How to Fix Escape Key Not Working on Mac

The exit key is one of the most used keys on a MacBook, especially as it helps users exit a window or task. However, for the unfortunate ones out there, the key may not work properly. In this article, I will explain how to fix escape key not working on Mac.

Reasons why the Escape key does not work on Mac

There are many potential reasons why the escape key is not working on a Mac.

• You may have spilled liquid on your Mac.
• Dropped my Mac from a decent height, possibly off a table.
• Heavy objects were dropped on the Mac, especially on the keyboard, causing internal problems.

If any of these things happen, it’s best to make an appointment at the Genius Bar and get your device fixed as soon as possible. If there were no hardware issues, you may be experiencing software issues such as:

• Mac update to macOS beta.
• New errors after updating to the latest version of macOS.
• Stay on the old version of macOS for a long time.

5 Ways to Fix a Not Working Mac Exit Key

Now that you know why the MacBook escape key isn’t working, let’s look at 5 ways to fix it.

1. Close unnecessary applications

If you push too hard on something, it will eventually break. This is true even for Macs with the latest Apple Silicon chips.

So, if you are running multiple applications at the same time, you should close unnecessary applications. Along with that, you can also force close apps if any of them are stuck.

2. Use the virtual keyboard

The Escape button may not work on Mac due to Mac keyboard issues. To test this, you can use the accessibility keyboard. Here’s how:

1. Open System Preferences. On macOS Monterarty and earlier, this is System Preferences.
2. Select Availability.
3. Click Keyboard.
4. Enable accessibility keyboard. For previous versions: Go to the View tab and check the Enable accessibility keyboard box.
5. Now press the esc button on the virtual keyboard.

If the action is completed, it proves that there are problems with the Mac keyboard. Therefore, I suggest that you keep using the virtual keyboard until it is resolved.

3. Re-enable or close the Siri app.

It may come as a surprise, but many users have reported that disabling Siri allowed them to properly use the esc key functions on their Mac.

1. Open System Preferences. On macOS Moterey or earlier, this is System Preferences.
2. Select Siri and Spotlight.
3. Turn off Ask Siri.

Now check if you can use the esc key. If possible, I think it’s best to break up with Siri ?

4. Restart your Mac in safe mode.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could just do things without fear of risking anything? That’s what safe mode is.

Since the escape key is not working on your Mac, I suggest that you start your Mac in Safe Mode and then check if your issue is resolved.

5. Check if your Mac is in the Apple Service program.

The Apple Service Program is an initiative whereby Apple mentions manufacturing issues with some of its devices and offers service/replacement programs. So, check the list and see if your device is part of it.

How to close applications and processes without the Esc key

So, how will you close applications if the Mac’s exit key isn’t working? The best solution is to reprogram the key to function as an exit key.

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Select Keyboard.
3. Click Keyboard Shortcuts.
4. Select Modifier Keys. On older versions of macOS, you’ll see this option in Keyboard Preferences itself.
5. Now select the key of your choice to function as the esc key.
6. Click “Done”when finished.

Now whenever you press this key, it will function as the esc key.

Contact Apple Support

Since you’ve come here, it basically means that you haven’t been able to fix your MacBook’s exit key not working issue. So, the last resort is to seek help from Apple Support and see if they can fix the problem.