MacBook keyboard replacement at Xigox is indicatively ₹3,499 to ₹8,999, and liquid damage restoration is ₹2,999 to ₹12,999 when a spill has reached the board. Sticky or repeating keys on a 2015 to 2019 butterfly keyboard often start with dust under a key, while a dead row after a spill points to liquid. Work out which you have before paying for a part.
Which MacBook keyboard do you have, and why does it matter?
Apple has used three keyboard designs in the last decade, and each fails differently. Check your model year under Apple menu, About This Mac. The year tells you whether to expect dust problems, spill problems or a straightforward replacement.
| Models | Keyboard | Typical fault | Usual repair route |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air to 2017, MacBook Pro 2012 to 2015 | Traditional scissor | Worn keys, spill damage | Individual keys or the top case |
| 12-inch MacBook 2015 to 2017, MacBook Pro 2016 to 2019, Air 2018 to 2019 | Butterfly | Repeating, missing or stuck letters caused by dust and crumbs | Top case replacement is common |
| 16-inch Pro from late 2019, then Air and Pro from 2020, including Apple silicon | Magic Keyboard (scissor again) | Spills and impact; Touch ID on most | Top case, with Touch ID pairing checked |
One point is worth knowing if you own a butterfly model. Apple's free keyboard service programme covered affected MacBooks for four years from the first retail sale, so every butterfly MacBook is now outside it. The repair cost falls on you, and the choice becomes repair, work around or replace.
Why are keys sticky, repeating or dead?
Causes split into software, debris, liquid and swelling. Check them in that order, because the first two are free and quick. A key that fails everywhere, including on the login screen, points to hardware. A key that fails only in one app points to settings.
- Settings: in System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard, check that Sticky Keys and Slow Keys are off. Under Keyboard, review Key Repeat and Delay Until Repeat.
- Keyboard Viewer: turn it on from the Keyboard settings Input Sources and watch whether the on-screen key lights when you press. If it does not, the keyboard is not sending the signal.
- Safe Mode and an external keyboard: if the same keys fail there, the fault is hardware.
- Dust and debris: follow Apple's guidance for butterfly keyboards. Hold the MacBook at roughly 75 degrees and spray compressed air along the keyboard from left to right, then rotate it and repeat. Never pry keycaps off, as the mechanism breaks easily.
- Swelling check: if keys feel raised or uneven, the battery may be swelling under the top case. Stop charging and read our battery replacement information before using it further.
Butterfly keyboards are especially sensitive because the keys sit on a very shallow mechanism with almost no clearance beneath the keycap. A single grain of grit or a crumb can stop a key from returning fully, which is why the same laptop can work for months and then start repeating letters after one dusty week.
A whole row or area failing at once usually means a connector, a cable or liquid, and compressed air will not help. Repeated letters on a butterfly keyboard are classic dust, but they can also be wear, and only a technician can say which.
What should you do in the first ten minutes after a spill?
Power off immediately and keep it off. A MacBook with liquid inside is safest when no current is flowing, and the damage that follows a spill is mostly corrosion that grows with time and power. Every minute of delay matters more than whichever liquid it was.
- Hold the power button until the screen goes dark, without waiting for any prompt.
- Unplug the charger and every accessory.
- Place the MacBook open, face down in a tent shape, so liquid drains away from the board.
- Blot spilled liquid from the outside with an absorbent cloth. Do not press on the keys.
- Do not turn it on to check, and skip the hair dryer and the bag of rice. Heat and grains do not remove liquid from under a keyboard.
- Get it to a technician quickly, and say what the liquid was.
Sweet drinks, milk and salty liquids leave residue and corrode faster than plain water. Our MacBook water damage repair page explains what we clean and test, and our general guide to what to do after a laptop spill adds detail. Restoration is indicatively ₹2,999 to ₹12,999, depending on how far the liquid travelled and how long the Mac stayed powered.
What does a keyboard replacement involve, and what changes the cost?
On most modern MacBooks, the keyboard is part of the top case, so the technician strips the Mac to its shell. The same assembly can include the trackpad and, in some designs, the battery. That is why a keyboard replacement costs more than the keys alone, and why the price runs from ₹3,499 to ₹8,999.
- Top case design: the more integrated the assembly, the more labour is needed.
- Touch ID: the sensor is paired to the logic board. A replacement top case may restore typing but not Touch ID unless pairing is handled correctly, so ask.
- Backlight and layout variants: the part must match your model.
- Battery overlap: if your battery is also near the end of its life, ask about doing both together, since the Mac is opened anyway.
For other laptops, our article on laptop keyboard replacement costs covers how Windows models compare. Our MacBook keyboard replacement page describes the process, which carries a 90-day warranty.
Can you work around a faulty MacBook keyboard instead?
For a while, yes. An external USB or Bluetooth keyboard costs little and restores normal typing at a desk. The on-screen keyboard in Accessibility helps in a pinch. If only one rarely used key has failed, living with it is reasonable, provided the problem is not spreading.
Do not delay after a spill, though, or when a key sticks because of swelling. Corrosion and a swelling battery both get worse with time, and they put the board, trackpad and case at risk. A cheap fix now often prevents an expensive one later.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my MacBook type double letters?
On 2015 to 2019 butterfly keyboards, dust under a key is the usual reason. Check Key Repeat settings and test in Safe Mode first, then try Apple's compressed air method. If doubles continue, the key mechanism may need a repair or a top case replacement.
Is a keyboard replacement covered by Apple's keyboard programme?
No longer. Apple's service programme for butterfly keyboards covered four years from the first retail sale, and those periods have ended for every affected model. Repair is now at your cost, and AppleCare coverage may apply only if you hold it.
Can one key be replaced on its own?
Sometimes, on scissor-style keyboards. Butterfly keycaps are fragile and the mechanism under them is part of the top case, so a whole top case replacement is often the more reliable fix.
Will the backlight and Touch ID work after a replacement?
The backlight comes with the keyboard assembly. Touch ID depends on pairing with the logic board. Ask the technician to test both and tell you the result before you take the MacBook back.
Can a spilled-on MacBook keyboard be fixed by drying it?
No. Drying removes surface moisture, but the damage that matters is residue and corrosion on the board and connectors beneath the keys. Those continue to spread after the surface dries. Power off straight away and have the Mac opened and cleaned properly.
If your MacBook keyboard is faulty or a spill has happened, book a free doorstep pickup. Inspection costs ₹350 and is refunded when you go ahead, and nothing is repaired until you have approved a written quote.
