MacOS – External keyboard modifiers with Sierra stopped working (when typing non-modifier key on MacBook Pro Retina)

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When I upgraded to Sierra, my shift key on the external keyboard stopped working when I press a key on my MacBook Pro Retina's keyboard.
I have a setup where my left hand is using the external keyboard (to avoid pain due to chest compression), while my right hand is on the MacBook's keyboard.

Now when I press the left shift and a letter on the MacBook keyboard, the
letter does not come capitalized. In El Capitan (and all other versions) this worked…

Any hints?

EDIT:

  1. it's not just shift. It's command, alt, shift, control.

  2. the modifier keys do work physically (when used with other keys on the same keyboard).

Best Answer

It might be that the shift on that keyboard does not work anymore. In that case, you should use another button as the shift button. You could try, for example, remapping the caps lock button (or some other button if you want to keep its functionality) to the left shift button using Karabiner Elements (courtesy of Tim for showing me this!). This will enable you to press the caps lock button on the external keyboard to emulate the shift button's functionality.

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