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My spacebar is sticking and I need to pull it up and clean out. does anyone know how to do this with the new butterfly mechanism? Spacebar is different from rest of the keys and doesn't just snap back into place.
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Sorry, only just came to this question.
All these space bars have clips on the top edge, and slide guides on the bottom. it'll be 4 on top, 4 on bottom, so they are stiffer to get off. But if you start on the left or right side of the key with a thin bit of plastic, making sure to get between the keycap and the scissor clip (not under it), roll it around the top corner and slide it along the top edge, you should feel the lips pop off as you move along. You'll need to come out and go back in after each clip pops off. but once the first one pops, you can get your nail under the corner you just passed to hold it up.
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And how do you replace it?
it gets replaced in reverse. So where it slides along the bottom edge, the bottom needs to be aligned first. Then when its resting on top of the key (with the bottom edge slotted into the butterfly clip underneath), press down on the top of the keycap with a little bit of force, and all 4 of the clips should click onto the butterfly clip.
I hope this helps.
Is there any way you could post a video of replacing the spacebar? I still can't seem to get mine back on.
I removed my spacebar very carefully, couldn't get it back on, because the space bar has to be released from the back side of the keyboard. I sent the computer to Apple and they are charging me $700 to fix my "accidental damage" - I am not very happy.
Hmm that doesn't sound very practical, can anyone with spacebar removal experience comment on this?
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The leading expert in the world on Apple keyboards is
Jon Ridley
Jon is a regular contributor to this site and this will notify him you need help.
Or you can go directly to them and look it up:
UPDATE 10/2019
Take to Apple as it is now covered by Apple
Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro
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The spacebar on my Macbook was sticking so stupidly I just slip a knife under it and popped it off. The part of the Macbook that the spacebar clips onto also came off. Then it was impossible to replace them. One or two of the butterfly clips had broken. I don't know how. I know I was stupid to remove the spacebar but Apple now refuse to repair the Macbook under warranty and the quote for repair is about £350. I feel this is unfair because there was definitely a problem with the spacebar before I removed it (I wouldn't be likely to just remove it for no reason) and noone knows how the butterfly clips got broken. They say it was accidental damage but noone knows. Can anyone suggest either (a) how I might replace the space bar and/or (b) how I might persuade Apple to repair it under warranty.
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Unfortunately, there isn't much choice when it comes to the butterfly clips on their own at the moment. Apple sell keycap sets, but dont sell individual keys, but they never sell the butterfly clips on their own.
We do, but the only source of them is from recycled or damaged top cases that we strip. The 2017 MacBook pro is still too new for us to have any in stock.
Once we start getting them in, you can purchase the scissor clip on its own.
I see what you're saying about the fault being there already, and its not right that a keys should act up so soon after purchase, but playing devils advocate here, there is no way of telling if there was any damage before if the key has been pulled off.
But sometimes its about who you speak to in apple. I'd try going to them again, but speaking to someone else. Be more specific about the fault you had beforehand, you may get someone to be more helpful.
But because the clip is damaged, its a complete top case repair thats needed from apple, not just a keycap.
Thanks Jon. Fingers crossed I might get somewhere with this. Two applecare senior advisors said they wouldn't change the decision to not repair under warranty but the manager at the (Apple authorised repair and retail) shop is willing to say to Apple (truthfully) that I took the laptop in with the spacebar sticking BEFORE I removed it. Basically I went in with it twice. The first time I had to take it home again to back up and while I was waiting I took off the space bar. So they will know. Got an appointment on Boxing Day.
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Finally got my problem fixed by apple. Kindly they did it under warranty too. Then another key stuck. Eventually they replaced the whole logic board. My advice is definitely don't remove your own spacebar because they're impossible to get back on.
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how much did the replacement cost under warranty but with no apple care?
Didn't cost anything because they did it under warranty.
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I know this is marked as answered, but i thought i'd reference this, as we've had a lot of customers coming to us asking for information on how these keycaps work and fit. Here is a guide we've made on how to replace the keycaps on the butterfly clip type ranges. (this includes the 12" MacBook ranges as well, despite them having an older butterfly clip design)
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Here is a removal and replacement video!
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
Very helpful, thanks. Just wish it were that easy....!
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heres a disassembly video, follow this but dont remove the screen, remove the battery and logic board and yo should see the keyboard under there, then you will need to remove the screws that hold the keyboard down, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R05RkiPb...
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This video in no way shows anything about replacing the space bar.
@mayer i never said it did, i said its a disassembly video
Well then this does not answer the question, does it?
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A little late to this, but I found that VERY slightly expanding the opening for the 4 bottom hooks made this super easy. It opens very easily , slight touch of a fingernail did it for me. Hope this helps !
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of course it is NOT helpful....because the issue is the SPACE BAR... not the other keys!
I had Googled the heck out of this with the space bar specifically and have had to (very carefully clean mine a second time) and although I used extreme caution and was very slow and mindful of the fact that the butterfly keys can break quite easily, I now have a crooked-works-5% of the time- space bar. It's so sad because I LOVE this keyboard.
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I have a problem with the up arrow on the same kind of keyboard. At first, it was just a little wobbly. Now it has popped off twice. It still works, but I hate my key popping off while I’m playing a game.
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Hello, I’m probably a bit late here but hopefully this complete guide on removing/installing all types of keycaps will help people in the future. The guide includes the spacebar too:
How To Replace Key Caps And Butterfly Clips On The MacBook Pro (2016 – 2018)
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I'm late to this but, since others' late comments were very helpful to me, I'm also adding a late tip, in case someone could benefit. H/t to gilly dekel who helped me realize that the bottom hooks on my spacebar keycap had closed. The "c" clips had "squished" so they were more like an "o," and could not hook onto the bottom bars. (I'm surprised that, in all the posts about replacing keys that I slogged through before I got here, I did not see this potential problem discussed. It seems likely that it is relatively common occurrence.)
To fix the clips, I used a flat eyeglass screwdriver (and a magnifying glass) and slide the tip under the hooks then very gently pushed each "o" back into a "c." Keycap popped right in.
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Apple has a free repair program for the Butterfly keyboard failures! Take advantage of the extended warranty!
Keyboard Service Program for MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro
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