Apple Expands Keyboard Service Program for Butterfly Keyboards on MacBook, Air, and Pro

Apple today said that it will service eligible MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro keyboards from 2015 to 2019, free of charge.

Originally, Apple launched its service program in 2018 for a “small percentage” of MacBook and MacBook Pro models exhibiting keyboard failures in 2018, in answer to complaints of alleged flaws in the design of the butterfly keyboard mechanism.

Now, all MacBook models with butterfly keyboards — all four generations of the design — qualify for free repairs for the first 4 years after the first retail sale of the unit.

Apple introduced the butterfly-style keyboard design in 2015. The lower profile allowed for slimmer devices, but caused the keys to feel “sticky,” in turn causing letters to repeat unexpectedly, and at times resulting in them not responding and popping out of place.

Since then, Apple has redesigned the butterfly keyboard, but problems have continued to be reported. Apple’s keyboard service program for the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro covers a bevy of models and does note that you could get a refund if you paid out of pocket. The turnaround time for the keyboard fixes depended on the number of keys being replaced and part availability.

Eligible models are listed below:

  • MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, Early 2015)
  • MacBook (Retina, 12­-inch, Early 2016)
  • MacBook (Retina, 12-­inch, 2017)
  • MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
  • MacBook Pro (13­-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (13-­inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2016)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2017)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2018)
  • MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
  • MacBook Pro (15-­inch, 2019)

Hopefully Apple’s butterfly keyboard woes are on their way out, as the Cupertino company is reportedly planning on launching new “scissor switch” keyboards on its MacBook Air 2019 and MacBook Pro 2020 laptops

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