keyboard to your computer
Disable mouse keys

1. Clean your keyboard

Dust and other dirt can cause serious problems with your keyboard, causing certain keys to stick and fail to register presses. Follow Apple’s recommendations for safely cleaning your Mac keyboard:

Hold your MacBook horizontally at an angle.
Spray the keys with compressed air from top to bottom and from left to right.
Repeat the spray technique on the left and right sides of your MacBook, keeping some angle.
You can also purchase a special cleaning brush to completely clean your keyboard.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

2. Update macOS

Your macOS may be vulnerable to several security flaws if it’s not up to date. In addition, known issues are fixed in newer OS versions. It’s possible that the bug causing the keyboard issue has already been fixed in a later OS update. In this situation, updating macOS to the most recent version may be enough to resolve the issue.

Back up all important information to an external location or device.
On a MacBook, go to System Preferences.

To see if any updates are available, go to the Software Update section.

If any updates are available, select Update now.
Check if the keyboard works properly after the update is completed.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

3. Disable Slow Keys

When you turn on the Slow Keys option, your keyboard becomes very slow, making it look like it’s not working. If this setting is enabled, you must hold the keys longer than usual.

Some accessibility features in macOS can make basic text entry difficult.
Go to System Preferences > Accessibility and select Pointer Control > Mouse & Trackpad from the menu on the left.

In the Alternative Control Methods section, check the Enable Mouse Keys box.
This setting allows you to control the mouse using keyboard keys, which may cause some keys to not work.
Then, on the left sidebar, click Keyboard, select Hardware, and make sure the Enable Slow Keys box is unchecked.
When this option is enabled, you must long press the keys for them to register as a press.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

4. Check available space and RAM

Another factor that can affect your keyboard is the amount of free space on your computer. There is no direct connection between the space bar and your keyboard; I’ve seen instances where the Macbook couldn’t connect properly to the keyboard due to lack of space, leading to issues.

The free space should be about a quarter of the total capacity of the hard drive.
Check if your computer has enough free RAM.
If you have a lot of apps running in the background that are eating up your computer, close them one by one and see if the problem is fixed.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

5. Check your keyboard layout

There may be a problem with the keyboard layout if the keys do not seem to achieve the desired result. Here’s how to check if it’s true:

Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu.
Select Keyboard > Input Sources from the drop-down menu.
From the menu bar, select the Show input menu option.
Select “Show Keyboard Viewer”from the input menu bar icon.
Make sure you are using the correct keyboard layout.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

6. Reset PRAM

macOS uses NVRAM and PRAM to store settings and temporary data. While running, macOS switches between two types of memory. Your Mac’s keyboard/trackpad may stop working if these memory modules fail to function properly. In this case, resetting NVRAM and PRAM can help. However, please note that in some cases your preferences may be overwritten.

Turn off your MacBook (don’t hibernate or log out).
Now turn on your MacBook by pressing the keys below at the same time.
- P + R + option + command

Your MacBook will start loading when you press these keys.
If you want to release the keys, you can do so.
If the initial sound (ringing) is heard a second time (the first will be when the MacBook is turned on).
When the Apple logo appears on a MacBook with the Apple T2 security chip, release the keys.
In both cases, it usually takes about 20-30 seconds before you can release the keys.
Check your keyboard after starting up your MacBook to make sure it’s working properly.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

7. Restore your Mac to an earlier version

If your keyboard problem started after a recent system modification or the installation of a new software, utility, or driver, restoring your MacBook using Time Machine may be the solution.

Back up your Mac to a previous date.
You can also restore it using Mac recovery mode.
Check if the keyboard works properly after the restore process is completed.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

8. Delete files. plist

Your program settings have probably changed over time, making the keyboard problem worse. Delete files. plist (or “property list”) to restore their factory defaults.

Use Get Backup Pro or Time Machine to back up your machine.
Launch Finder.
Using the keyboard, press + Shift + G.
In the new panel, enter /Library/Preferences/ and click Go. Find and select the following files:

com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist

Delete them from your Mac and restart it.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

9. Boot your MacBook in Safe Mode

If the keyboard issue is caused by one or more third-party apps/drivers, starting the system in safe mode is a great way to rule them out. If Apple releases a firmware update to resolve a keyboard issue, it may not load until the system boots into Safe Mode.

