MacBook Keyboard Replacement Dundee

Keys that stick. Keys that don’t register. Keys that type the same letter three times. Or a keyboard that’s completely dead after a coffee spill. Whatever’s happened to your MacBook keyboard, we replace them at our Perth Road workshop in Dundee.

MacBook keyboards, particularly the butterfly models from 2016 to 2019, are one of the most common Apple repairs we do. We replace just the keyboard assembly rather than the entire top case, which keeps the cost significantly lower than Apple’s approach. Your data stays untouched and most replacements are done within a day or two.

Common MacBook Keyboard Problems

Sticky or unresponsive keys. You press a key and nothing happens, or it sticks down and won’t spring back. The space bar is a common culprit. Sometimes it’s intermittent, working fine one moment and refusing to register the next. On butterfly keyboards this is nearly always debris under the mechanism. On older scissor keyboards it’s more often a worn key switch or dried lubricant. Either way, it gets worse over time rather than better.

Keys repeating. You type one ‘e’ and get three. Or the key registers twice every time you press it. On butterfly keyboards this is usually dust or debris underneath the mechanism. On Magic Keyboards it’s typically a faulty key switch.

Complete keyboard failure. Nothing works at all. Usually the result of liquid damage or a failed ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the logic board. The keyboard looks fine but won’t respond to any keypress.

Individual broken keys. A key cap has come off, or a key is physically damaged. Sometimes individual keys can be replaced, but often it makes more sense to replace the whole keyboard assembly for a consistent feel and long-term reliability.

Backlight problems. The keyboard works fine mechanically but the backlight is dead or flickering. On some models the backlight is part of the keyboard assembly, so a failed backlight means the whole assembly needs replacing. On others it points to the ribbon cable or the logic board connection, which we check before recommending the bigger fix.

Butterfly Keyboard Issues (2016-2019 MacBooks)

Apple’s butterfly keyboard mechanism was designed to make the keyboard thinner. The key switches use a butterfly-shaped hinge instead of the traditional scissor mechanism. The problem is that the butterfly design has almost no clearance. Even a tiny particle of dust, a crumb, or a grain of sand can jam the mechanism completely.

The result is keys that stick, keys that don’t register, and keys that repeat. Apple acknowledged the design flaw, faced a class action lawsuit, and launched a free Keyboard Service Program to replace affected keyboards. But many replacement keyboards had the same issues because the fundamental design didn’t change until Apple switched to the Magic Keyboard in 2020.

If you’ve got a 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019 MacBook Pro or a 2018-2019 MacBook Air, and your keyboard is acting up, this is almost certainly the butterfly mechanism. We’ve replaced hundreds of these. The frustrating part is that the replacement keyboards Apple fitted under their program used the same butterfly design, so many folk had theirs replaced once or twice and it failed again. The fundamental flaw was in the mechanism itself, not individual units.

Keyboard Failure After Spills

Coffee, tea, water, fizzy drinks. We’ve seen keyboards killed by all of them. Liquid damage doesn’t always mean the whole MacBook is finished, but the keyboard almost always needs replacing because corrosion starts the moment liquid gets underneath the keys.

If you’ve spilled something on your MacBook: power it off immediately, flip it upside down to stop liquid flowing deeper, and bring it to us as fast as you can. Don’t try to dry it with a hairdryer and don’t wait to see if it dries out on its own. The longer liquid sits on the electronics, the more damage it causes.

One thing folk often don’t realise is that a spill can look fine at first. The keys start working again after an hour, so they assume it’s sorted. Then two weeks later, once corrosion has had time to take hold, the keyboard dies completely or keys start misbehaving. If liquid got in, it’s worth having us check it over even if things seem normal, rather than waiting for the damage to show itself properly.

Butterfly vs Magic Keyboard: What’s the Difference?

Butterfly keyboard (2016-2019): thin butterfly-shaped hinge mechanism. Prone to failure from dust and debris. Keys have very little travel. When they fail, they typically stick, repeat, or stop registering. Apple’s most problematic keyboard design.

Magic Keyboard (2020 onwards): Apple returned to a scissor-switch mechanism with more key travel and better dust resistance. These keyboards are significantly more reliable. When they do fail, it’s usually from liquid spills rather than dust. The repair approach is different because the mechanism and assembly design changed.

Knowing which type you have matters because the parts, the process, and the common failure modes are different. We handle both, but if you’re not sure which keyboard your MacBook has, just tell us the model year and we’ll know. The easiest way to tell yourself: if your keys feel almost flat with very little travel when you press them, that’s butterfly. If there’s a noticeable click and more key travel, that’s Magic Keyboard.

