Following a long period of using the butterfly mechanism keys, Apple redesigned the keyboard and key systems on their newer laptops such as the M1 MacBook Pro and M1 MacBook Air. While these new keys are far less prone to jamming compared to the previous butterfly-style ones, issues can still occur—such as a key feeling stuck, not responding when pressed, or being generally unresponsive.

Here’s how you can remove a key from the keyboard of an M1 MacBook Pro or MacBook Air in order to fix a stuck key.

Warning: This procedure may void your warranty. Only proceed if you're confident with performing hardware-level repairs on your Mac. If your device is still under warranty and a key is stuck, it's best to have Apple handle the repair. This guide is intended for those comfortable with DIY repairs and willing to accept the associated risks.

–

A Stuck Key on an M1 MacBook Pro

Recently, the 'n' key on my M1 MacBook Pro became stuck—it wouldn’t register typing input even though it physically moved when pressed. It felt soft and had reduced travel, failing to send the signal for the letter “N”. Blasting air underneath the key didn’t resolve the issue, so the next step was to remove the keycap, clean the mechanism, and reattach the key.

Notes About Removing Stuck Keys

I used a thin guitar pick to lift the keycap, but alternatives like a playing card, plastic card, toothpick, or similar thin object can also work. Avoid using any metal tools, and stick to plastic or wood that won't break easily.

Most letter and number keys on the M1 MacBook Pro and Air use the same clip mechanism, making them relatively easy to remove. However, special keys like esc, delete, caps lock, return, shift, command, spacebar, etc., differ in size and have different mechanisms, so they should be handled separately.

You can perform this process with the Mac turned off or on—I prefer keeping it on and using the Keyboard Cleaner app to avoid triggering unwanted actions. Alternatively, activating screen saver mode beforehand works too. The method you choose is up to personal preference.

How to Remove a Letter or Number Key on M1 MacBook Pro / Air

To remove a letter or number key on the M1 MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, I placed the guitar pick under the bottom edge of the keycap and gently lifted upward. You’ll usually feel a slight click as the cap disengages from the mechanism. Then, while keeping the guitar pick under the lower part of the key, I applied light downward sliding pressure at the top of the keycap, which allowed it to slide right off.

Once removed, inspect the area for debris, dirt, or hair. As seen in the image below, a tiny white strand of dog hair had wrapped around the scissor mechanism and was causing the “N” key to malfunction.

Removing the obstruction restored normal function to the key. I used a toothpick to carefully extract the hair—make sure any tool you use is non-metallic and handled gently.

Reinstalling the keycap is simple: position it correctly over the mechanism and press down lightly on each of its four corners until it clicks back into place.

After cleaning, the key (or keys) should now function normally again without sticking.

That’s all—your keyboard should now respond properly again.

If you'd like to see the process visually, or prefer watching a video, here’s a 20-minute demonstration showing how to remove and reinstall keys on the M1 MacBook Air and Pro models. Note that the video is quite lengthy—YouTube creators often stretch short content for longer watch times—but it does clearly show the steps involved.

Have you experienced a stuck key on your 2020 M1 MacBook Pro or MacBook Air? Did removing and cleaning the key help? Share your experience in the comments below.

The above is the detailed content of How to Fix a Stuck M1 MacBook Pro / Air Key. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!