15 Best Fixes If Your Mac Keyboard Stopped Working

Although Apple wireless keyboards are convenient, they are not without flaws. This Mac Keyboard Stopped Working issue has stopped your vital job. You can’t send an email or write a critical note, and you can’t even log on to your iMac.

Many MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the keyboard. While you may feel stuck because of this issue, remember that it is temporary and that you can remedy it by following a few simple actions.

Causes: Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue

• Dust and other pollutants are the most typical causes of a MacBook keyboard not working. 
• Even the tiniest bit of dust contamination can cause problems if you have a MacBook with Apple’s butterfly keyboard mechanism.
• Other pollutants, such as food and different beverages, can also wreak havoc on a Mac keyboard.
• Because of the problems with Apple’s butterfly keyboards, the company had to launch a Keyboard Program for the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.
• Dust and other pollutants are typical causes of a MacBook keyboard failure.

• Incorrect software settings.
• Problematic apps.
• Glitches and bugs
• Broken hardware.

Prerequisite Fixes for Mac Keyboard Stopped Working issue.

• Check to see if “speak chosen text when the key is pushed” is enabled in Accessibility Settings > Speech.
• Ensure your Mac isn’t exposed to cold, heat, or humidity extremes.
• Check that the Input Sources under Language & Text in System Preferences match your language. For example, if you’re using US English, it should be US Input Source.
• Make sure mouse keys are turned off in System Preferences under Universal Access.
• In System Preferences, go to Security and Privacy and turn off the file vault.

Fixes For Your Mac Keyboard Stopped Working

1. Clean your keyboard
2. Update macOS
3. Turn off Slow Keys
4. Checking Available Space and RAM
5. Check keyboard layout
6. Reset PRAM
7. Restore your Mac to an earlier version
8. Delete .plist files
9. Boot MacBook in Safe Mode
10. Repair Disk Of Macbook
11. Use Another User Account to Log in to the MacBook
12. Power Cycle The Macbook
13. Check The Battery Level Of Your Keyboard
14. Re-Pair Your Keyboard With The Computer
15. Disable Mouse Keys

1. Clean your keyboard

Dust and other dirt can cause major problems with your keyboard, causing particular keys to stick and not register presses. Follow Apple’s guidelines for safely cleaning your Mac keyboard:

• Hold your MacBook horizontally at an angle.
• Spray pressurized air on the keys from top to bottom and left to right.
• Repeat the spraying technique on your MacBook’s left and right sides, maintaining some angle.
• You may also get a special cleaning brush to clean your keyboard completely.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

2. Update macOS

Your macOS may be vulnerable to several security flaws if it is out of the current. Furthermore, known problems are patched in newer OS editions. Perhaps the bug causing the keyboard issue has already been fixed in a later OS update. In that situation, updating macOS to the most recent version may be sufficient to resolve the issue.

• Back up all critical information to an external place or device.
• On your MacBook, go to System Preferences.

• To see whether there are any updates available, go to Software Update.

• If there are any updates available, select Update Now.
• Check to see if the keyboard is working properly after completing the update.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

3. Turn off Slow Keys

When you enable the Slow Keys setting, your keyboard becomes extremely slow, giving the impression that it is not working. With this setting enabled, you must hold down the keys for longer than usual. 

• Some accessibility features in macOS can make it difficult to type normally.
• Go to System Preferences > Accessibility and pick Pointer Control > Mouse & Trackpad from the left-hand menu.

• Under Alternative Control Methods, make sure Enable Mouse Keys is ticked.
• This setting allows you to control the mouse with keyboard keys, which may result in some keys not working.
• Then, in the left sidebar, click Keyboard, select Hardware, and ensure Enable Slow Keys is unchecked.
• When this option is activated, you must hold keys for a long for them to register as a press.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

4. Checking Available Space and RAM

Another factor that could affect your keyboard is the quantity of free space on your computer. There is no direct relationship between space and your keyboard; I’ve seen cases when the Macbook could not connect with the keyboard correctly due to a lack of space, producing issues.

• There should be around a quarter of your overall hard-disk size available in free space.
• Check to see if your machine has adequate free RAM.
• If you have a lot of applications running in the background that is devouring your computer, close them one by one and see if the problem is fixed.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

5. Check keyboard layout 

There could be a problem with your keyboard layout if the keys don’t seem to achieve the desired result. Here’s how to see if it’s true:

• Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
• Select Keyboard > Input Sources from the drop-down menu.
• In the menu bar, select the option to Show Input menu.
• Select Show Keyboard Viewer from the Input menu bar icon.
• Make that you’re using the correct keyboard layout.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

6. Reset PRAM 

macOS uses NVRAM and PRAM memory to store settings and temporary data. During operation, macOS rotates between the two types of memories. Your Mac’s keyboard/trackpad may stop working if these memories cannot fulfill their functions properly. In that scenario, resetting the NVRAM and PRAM might help. However, consider that your preference may be overwritten in some instances.

