MacBook – Delays or skipping for single key on keyboard

keyboardmacbook pro

The 'T' key on my 2014 macbook pro is behaving strangely.

It sometimes works, but often doesn't. Mostly it skips completely. Other times it has a delay, such that I type the words correctly, but the T appears out of sequence. Once in a while it will work great for a minute or less.

I don't suspect a dirty key because sometimes he 'T' will appear after I have released the key. I have cleaned under the key anyway and it looks good. I have reset NVRAM and SMC.

To illustrate the problem, here's this question as it was originally typed, before I painstakingly fixed it up.

he 'T' key on my 2014 macbook pro is behaving srangely.

I someimes works, bu ofetn doesn'. Mosly i skips compleetly. Oher imes i has a delay, such ha I ype he words correcly, bu hte T appears ou of sequence. Once in a while i will work grea for a minue or less.

I don' suspec ta diry key because someimes he 'T' will appear afer I have released he key. I have cleaned under he key anyway and i looks good. I have rese NVRAM and SMC.

Can I fix it?

Edit – answering questions in the comments:

Testing behaviour a bit more, I realise that many of my apps don't permit repeating (including chrome and IDEA). So I've tested in vi where repeating works. The key's behaviour seems more consistent:

  • There is a delay of around 1 second before the 't' character appears and another delay of about 1 second before the repeating stops after key release. The keypress signal is delayed 1 second.
  • It seems unaffected by temperature.
  • As of this afternoon, the delete key is also affected.

Best Answer

It sounds like you have a defective keyboard. Yah it's difficult, nigh impossible, to diagnose hardware via messages on the internet but that is my guess.

It may be possible to find a used, working, keyboard on eBay or the like, if you feel up to replacing it yourself. iFixIt likely has a take apart guide that would show you how difficult it would be to do it.

If you are anywhere near an Apple Store I would make a full backup of your system. Create a new admin user for Apple to use and take it in to an Apple Store for diagnosis and/or repair.