IT Support Knowledge Base

How to clean the keyboard of your MacBook

Updated on

Use compressed air (available at Walmart or Office Depot) to clean your keyboard. Carefully follow these steps.

If your keyboard has an unresponsive key, or a key that feels different than the other keys when you press it, clean the keyboard only with compressed air.

  • Use the straw included with the compressed air to control airflow.
  • Keep the end of the straw about a half-inch away from the keyboard as you spray.
  • Remember to keep the air can vertical while you're spraying (bend the straw instead of tilting the can).
  • Liquid from the spray can will potentially damage the keyboard.

1. Hold your Mac notebook at a 75-degree angle, so it's not quite vertical.

2. Use compressed air to spray the keyboard, or just the affected keys, in a left-to-right motion.

3. Rotate your Mac notebook to its right side and spray the keyboard again, from left to right.

4. Repeat the action, this time with your Mac notebook rotated to its left side.

Please contact the IT Help Desk for support if you continue to have an issue with your key(s). We may need to replace the mechanism below your broken key. (405) 265-4357 or [email protected].

Watch a video showing you how to use compressed air:

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