Mac Keyboard Not Working or Some Keys Not Typing? Fix It Step by Step

Published ✓ Verified ⏱️ 2 min read August 19, 2025 · by Ryan Bennett

Your Mac doesn’t respond to key presses, or a few specific keys have stopped typing.

Why: This is usually a settings or connection issue rather than broken hardware. Accessibility features like Slow Keys, a Bluetooth keyboard that dropped its connection, or a hidden low-battery alert can all stop keys from registering. Work through these in order before assuming the keyboard is faulty.

Fix 1: Turn off Slow Keys

Slow Keys makes you hold a key down longer than usual before it registers, so keys can feel dead.

Open the Apple menu > System Settings, then click Accessibility in the sidebar.
Click Keyboard on the right.
Make sure Slow Keys is turned off.

While you’re here, check Mouse Keys under Accessibility > Pointer Control — when it’s on, part of the keyboard controls the pointer instead of typing. You can also toggle Mouse Keys with Option-Command-F5.

Fix 2: Reconnect a wireless or wired keyboard

If you’re using an external keyboard and nothing types at all:

Wireless (Bluetooth): Make sure the keyboard is turned on and charged, and that Bluetooth is on. Then disconnect its Bluetooth connection and reconnect it.
Wired: Unplug it and plug it back in, pushing the connector all the way into the port. Try a different port.
Test it: Connect the keyboard to a different Mac, or connect a different keyboard to yours. If a different keyboard works, the original keyboard needs service; if your keyboard works elsewhere, your Mac may need service.

Fix 3: Check for a hidden low-battery alert (laptops)

On a MacBook, an unseen low-battery alert can block the keyboard. Connect your Mac to power, or attach an external keyboard so you can dismiss any alert that’s waiting on screen.

Fix 4: Keep typing with the Keyboard Viewer

If you still need to type right now, put an onscreen keyboard up and click keys with your mouse or trackpad. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Input Sources > Edit, turn on Show Input menu in menu bar, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer from that menu. Confirm your layout is correct here too — the wrong layout makes keys type the wrong characters.

FAQ

Only a few keys don’t type — is it broken? Not necessarily. First rule out Slow Keys (Fix 1) and the wrong keyboard layout (Fix 4). If specific keys still fail on an external keyboard but work on another Mac, the keyboard hardware is the problem.

The whole keyboard is dead. Reconnect or swap the keyboard (Fix 2) and check for a hidden alert (Fix 3). If a known-good keyboard also fails on your Mac, contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Sources: Apple Support — If your Mac doesn’t respond to key presses