Apple Finally Addresses MacBook Keyboard Issue With Free Repairs | Tech News

Owners of MacBook laptops with faulty keyboards are getting some relief. Apple is going to fix them for free.

On Friday, the company announced the repair program, which applies to MacBook and MacBook Pro models with keyboards that unexpectedly repeat letters, fail to type them, feel “sticky,” or respond inconsistently.

Apple said the problems involved only a “small percentage” of laptop keyboards. But the malfunctions have been widely reported, with critics pointing to the ultra-thin “butterfly” switches inside the technology as the key culprit. Apparently, the switches are so delicate that the mere presence of dust can force them to fail. However, fixing the problem isn’t easy; at worst, it can involve needing to replace the entire keyboard.

In Friday’s notice, Apple made no mention to why the keyboards were faulty. But the repair service applies to MacBooks and MacBook Pros models from 2015 and onward, when the company began switching over to the butterfly keyboards.

Apple announced the repair program after customers began filing class action lawsuits against the company over the flaky keyboards. One lawsuit claimed that thousands of consumers had been affected and that replacement costs to fix the keyboards ranged between $400 to $700.

“Apple knew or should have known of the butterfly keyboard defects before the Laptops were ever sold to the public,” alleged the lawsuit.

To use the repair program, eligible MacBook owners need to make an appointment at an Apple store or find an authorized company service provider. You can also mail your MacBook to Apple’s repair center.

If you paid up for the expensive keyboard repair in the past, Apple said it’ll offer you a refund. All you have to do is contact the company.