There are four points that connect the key cap and switch: two clips on the top and two hooks on the bottom. The switch is what I’m calling the gray-white mechanism inside the keycap that flaps its wings like a butterfly. The key cap is what I’m calling the black piece with the key printed on int. Sorry my potato phone stinks at macros!īefore you do anything, make sure you understand how the key cap and switch connect to each other. I've marked the 4 points where the key cap connects to the switch.
The back of the 'U' key cap and butterfly switch.
I know this process works for gen 1 and gen 2 of the butterfly keyboard and I’m guessing it works for the rest. I’ve cleaned these keys more times than I can count and I’ll document my process here. I’ve been using this dumb keyboard for 3.5 years now (what can I say, I love the romance of having the smallest possible computer that can do the things I need). In these cases, it might make more sense to repair your keyboard on your own. Also, perhaps you are like me and have already extensively repaired your unrepairable computer and violated the warranty in a number of ways. Apple has since admitted that there’s a problem and offered to repair keyboards with sticky or unresponsive keys.īut turning your computer in for a repair is tedious and likely requires parting with your computer for a week or more.
Since then Apple has migrated this “feature” to their macbook pro line while several have voiced loud complaints about the shallow, fragile keyboard. In early 2015, Apple debuted their butterfly keyboard on their new “macbook”.