Turn off your computer.
After turning on the system, press and hold the Shift key.
Release the key when the login window appears. Safe Mode should be visible in the top right corner of the window.
Now log into your computer and see if your keyboard is working properly.
In this case, restart your computer in normal mode and check if the keyboard is working properly. If not, the problem might be in your Mac’s Starter Elements.
Open System Preferences on your Mac to manage startup items.
Now go to Users & Groups and click on the lock button in the bottom left corner (enter your password if prompted).
Click the Login Items tab.
Select the item you think is causing the problem, then click the minus sign (-) in the lower left corner of the menu.
Restart your Mac and check if the keyboard is working properly.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

10. Repair Macbook Drive

A damaged drive can potentially cause your Mac’s keyboard to not work. In this situation, repairing the drive may solve the problem. During operation, bad sectors often appear on disks or there are problems with data placement. The recovery feature analyzes all your drives and automatically looks for anomalies.

Back up important information.
Turn off your Macbook.
When your MacBook starts up, press and hold Command + R.
Select Disk Utility from the macOS Utilities menu.
Select the drive you want to repair in Disk Utility and then select “Repair Drive”.
Exit the macOS Utilities menu when the disk recovery is complete.
Then restart your MacBook in normal mode to check if the keyboard is working properly.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

11. Use a different user account to log into your MacBook

A corrupted user account can be the source of the keyboard issue. Use guest login or create a new user account with administrative rights in this scenario. Check if the issue has been resolved after logging into your account.

Open System Preferences on your Mac.

Go to the “Users and Groups”section and click the “Lock”button to unblock it.

Allow guests to sign in to the computer is either enabled or disabled.
You can also add a new user by clicking the plus (+) button (below the list of users). Select Administrator as the user type.
Now log out of the current user and log in with the second account to check if the keyboard is working properly.
If so, reconnect to the previous account to see if it works; if not, transfer your data to the newly created administrator account and use the Mac from there.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

12. Turn your Macbook off and on again

First, turn off your Macbook completely and check if the problem is gone. Turning the power on and off restarts the computer, shutting it down. This will remove any temporary settings that have gone wrong and are interfering with the computer’s internal operations.

Remove all external drives, iPod/iPad, printers and other devices from your Mac.
Then turn on your Mac normally and see if the keyboard works as expected.
Make sure your Mac is free from any external magnetic interference.
Moving your Mac outside of the range of the Wi-Fi it’s connected to is also a smart idea.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

13. Check your keyboard’s battery level

If the batteries in your keyboard run out, you may experience performance issues or your keyboard may stop connecting.

Under said and connected keyboard, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and you will see a small battery indicator.
By clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, you can check the battery level of any of your connected devices.
Hover over the device you want to learn more about.
You must replace or charge the battery if it is depleted.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

14. Reconnect your keyboard to your computer

If your Apple Wireless Keyboard isn’t working or isn’t connected, try removing it and pairing it with your Mac again. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled in the Bluetooth options menu. In the device list, hover over the keyboard and click the X to the right of the entry.

You will notice that you may need to repair the device the next time you use it. Remove an element by clicking on it.
Turn off the keyboard and then turn it back on.
Now the indicator should start flashing.
Select “Set up Bluetooth Keyboard”from the keyboard settings in “System Preferences”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your keyboard.
Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

15. Disable Mouse Keys

Mouse Keys is a macOS feature that allows you to control the pointer on your Mac using your keyboard. Whether or not this feature is enabled, it’s worth turning it off to see if it fixes your Mac keyboard.

Select System Preferences from the Apple logo in the top left corner.
Select the Accessibility option in System Preferences.

Select “Pointer Control”from the left sidebar on the next screen.
In the right pane, click the Alternative Management Methods tab.
Deactivate the “Enable Mouse Keys”option.

Check if the problem with Mac keyboard that has stopped working is fixed.

Conclusion

You’re typing on your Mac and all of a sudden, nothing. Your keyboard does not respond to anything you type. No matter how hard you press the keys, they won’t do anything. If your Mac keyboard has stopped working, follow all the above methods to fix the issue.

FAQ

How to fix an unresponsive keyboard on Mac?

Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, then Accessibility, Keyboard, and Hardware. Slow keys should be disabled. When slow keys are enabled, you must press and hold a key longer than usual before it is confirmed.

Why did my Mac keyboard just stop working?

Dust and other contaminants are the most common reasons for a MacBook keyboard not working. Even the slightest amount of dust can cause problems if you have a MacBook with an Apple butterfly keyboard mechanism.

How to reset Mac keyboard preferences?

Click the Apple icon in the top left corner and select System Preferences. Click Keyboard. Click “Modifier Keys”in the lower right corner of the keyboard tab. Select Restore Defaults and click OK.

How to fix a stuck Mac keyboard?

This can usually be done by selecting “Restart”from the Apple menu. Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Ctrl + Power to force restart your Mac. This should restart your computer and fix the issue.

Posted on June 17, 2022July 11, 2023

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