Apple’s Free Keyboard Program Has Ended

Apple’s Keyboard Service Program, which offered free repairs for butterfly keyboard models, ended in November 2024. If you have a 2016-2019 MacBook with keyboard problems, Apple will no longer fix it for free.

That means you’re now looking at paying for the repair. Apple’s approach is to replace the entire top case assembly (more on that below), which is expensive. Independent repair, where we replace just the keyboard, costs significantly less. If you’ve been putting up with a dodgy butterfly keyboard because you thought Apple would still fix it for free, now is the time to get it sorted before the keyboard fails completely.

A lot of folk in Dundee have come to us after trying to book with Apple, only to be told the program is over. If that’s you, dinnae worry. The repair is still very much doable at a fraction of what Apple would charge for the full top case swap. Bring it in and we’ll give you a clear quote on the spot.

Top Case Replacement vs Keyboard-Only Replacement

This is the same distinction as with battery replacement. When Apple replaces a MacBook keyboard, they don’t just replace the keyboard. They replace the entire top case assembly: keyboard, trackpad, battery, speakers, and the aluminium housing. You get a new keyboard, but also a new everything-else, and the bill reflects that.

We replace just the keyboard assembly. Your trackpad, battery, and housing stay as they are (assuming they’re working fine). This keeps the cost dramatically lower while giving you the same result: a MacBook with a keyboard that works properly.

Apple does the full top case replacement because the keyboard is riveted into the housing, making it technically harder to remove independently. We have the tools and experience to do the keyboard-only replacement that Apple won’t offer. This is the same approach we take with MacBook battery replacement, where Apple replaces the whole top case and we replace just the battery. In both cases, you get the same functional result for significantly less.

Our Replacement Process

Assessment. We check what’s actually wrong. Sometimes what looks like a keyboard issue turns out to be software, such as a stuck modifier key or a system settings problem, which is a much cheaper fix. We also check whether the fault is in the keyboard itself or in the ribbon cable connecting it to the logic board, since a cable fault sometimes mimics a dead keyboard. We confirm the diagnosis before quoting, so you always know exactly what you’re paying for and why.

Parts. We source quality replacement keyboards that match your specific MacBook model. Butterfly and Magic keyboards are different assemblies and need exact model matching. We use parts that will last, not cheap replacements that fail again in months.

Installation. We carefully disassemble your MacBook, remove the old keyboard assembly, clean the chassis thoroughly (especially important after liquid spills where residue can sit under the keyboard), and fit the new keyboard. We check the ribbon cable connection to the logic board, verify the backlight is functioning at all brightness levels, and test the Touch Bar on applicable models. Your data is never touched during a keyboard replacement.

Testing. We don’t just check that keys press down. We type on it, test every key combination, verify the backlight works at all brightness levels, and make sure the trackpad hasn’t been affected by the work. Your MacBook comes back working properly, not just assembled.

MacBook Models We Service

MacBook Pro (2016-2019 butterfly models). The most common keyboard replacements we do. 13″, 15″, and 16″ models. These are the ones with the problematic butterfly mechanism that Apple has now stopped fixing for free.

MacBook Air (2018-2019 butterfly). Same butterfly keyboard issues as the Pro models. Same repair approach.

MacBook Pro and Air (2020 onwards, Magic Keyboard). Much more reliable keyboards, but liquid spills and physical damage still happen. We replace these too.

Older MacBook models (pre-2016). Traditional scissor keyboards. These are actually the easiest keyboards to work on because the mechanism is simpler and the assembly is more accessible. Parts can be trickier to source for very old models (2012 and earlier), but we’ll check availability for you before committing. If we cannae get the right part, we’ll tell you straight rather than fit something that won’t last.

If you’re nae sure which model you have, the serial number on the base of the machine or under About This Mac will tell us everything we need. Just bring it in or give us a call and we’ll sort it from there.

For screen, battery, or liquid damage issues alongside keyboard replacement, we handle those too.

What to Expect

Walk in. 153 Perth Road, Dundee. No appointment needed. Tell us what’s happening with your keyboard.

We assess and quote. We identify the problem, confirm whether it’s hardware or software, and give you a clear quote. No hidden extras.

We replace and test. Same-day service when parts are in stock. If we need to order, usually one to two working days. Every key tested before you collect.

Your data: completely untouched. Keyboard replacement doesn’t affect your files, programs, or settings.

Warranty: every keyboard replacement comes with a warranty on parts and labour.

Most folk are surprised at how straightforward the process is. You walk in with a MacBook that’s driving you up the wall, we give you a straight answer about what’s wrong and what it’ll cost, and in most cases you’re picking it back up the next day with a keyboard that feels like new. Nae fuss, nae jargon, nae nasty surprises on the bill.