Apple won’t repair your butterfly keyboard from now on

Apple has officially ended its butterfly keyboard repair program for MacBooks, a move that impacts many users dissatisfied with the notorious keyboard design. The program, which was active for nearly six and a half years, offered free repairs for affected MacBook models sold between 2015 and 2020. Customers facing issues with the butterfly keyboard will now need to explore third-party repair options, as Apple will no longer cover the costs of repair.

Apple ends butterfly keyboard repair program for MacBooks

The butterfly keyboard was introduced in March 2015 with the 12-inch MacBook, bringing a new low-profile switch mechanism, which Apple touted as thinner and more stable than previous models. Despite these claims, users quickly reported significant issues, including sticky and unresponsive keys. In 2018, Apple launched a Keyboard Service Program to address these widespread complaints, allowing users to get repairs at no charge for several models, including the MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

The history of the butterfly keyboard’s problems

The problems began surfacing prominently after the introduction of the second-generation butterfly keyboard with the 2016 MacBook Pro. Complaints escalated to a class-action lawsuit in May 2018, alleging that Apple knowingly distributed defective keyboards. By June 2018, after acknowledging a “small percentage” of defects, Apple initiated the repair program.

The program included various models, specifically:

• Retina MacBook (12-inch, Early 2015 to 2017)
• MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018 and 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch and 15-inch models, 2016 to 2019)

Apple’s program covered specific keyboard issues, such as letters not appearing when pressed, sticky keys, and erratic character repetitions. While the window for free repairs was extended for up to four years past the retail sale of affected models, it officially concluded last week. With the discontinuation of the repair program, users must now handle any remaining keyboard issues at their own expense.

Settlement details following the class-action lawsuit

In addition to the ongoing complaints, a class-action lawsuit prompted Apple to agree to a $50 million settlement in July 2022. Affected customers could claim between $50 and $395 based on the extent and cost of their repairs. Payments from the settlement began flowing to eligible claimants by August 2024, providing some financial relief to users burdened by extensive repair costs. However, only users in select states like California and Florida were covered by the settlement, further complicating the matter for those outside the jurisdiction.

From 2019 onward, Apple began to shift away from the butterfly mechanism, notably with the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro using a traditional scissor-switch keyboard. The transition to the Magic Keyboard continued through to the 2020 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, marking an official end to the butterfly keyboard era. Notably, all recent models equipped with Apple silicon chips have consistently used the scissor-switch design, which has seen far fewer reported reliability issues.

The repairs were strictly for malfunctioning butterfly keyboards; Apple did not automatically replace functional keyboards. As the final participating models were phased out, the program concluded, leaving many previous MacBook owners uncertain about their keyboard reliability moving forward.

The last remaining models featuring the butterfly keyboard were officially discontinued by November 2020. Apple’s current lineup comprises new models that integrate the more reliable scissor-switch mechanism—a move welcomed by many long-suffering users of the butterfly keyboard.

As many users now confront the discontinuation of free repairs, the experience surrounding Apple’s butterfly keyboard has left a lasting mark.

Featured image credit: Amy Hirschi/Unsplash