Is it a software problem or a keyboard problem with a continuous '+' sign every time I use the right 'shift' key - Answered by a verified Mac Support Specialist We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Fix Type: Software / Keyboard Shortcut. Since OS X Lion, your Mac has had a special recovery partition. It’s only a few hundred megabytes but it contains a stripped down version of OS X, some repair tools and the ability to download and install OS X again.

The computer is practically brand new, as of May 2011. A MacBookPro 13' OSX 10.6.8.

Some keys, such as 't', 'b', 'g' and the light dimmer-brightener keys F1 and F2 are not working. (I am typing on another computer) When I press 't' I get IOUtxvdfeu or other nonsense or nothing. 'g' and 'b' don't work at all. The light dim or brighten keys don't work at all. I have folllowed all the instructions in the Apple Support and Troubleshooting sites, as follows:

Logitech Keyboard Software Mac

Thank you. Best wishes

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From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

From the View menu, choose Speech.

Click the Text to Speech tab.

If 'Speak selected text when the key is pressed' is enabled, the key or key combination set to speak text cannot be used for other purposes or used to type text--click Set Key and change it to a less-commonly used key combination (try to use modifier keys such as Shift, Command, Option, and Control). Or, disable the 'Speak selected text when the key is pressed' option.

Click the Universal Access pane in System Preferences, click the Keyboard tab.

Make sure that Slow Keys is turned off. With Slow Keys on, you need to press a key for a longer period of time for it to be recognized.

In the Universal Access pane, click the Mouse tab, and make sure Mouse Keys is turned off. With Mouse Keys enabled, you cannot use the Numeric Keypad to enter numbers--instead the keypad moves the pointer (cursor). (There is an option to enable Mouse Keys with five presses of the Option key; you may want to turn that option off to avoid accidentally enabling it.) If Mouse Keys is enabled and you are using a keyboard with no numeric keypad or Num Lock function, see Unable to type while Mouse Keys is enabled in Mac OS X.

If the function keys on the top row of the keyboard are not working as expected, see Mac OS X: How to change the behavior of function keys.

If the issue persists, use Keyboard Viewer to help isolate the issue:

Click the Language & Text pane (Mac OS X v10.6) or International pane (Mac OS X v10.5.8 or earlier) in System Preferences.

Click the Input Sources tab (or Input Menu tab in Mac OS X 10.5.8 or earlier).

Keyboard Software Problems For Mac Computers

Click the Keyboard & Character Viewer 'On' checkbox to select it (click the Keyboard Viewer 'On' checkbox in Mac OS X 10.5.8 or earlier).

From the Input (flag) menu, choose Show Keyboard Viewer.

If the keyboard is connected and detected by Mac OS X, the keys you type will highlight in the Keyboard Viewer window. Open TextEdit (or any text application), and try to type something using the keys that were previously not responding to see if they highlight in Keyboard Viewer.

UP UNTIL THIS POINT ---- I need help as I don't understand this next part and need to be walked through it step by step:

Start from the Mac OS X Install Disc, choose Terminal from the Utilities menu and test the keys which were previously not working. If the keys work while started from the Install disc, then the keyboard itself is working correctly. Use Mac OS X: How to troubleshoot a software issue to isolate the software issue that may be causing the keys to not respond.

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Posted on Feb 24, 2012 8:17 AM

One of the most frustrating problems a Mac user often encounter is a stuck key. This is particularly true for users of Macs with the butterfly keyboard, which Apple introduced with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015. Since then, Mac users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the new keyboard. In fact, three separate class action lawsuits have been filed against Apple because of these MacBook keyboard issues.

Unlike the old Mac keyboard, the butterfly mechanism on the new keyboards is a lot more complicated. You can’t just pry off the keys when it’s stuck or when you need to clean it. If you’re using a 2018 MacBook Pro, you’re lucky because the keyboard of this model comes with a thick, silicone barrier under each key. This silicone enclosure not only makes typing a lot quieter, but it also serves as protection against dust and debris. However, if you’re using a model with a butterfly keyboard before 2018, protecting your keyboard might be a little bit more complicated.

So, what do you do when a key on your new Mac keyboard gets stuck? Well, for one, you can take advantage of Apple’s free keyboard program, which was launched last June. The program offers a free fix for some MacBook and MacBook Pro models that have faulty keyboards or keys. The issues covered are:

Letters or characters that suddenly repeat.
Letters or characters that don’t appear when pressed.
Keys that feel sticky or are not responding in a consistent manner.

The keyboard service program also offers a refund for owners who have paid to have their Mac keyboard fixed. However, between making an appointment at an Apple Store or mailing your device to Apple Repair Center, and actually receiving your fixed Mac, it could take several weeks or even months considering the number of people affected by this keyboard issue. And most of us don’t have the luxury of time or of having a spare computer to use while waiting for our Mac keyboard to get fixed.

Fortunately, Apple has explained the process of cleaning MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards to remove the dust and debris underneath the keys. This cleanup process can be a short-term solution if you want to get your keys working in the meantime before taking it in for a repair. Or you could make this a preventive maintenance regimen to avoid dust from building up. To clean your Mac keyboard, follow these steps:

Shut down your computer before doing anything else.
Remove the case, keyboard protector, dust plugs and any other accessories from your Mac.
Hold your computer at a 75-degree angle. Hold it upright but not perfectly vertical.
Use a can of compressed air or a manual blower to blow on the keyboard, following left to right direction. Keep the blower or compressed air at least five inches away from the surface of the keyboard and spray air slowly.
Rotate your Mac to its right side and spray air on the keyboard again following the same direction.
After this, rotate the computer to its left side and repeat the process.

This should remove some of the dirt stuck underneath and around the keys of your keyboard. If this doesn’t fix your MacBook keyboard issues, the next step would be to get in touch with the nearest Apple Store or Service Center to have it fixed. And these are the MacBook and MacBook Pro models covered by the Apple Keyboard Service Program:

MacBook Retina 12-inch (Early 2015)
MacBook Retina 12-inch (Early 2016)
MacBook Retina 12inch (2017)
MacBook Pro 13inch (2016, 2 Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro 13inch (2017, 2 Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro 13inch (2016, 4 Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro 13inch (2017, 4 Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro 15inch (2016)
MacBook Pro 15inch (2017)

Keeping your keyboard spick-and-span can prevent a lot of MacBook keyboard issues like sticky or stuck keys. The same concept applies to your Mac software. Keep your software running smoothly with an app like Tweakbit MacRepair. It scans and deletes junk files from your computer, freeing up precious storage space and optimizing your Mac’s performance.

Keyboard Software Download

If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download O