How to repair a keyboard on any MacBook. In this video we'll cover three areas
1. How keyboards work. 2. How to replace keys. 3. How to replace your specific keyboard.
Here's an example of a keyboard and how it attaches to the logic board
inside of the computer. Please note that there might be slight differences in
between macbooks but overall this technology and concept is exactly the
same across all Macbooks. Underneath the keyboard there is a backlight. This
backlight consists of multiple layers. Here there is the actual backlight which
is the black piece, this black layer has six LED lights, these LED lights plug
into the sockets of the plastic layer and the plastic layer distributes the
light across the entire layer. Those six LEDs plug in to the logic board through
that cable, then the keyboard goes over those six LEDs and is illuminate. This is
what causes it to light up on some models. If we take a closer look at the
back of the keyboard here we can see all the screw holes. This is how the keyboard
is attached inside of the MacBook. Yes it is ridiculous, there are over 50 screws
that attach this keyboard inside. If we look at the back again we can see
that there are a lot of wire traces that are inside the keyboard layer. When these
traces short out, they will cause this. When a liquid spill connects multiple
keyboard circuits, that's what happens or some of the keys just cease to function
completely. Unfortunately when this happens the entire keyboard has to be
replaced. Here's a look at what the keyboard looks like when it's properly
installed into the MacBook. We can go ahead and take a pair of tweezers, pry it
back, as you can see we'll be prying back three layers. The first layer is the
backlight light, the next layer is the actual light distribution layer and then this
black layer acts like a shadow mask.
If your key is physically damaged or sticky it can be replaced or cleaned.
This can be done with an alcohol cotton swab and a set of tweezers. If you just
pry into the key in the top left corner and just kind of push it up, it should
pop right up. Here you can work the key out.
If you spilled a lot, then you might have to take out the scissor mechanism. This
can also be removed. You have to be very gentle as you can break the scissor
mechanism. Once both of those are removed, go ahead and take an alcohol cotton swab
and go ahead and remove any of the spill that's on the key. Clean the key as well,
alcohol will be able to dry up and remove any of the liquid residue. Clean
the scissor then you can go ahead put the scissor back in as shown.
Make sure and check with tweezers that the scissors is firmly inside and it's
not moving around. Then you can take the actual cap and put it in on top of the
scissor. It should click right in, make sure to firmly press it and compare it
to another button. The return, shift and the spacebar have an additional
mechanism. If you take out the return key you'll notice that it has a little
metal lever underneath. That lever plugs into the holes. Go ahead and clean out
the key with an alcohol cotton swab.
Make sure to lift up the scissor and get the alcohol underneath so it can soak up
whatever spill residue that there is. After that you can go ahead and clean
the button as well. Now with the lever down go ahead and insert one side into
the hole and the other side into the hole and then lay down the key firmly.
Press it in and it should click right in. Now let's go over how to replace your
keyboard. Go to the Apple logo and go to "about this Mac" locate your macbook size
and year, we'll need this information for the next step. Go ahead and open up
Safari,
navigate to www.appledollars.com
once at appledollars.com select MacBooks, then select your screen size
and then select your macbook year. Here you'll find an interactive video map.
Locate the keyboard and watch the keyboard replacement video. Apple has
made hundreds of different laptops and the models vary from year to year so
watching the specific video for your specific MacBook is essential. This
concludes our tutorial on keyboards. Thank you for watching!