• Shut down your MacBook (not sleep or log out).
• Now turn on your MacBook while pressing the keys below at the same time.
  • P + R + option + command

• The MacBook will begin booting when you press these keys.
• If you want to release the keys, you can do so.
• If the beginning (chime) sound is heard a second time (the first one will be when the MacBook is powered on).
• When the Apple Logo shows on a MacBook with the Apple T2 Security Chip, release the keys.
• In both circumstances, it normally takes approximately 20-30 seconds before you may release the keys.
• Check the keyboard after the MacBook has started to see if it works properly.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

7. Restore Mac to an earlier version

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

• Back up your Mac to a previous date.
• You can also restore it using Mac’s recovery mode.
• Check to see if the keyboard works properly when the restore process is completed.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

8. Delete .plist files 

Your program settings have likely changed over time, contributing to the keyboard problem. Delete your .plist (or “property list”) files to restore them to their factory defaults.

• Use Get Backup Pro or Time Machine to create a backup of your machine.
• Launch Finder.
• Using the keyboard, press + Shift + G.
• In the new bar, type /Library/Preferences/ and tap Go. Find and highlight 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

• Remove them from your Mac and restart it.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

9. Boot MacBook in Safe Mode

If the keyboard problem is caused by one or more third-party applications/drivers, starting the system in safe mode is an excellent way to rule them out. If Apple releases a firmware update to fix the keyboard problem, it may not be able to be loaded until the system is booted in 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 window’s top right corner.
• Now log in to your computer and see if your keyboard works properly.
• Whether this is the case, restart your computer normally and check to see if the keyboard is operating properly. If not, the problem could be with your Mac’s starting items.
• Open System Preferences on your Mac to manage your startup items.
• Now go to Users and Groups and click the lock button in the bottom left corner (enter your password if prompted).
• Go to the Login Items tab now.
• Select the item you believe is causing the problem, then click the minus (-) icon towards the bottom-left of the menu.
• Restart your Mac and check to see if the keyboard works properly.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

10. Repair Disk Of Macbook

A corrupted disk could potentially cause your Mac’s keyboard not to work. In that situation, repairing the disk could solve the issue. During operation, disks frequently develop faulty sectors or have problems with data allocation. The repair feature analyzes all of your disks and looks for anomalies automatically.

• Make a backup of your critical information.
• Shut down your MacBook.
• When your MacBook starts up, press and hold Command+R.
• Select Disk Utility from the macOS utility menu.
• Select the disk you want to repair in Disk Utility, and then select Repair Disk.
• Exit the macOS Utilities Menu once the disk repair is complete.
• Then restart your MacBook normally to see whether the keyboard works properly.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

11. Use Another User Account to Log in to the MacBook

Log in to the MacBook with a different user account.

A corrupted user account could be the source of your keyboard problem. Use a guest log-in or establish a new user account with administrator capabilities in that scenario. Check if the problem has been resolved after logging into the account.

• Open your Mac’s System Preferences.

• Go to User & Groups and click the Lock button to unlock it.

• Allow guests to log into 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 see if the keyboard works properly.
• If that’s the case, connect back to the previous account to see if it’s still functional; if not, transfer your data to the newly formed administrator account and use Mac from there.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

12. Power Cycle The Macbook

First, completely shut down your Macbook and check if the problem goes away. Power cycling is rebooting your computer by turning it off. This will clear any temporary setups that have gone wrong and are interfering with the computer’s internal operations.

• Remove all external disks, iPod/iPads, printers, and other devices from your Mac.
• Then turn on your Mac normally and see if the keyboard works as it should.
• Make sure your Mac is free of any external magnetic interference.
• Moving your Mac outside the range of the Wi-Fi it is linked to is also a smart idea.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

13. Check The Battery Level Of Your Keyboard

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

• Under the listed and connected keyboard, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth, and you’ll see a little battery indicator.
• By clicking on the Bluetooth symbol in the menu bar, you can examine the battery level of any of your connected devices.
• Hovering your mouse over the device you want to learn more about.
• You should replace or charge the battery if it is low.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

14. Re-Pair Your Keyboard With The Computer

If the Apple wireless keyboard isn’t working or connected, try removing it and pairing it with your Mac again. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in the Bluetooth options menu. In the list of devices, hover your mouse over your keyboard and click the X on the right side of the entry.

• You’ll notice that you might need to repair the device the next use. Remove the item by clicking on it.
• Turn your keyboard off and then back on again.
• The indication light should now begin to blink.
• Select Set up Bluetooth keyboard from the Keyboard settings in System Preferences.
• To pair your keyboard, follow the on-screen instructions.
• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

15. Disable Mouse Keys

Mouse Keys is a feature in macOS that allows you to control the pointer on your Mac with your keyboard. Whether this function is activated, 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 following screen.
• On the right pane, click the Alternative Control Methods tab.
• Deactivate the option Enable Mouse Keys.

• Check if the Mac Keyboard Stopped Working Issue is fixed or not.

Conclusion

You’re typing away at your Mac, and suddenly—nothing. Your keyboard isn’t responding to anything you type. No matter how hard you press your keys, they won’t do anything. If your Mac Keyboard stopped working, follow all the above methods to fix this issue.

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