If your Mac doesn’t respond to key presses
If your Mac doesn’t respond when you press the keys on your keyboard, or if pressing some keys has unexpected results, try the following.
If no keys work on an external keyboard
If you’re using a wireless Bluetooth® keyboard, make sure it’s turned on and has charge, and that Bluetooth is turned on. Try disconnecting the keyboard’s Bluetooth connection and reconnecting it.
Physically disconnect and reconnect the keyboard. Make sure the connector is completely inserted into the port.
Connect your keyboard to a different port or to a different Mac. If this solves the problem, your Mac may need to be repaired. Contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider for service. Repairs performed by untrained individuals or using non-genuine Apple parts may affect the safety and functionality of the device.
Connect a different keyboard to this Mac. If this solves the problem, you may need to take your keyboard in for service.
If no keys work on your Mac laptop’s built-in keyboard
Your Mac may be showing a low battery alert that you can’t see. Connect your Mac to a power point or connect an external keyboard to your Mac to see the alert.
If the Media Eject key or Caps Lock key doesn’t work
Try holding down the key longer. These keys have a slight delay to prevent an immediate response if they’re pressed accidentally. Press and hold the Media Eject key until the Media Eject icon appears on the screen, and press and hold the Caps Lock key until the key’s indicator light comes on.
If other keys don’t work
You may have accidentally set an option that changes how your keyboard operates.
Choose Apple menu
in the sidebar, then click Keyboard (you may need to scroll down). Make sure Slow Keys is turned off. If Slow Keys is on, you must press and hold a key longer than usual before it’s recognised.Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Pointer Control (you may need to scroll down). Make sure Mouse Keys is off.
Open Pointer Control settings for me
Or press Option-Command-F5 to open the Accessibility Shortcuts panel, then unselect Mouse Keys.
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Keyboard
in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Go to Text Input, click Edit, then turn on “Show Input menu in menu bar”. Open the Input menu, then make sure the correct keyboard layout is selected.
Tip: If your physical keyboard isn’t working as expected, you can display a keyboard on the screen and click the keys using your mouse or trackpad. See Use the Keyboard Viewer.